Hail the start of the summer in the Hudson Valley this Memorial Day Weekend with these cultural events. Craft markets, antique fairs, music festivals, and movie screenings are all on the docket, with regional artists, artisans, and musicians coming together to bring you a variety of ways to pass the time from Friday through Monday. Take your pick(s) from these events to shop, watch, listen, eat, entertain family, and support the hard work of artists in your community.
Spring Antiques at Rhinebeck
Saturday, May 27 & Sunday, May 28 at Dutchess County Fairgrounds
Spring Antiques at Rhinebeck, put on by Barn Star Productions and longtime American antiques dealer Frank Gaglio, presents offerings from across centuries and cultures. This year, Barn Star has added some new dealers to their list in an effort to maintain their claim to presenting the most diverse and visually exciting materials. The Dutchess County Fairgrounds will display rugs, quilts and textiles, decorative prints and posters, furniture, pottery, books, silverware, jewelry and watches, folk art and signs, and even military antiques. Food trucks will be available to nourish you during your antiquing experience. Live by Barn Star’s slogan and “save natural resources, buy antiques!” Tickets are available here and at the door.
Field + Supply Spring MRKT
Friday, May 26 through Sunday, May 28 at Hutton Brickyards
Field + Supply is hosting their third annual Spring MRKT in Kingston at the Hutton Brickyards. You can shop boho, minimalist, and Mid-Century Modern wares by over 250 makers and collectors, including jewelry, clothing, bags, furniture, pottery, candles, soaps, and other accessories like hats and sunglasses. Alongside live music, 19 different local food options, and family-friendly activities, each day features a silent auction that supports the New York Farmland Access Fund. Live watercolor portraits will be created by illustrator A.E. Kieren in under 15 minutes for $40 each, and ceramics classes will be offered for $25 each. Plant potting demos, reiki, and custom aromatherapy are also among the wide array of experiences on offer at Field + Supply. Get your tickets here or at the door.
East Durham Irish Festival
Saturday, May 27 & Sunday, May 28 at Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre
The 46th annual East Durham Irish Festival is the biggest Irish-American event in the Catskills, celebrating the Irish heritage of Greene County, so named for its resemblance to the Emerald Isle. This music fest has a packed lineup, featuring The Narrowbacks, Screaming Orphans, Ronan Tynan, Andy Cooney & His Band, The Young Wolfe Tones, Tom Comerford, Darren Kiely, and more performances across four stages. Genres include rock, alternative, folk, country, and bluegrass, with a mix of original songs and covers by bands and songwriters who often blend Irish music traditions with contemporary styles. In a sweet deal, kids 13 and under get in free. Tickets are available here, and you can get 20 percent off with the code EDFEST if you buy before midnight this Wednesday.
Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair
Saturday, May 27 through Monday, May 29 at Ulster County Fairgrounds
The Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair has been bringing artisans and craft lovers together since 1982, evolving to attract tens of thousands of visitors each year while maintaining its family-owned roots. You can shop crafts by over 200 makers across ceramics, fibers, glass, leather, metal, wood, and mixed mediums. Fine artworks and photography will be on display as well, alongside specialty foods, wines, and self-care products. Live entertainment by regional musicians and craft demonstrations are sure to keep you busy. Tickets are sold here, and children under 12 get in free––you can take them to the kids craft tent.
Hudson Valley Picture Show
Friday, May 26 & Saturday, May 27 at Opus 40
If you’re a horror movie fiend or a lover of the classics, the Hudson Valley Picture Show by Upstate Films is your event this weekend. Watch Midsommar on Friday and The Princess Bride on Saturday in the sprawling outdoor sculpture park of Opus 40. Preceding Friday’s movie is the debut performance of The Goddess Party––a new project from longtime Hudson Valley musician Shana Falana featuring over 30 local singers and a rock band. Snacks, sodas, and popcorn will be provided both nights, as well as food by Krupa Brother’s Pierogi and cocktails by Stockade Tavern. Tickets here––these are one-night-only showings, so go while you can!
24-HOUR DRONE: Experiments in Sound and Music
Saturday, May 27 & Sunday, May 28 at Basilica Hudson
Get experimental and immersive with 24-HOUR DRONE: Experiments in Sound and Music, presented by Basilica Hudson and Le Guess Who? in collaboration with Sarah Van Buren. This music festival, which is a roving, international series, encompasses 15 acts over 24 hours. These musicians and sound artists experiment within the genre of drone music to create 24 hours of unbroken, uninterrupted sound and push the boundaries of what a communal, conceptual experience can be. The set begins and ends with special three-hour sets by Photay with Celia Hollander and guests. Sandwiched in between are a dozen other acts, including Anneice Cousin, eucademix (Yuka C. Honda), Evans Saxl Seretan Thayer Quartet, Gamelan Dharma Swara, gushes, Sister Redhawk (Nea’ Mckinney), Veena and Devesh Chandra, and Wolf Eyes. Tickets are here; the total price averages at about $6.50 per performance.
Summer of Joy Memorial Day Party
Friday, May 26–Sunday, May 28 at Glen Falls HouseWhat happens when a venue owner and pro talent booker invests in a falling down, turn-of-the-century Catskills resort? Really, really great parties. Brooklyn's Good Room presents Glen Falls House's annual Summer of Joy Memorial Day Weekend party, featuring JDH and dave P, Jubilee B2B, Tommy Castro, NIGELTHREETIMES, and others. The pool will be open, the drinks will be flowing, the music will be vibing, and River Valley Guild will be hosting a pop-up market featuring a mix of vintage and artisanal made goods from clothes to rugs to soap. If you never want the night to end, there are also a handful of rooms available to book.