Art Walk Kingston
Celebrate the city’s art community during this two-day event. Hosted by Arts Mid-Hudson, visitors and local residents alike are welcome to weave their way through home studios and galleries from 12 to 5pm. Localized in three different areas in Kingston, the art exhibits boast a variety of media including paintings, photographs, drawings, and sculptures. Participating artists include photographer Andrew Moore, sculptor Susan Burlew, and mixed-media artists whose work will be featured at galleries such as Kingston Ceramics Studio, the Lockwood Gallery, and Cornell Creative Arts Center. September 18-19.
Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival
Soar the skies at the Hudson Valley’s 30th annual hot-air balloon festival in Union Vale’s Tymor Park. With 75 planned launches, fireworks each night, full and tethered balloon rides, live entertainment, food vendors, and helicopter rides, the festival promises one fun, flight-filled weekend. Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime adventure during a full hot-air balloon flight over the Hudson River Valley, $275 per person. Tethered rides ascending 50 to 100 feet are also offered. General admission to this balloon extravaganza is $14 in evenings and $7 in mornings, with all proceeds donated toward the festival’s future. All launches are wind- and weather-permitting. September 3-5.
Snake in the Boot Collective at Opus 40
Snake in the Boot Collective’s original live performance “The Human Dream Project” at the sculptural grounds of Opus 40 will let you dive into a world of dreams and puppetry. Led by multimedia artist, writer, and performer Admiral Grey, the show illustrates people’s dreams through puppetry as intimate recordings play in the background. Complete with accompanying live foley artists and award-winning puppeteers, the evocative performance breathes life into people’s hidden hopes. The multimedia show includes stop-motion animation and interactive livestreams, with all puppets and set pieces handcrafted by Admiral herself from salvaged and repurposed materials. 6pm on September 3 and September 10 in Saugerties. $20, $10 for Opus 40 members.
Her Six-Word Story, Often Untold
Listen to women’s untold stories this September at a story-sharing event. Born-and-raised in the Hudson Valley, graphic artist and educator Eileen MacAvery Kane partners with nonprofit housing and arts redevelopment project Safe Harbors of the Hudson to celebrate women’s lives, especially those that too often remain unrecognized. Women from all walks of life will gather and tell their stories in merely six words, with participants encouraged to contribute or simply listen in the supportive learning community. September 12, 2-4pm in Newburgh.
Comedy at Stone Ridge Orchard
Laugh ‘til your sides hurt at Stone Ridge Orchard’s new comedy series The Comedy Orchard, located on their 115-acre farm. The line-up on September 4 will feature Tom Cotter and Michele Balan and will be hosted by Eddie Brill, long-time audience warm-up comic and talent coordinator for “The Late Show with David Letterman.” Food is available for purchase at a locally sourced farmers' market, including apple cider from Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider. General admission is $25 or $55 (including a BBQ dinner courtesy of The Grill Wagon). Doors open at 6pm with a 7pm show time.
Albany Book Festival
Get your reading on with the fourth annual Albany Book Festival. The NYS Writers Institute at the University of Albany event features an A-list of regional writers, like Dana Spiotta, Ed Schwarzschild, Mary Gaitskill, Simon Winchester, and Amitava Kumar. With a local authors marketplace, awards ceremony, and readings from banned books, the upcoming festival serves all your book-loving needs. Free writer’s workshops will be offered online, to expand accessibility. Featured guest writers include Ayad Akhtar (Homeland Elegies), Elizabeth Brundage (The Vanishing Point), and Emily Layden (All Girls). Events are all free and open to the public. September 25, 12-5pm.
Berkshire International Film Festival
The Berkshire International Film Festival returns for its 15th anniversary to transport viewers to foreign lands and unite filmmakers with film lovers. The festival will feature 22 documentaries, 20 narrative features, and 18 short films that represent 20 countries. Five films will receive their world premieres, including a film about legendary glass artist Lino Tagliapietra. The film-filled weekend will pay tribute to award-winning actor Alfre Woodard; open with Bernstein’s Wall, a documentary film about beloved Berkshire legend Leonard Bernstein; and close with the New England premiere of Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free. September 9-12 in Great Barrington and September 10-12 in Pittsfield.
Paul Taylor Dance Company at the Mahaiwe
Escape to the world of modern dance with the Paul Taylor Dance Company as it performs two nights of modern dance over Labor Day weekend. Returning for its 14th year at the Mahaiwe, the company features three works: “Aureole,” “A Field of Grass,” and “Brandenburgs.” Originally founded by legendary choreographer Paul Taylor in 1954, the 16-member company has performed in over 500 cities in 64 countries, often representing the US at international art festivals. Starting at 8pm, ticket prices range from $20 to $95 with Mahaiwe members receiving discounts. September 3-4 in Great Barrington.
