Events

Events Film Strip


There is always something going on in Saugerties.  The folks who live in Saugerties take pride in the many sporting, historical, musical, epicurean and other activities and delights that you can experience here throughout the year.  This page begins with 8 pictures (and links for more information) for the top 8 events held in Saugerties each year

  • The February Snow Moon Festival
  • Saugerties Summertime Street Art Displays
  • The 4th of July (parade and fireworks)
  • The Sawyer Motors Car Show (July)
  • The Saugerties Artists Studio Tour (August)
  • The Hudson Valley Garlic Festival™ (last weekend in September or 1st weekend in October)
  • The early October Mum Festival
  • The early December Holiday in the Village.  

Then, we walk you through what goes on in Saugerties, month by month.  So scroll down ... take a look ... and enjoy!

Alternatively, for a full list of 40+ Attractions/events that regularly take place in Saugerties (convenient list of links), click here.

THE FEBRUARY SNOW MOON FESTIVAL

The Snow Moon is a full moon that shows up each February to beautify the sky during the snowiest and coldest months of the year.  This extraordinary celestial event sends a message of comfort and encouragement by lighting the sky with beauty and hope.  It's in this spirit that some spirited and hopeful volunteers kicked off the first Saugerties Snow Moon Festival in 2023.

Well, the spirit has caught fire and this now looks like a regular event, with the 2024 Snow Moon Festival scheduled for February 23rd, 24th and 25th.   Join in and light up Saugerties ...  spread the cheer and good will that has been bestowed upon us by the February Snow Moon.

All proceeds from the festival go to the Saugerties area food banks.  This is in keeping with the history that the Indigenous Americans of the Northeast called the February moon the Hunger Moon because food was scarce during this time of the year.  So a donation to the food banks seems very apropos.  

Snow Moon over Main Street

Photo from the Snow Moon Festival website (2022).
For more information, visit the Snow Moon Festival website or their Facebook page.

Saugerties Summertime Street Art Displays

Saugerties area artists get to show off their stuff on the streets, thanks to the summertime street art displays sponsored by the Saugerties Chamber of Commerce.

Whether it's the horse theme that's been popular since the inception of these unique outdoor art figures, to the rocking chairs from 2017 to the 2022 owls that celebrated the story of Rocky, a tiny saw-whet owl found in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020 (the owl’s recovery in Saugerties made her special to the people here), there is a lot of beauty and creativity throughout Saugerties in the summertime. 

2 examples of Saugerties street art.

Photos courtesy of the Saugerties Chamber of Commerce.

In 2024, the theme is "Hippie Buses" to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival, held in 1994 on Winston Farm's grounds in Saugerties.  Here is a sample of the artistically enhanced buses that will be on display this year:

Mark Smith's 2024 Hippie Bus

For more information, visit:

4TH OF JULY (PARADE AND FIREWORKS)

"Get there early" is our advice.  The parade line-up is 10 a.m. and the step-off is 11 a.m. But if you wait too long to arrive and pick a favorite spot along the parade route, which winds through Saugerties' Nationally Registered Historic Business District, you might have some difficulty finding a spot.  At parade time, the streets are lined with crowds taking in the floats, bands (including some great Scottish Bagpipers), and of course, the many heroes from our area volunteer fire departments.  (And some great tractors!  And ... and ... and ...) 

The fireworks display at Cantine Field at 10 p.m. is always first class.

Bagpipers at the 2022 Saugerties 4th of July Parade

Photo by Mike Campbell, 2022

For more information, visit the 4th of July page.

THE SAWYER MOTORS CAR SHOW

In 2023, the Sawyer Motors Car Show was held on Sunday, July 9th.   And every year, the car show is typically scheduled within a few weeks after the Saugerties 4th of July parade.

The Sawyer Motors team goes all out, organizing an impressive showing of over 500 cars along Partition and Main Streets.  A visit to antique, cool cars parked along Main, Market and Partition Streets during the show is bound to bring back memories for many of the visitors.  Non-stop live entertainment happens at multiple locations, and of course, there are all of Saugerties' fine dining establishments conveniently just steps away.  Spectator admission? -- always free of charge.

Cars along Main Street

For more information, visit the Sawyer Motors Car Show page on this website or the Sawyer Motors Car Show website.

Saugerties Artists Studio Tour

Each year since 2003, participating Saugerties artists and creators open their studios to the public for a summer weekend.  Hundreds of visitors become privy to the process of art creation in dozens of unique studios situated in village and country locations.  Painters, sculptors, printmakers, potters, illustrators and more invite people into their studios where they may see work in progress, completed works, and even possibly have a hands-on experience!

This year is the 22nd year that the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour is being run.  The events not to be missed:

  • Art in the Barn, 119 Main Street – July 12 opening reception 5-7 p.m.  Gallery hours are Saturdays, 11a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., July 13 through July 28.
  • Artists’ Studio Tour, throughout the town of Saugerties, Saturday and Sunday, August 10 and 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Most artists offer work for sale, often at very affordable prices.

There is an exhibit of the artists' works that is typically held on weekend, in July, in the Kiersted House Dutch Barn (Main Street, Saugerties).

There is no charge to attend the opening reception and the open studio tour is a free, self-guided event.  Registration is not required.

For detailed descriptions and samples of artists work, visit their Web site: www.saugertiesarttour.org. 

If you would like a map that shows the locations of each of the participating artists, they are available at many Saugerties businesses.  Or, you can email bbravo@hvc.rr.com.

HUDSON VALLEY GARLIC FESTIVAL™

Late September or early October ... this festival, organized by the Kiwanis Club of Saugerties, rivals the Gilroy California festival, and certainly offers more varieties of garlic, from the garlic-variety-rich northeastern parts of the U.S.

Garlic Galore

Photo by Phil Kamrass (2016) 

For more information, visit the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival page on this website or  visit the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival™ website.

THE MUM FESTIVAL

Come wander Seamon Park's paths, take in its views, visit the bandstand and fountains and of course enjoy the thousands of mums on display.  You'll perhaps never see as many "Kodak moments" as you will during your Mum Festival visit.

Mum Queens

Photo from the Mum Festival Facebook page.

For more information, visit the Mum Festival page or Mum Festival Facebook page.

DECEMBER HOLIDAY IN THE VILLAGE

The first Sunday of each December, the Saugerties Chamber of Commerce working with Sawyer Motors organizes a festive day that includes (as you see below) free hay rides, gift/bicycle give-aways and numerous fun events for all ages, including an opportunity for kids to meet Santa Claus at the historic Kiersted House.

Free Hay Rides - Holiday in the Village

Photo by Nancy Campbell (2019)  

For more information, visit the Holiday in the Village page.  As the date for the Holiday approaches, the Chamber website contains useful information about this event.

Saugerties Events, Month by Month

For a run-down of the major events and ongoing activities available to visitors to our area, here is a month-by-month list, preceded by coverage of activities/events that are available on an ongoing basis:

 What We've Got Going On, All of the Time or Seasonally:
  • With the Catskill Mountains as its backdrop, HITS-ON-THE-HUDSON is a beautiful place to spend the day and appreciate the beauty of world-class equestrian horses as well as the skills of their riders. The world-class HITS facility is owned and managed by HITS, Inc., the largest producer of Hunter/Jumper horse shows in the country.  They hold seven weeks of competitions between May and September each year.  For more information, visit the Horse Shows - HITS page on this website or   visit the HITS Saugerties webpage for more information.
     
  • Interested in live performances of classical chamber music, jazz, and vocal music that encourage musical dialogue between performer and audience?  Saugerties Pro Musica has a season that generally runs from September through May (one concert per month).
     
  • The historic Kiersted House, built in 1727, is a must-see for every Saugerties visitor, especially those who appreciate history.  See the Saugerties Historical Society webpage or the Kiersted House page on this website for more information about the Kiersted House and the recently renovated historic Dutch Barn on the same property. The Kiersted House is typically open 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, from late May/early June through mid-October.
     
  • We all like healthful, locally grown food.  And in Saugerties, Barry Benepe (who founded the New York City Greenmarket) and Judith Spektor are the power couple behind the Saugerties Farmers Market.  The summer version of the market runs from late May until Halloween.  Visit the Saugerties Farmers Market webpage on this website or the Saugerties Farmers Market Webpage for more information.
     
  • What is there for kids to do?  There's so much, we have a whole page devoted to Kids' Activities.  And for Saugerties kids from 5 to 15 years of age (Pre-K through 8th grade), for the Summer, there is a Summer Recreation Program.  (Each year's program, with new application forms, etc., kick off roughly in Mid-May and the program itself runs from early July through early August.)
     
  • If you love skateboarding, the Saugerties Skate Park is open throughout the year.
     
  • During the winter months, the Kiwanis Ice Arena hosts local teams' hockey games as well as figure skating ice instruction ... and there are opening for free-style skating and drop-in hockey.  Open daily August through April, except Thanksgiving & Christmas, for ice skating.  And from mid April to August it is available for inline skating, birthday parties, group outings, shows, festivals, and many other activities and events.  For more information, visit the Kiwanis Ice Arena website.
     
  • There is also a page on this Saugerties website that walks you through attractions and events, organized by season.
     
  • And finally, maybe the best part of taking in an event in Saugerties, is finding out what great shopping, dining and overnight stay experiences can be had.  For a complete run-down of those possibilities, please visit the Saugerties Chamber of Commerce "Discover Saugerties" website.  Or you can visit the Destination: Saugerties website.
January
  •  January is a month that includes a Sunday Saugerties Pro Musica live performance of classical chamber music, jazz, and/or vocal music. Visit the Saugerties Calendar or the Saugerties Pro Musica website for more information.
     
  • During the month of January, the Kiwanis Ice Arena hosts local teams' hockey games as well as figure skating ice instruction ... and there are opening for free-style skating and drop-in hockey.  For more information, visit the Kiwanis Ice Arena website.
February
  • The bright, full moon in February is commonly called the Snow Moon (or sometimes, the Hungry Moon).  In Saugerties, a team of volunteers got together and decided to fill in our events schedule with a "newcomer" event for February in Saugerties -- the 2023 "Saugerties Snow Moon Festival".  It was a fun 3 days, including a parade, bonfire, music, musical performances, art exhibits, crafting, comedy shows, a run, a scavenger hunt, a magic show, a craft fair, and the list goes on and on.  Oh, and hot cocoa too (of course!).  For a schedule of events for 2024, you can visit the Snow Moon Festival webpage as we get closer to the event.
     
  • February is a month that includes a Sunday Saugerties Pro Musica live performance of classical chamber music, jazz, and/or vocal music. Visit the Saugerties Calendar or the Saugerties Pro Musica website for more information.
     
  • During the month of February, the Kiwanis Ice Arena hosts local teams' hockey games as well as figure skating ice instruction ... and there are opening for free-style skating and drop-in hockey.  For more information, visit the Kiwanis Ice Arena website.
March
  • March is a month that includes a Sunday Saugerties Pro Musica live performance of classical chamber music, jazz, and/or vocal music. Visit the Saugerties Calendar or the Saugerties Pro Musica website for more information.
     
  • During the month of March, the Kiwanis Ice Arena hosts local teams' hockey games as well as figure skating ice instruction ... and there are opening for free-style skating and drop-in hockey.  For more information, visit the Kiwanis Ice Arena website.
April
  • April is a month that includes a Sunday Saugerties Pro Musica live performance of classical chamber music, jazz, and/or vocal music. Visit the Saugerties Calendar or the Saugerties Pro Musica website for more information.
May
June
July
  • Saugerties' celebration of the 4th of July is pure fun.  Mid-day, there is a parade put on by the Saugerties Fire Department.  In 2023, there was yet again a parade to be proud of, organized by the Saugerties Fire Department.  You can learn more about the Saugerties' 4th of July events by visiting the 4th of July page.
     
  • Each year, the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour has been traditionally run in August, with a kick-off in July.  And 2024 will be no exception.  The Opening Reception has been held at the Dutch Barn (119 Main Street).  As a preview to the studio visits, the barn is opened as an exhibit of some of the great works by the artists and makers on July weekends.  And the studio tours commence on a chosen weekend in mid-August.  Specifics to be added here when we have them.  Click here for the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour webpage, for insights into this wonderful event.
     
  • There is no better municipal party put on, than the Sawyer Motors Car Show.  Each July, the streets of Saugerties become a showcase for over 500 cars that bring back the memories.  In 2023, the date for this fun event is Sunday, July 9th.  There's non-stop live entertainment, all of the Village shops and restaurants are open for business and admission to the car show is free.  See the Sawyer Motors Car Show page on this website or the Sawyer Motors Car Show website for more information.
     
  • HITS-ON-THE-HUDSON and their Hunter/Jumper horse shows are in Town this month.  For more information, visit the Horse Shows - HITS page on this website or   visit the HITS Saugerties webpage for more information.
     
  •  July is a good month to visit the historic Kiersted House, which is typically open 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, from late May/early June through mid-October.  See the Saugerties Historical Society webpage or the Kiersted House page on this website for more information about the Kiersted House and the recently renovated historic Dutch Barn on the same property.
     
  • The Saugerties Farmers Market runs each Saturday in July.  It's open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Visit the Saugerties Farmers Market page on this website or the Saugerties Farmers Market's own Webpage for more information.
     
  • The Saugerties Summer Day Camp (a.k.a. Summer Youth Recreation Program) runs from July through mid-August.  If you want your child to participate, make sure to visit the Summer Recreation Program page and sign your child or children up.  There is a scholarship application as well.
     
  • Saugerties has become known for its summertime Saugerties Street Art.  In the past, visitors have seen how local artists have gotten creative with various themes: horses, lighthouses, rocking chairs, butterfly figures, sailboats, rocking horses, pedal cars and even an owl (in honor of Rocky the Owl).  In 2023, the Saugerties Village and Town street decoration theme was "Hors'n Around Saugerties".  In 2024, the plans seem to be aimed at painted/decorated VW (hippie) bus figures (in honor of a planned celebration in Saugerties in 2024 of the 30th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival that took place in Saugerties). 


    For more information, visit:

    • The Street Art page on this website, for a few more details and a history of this fun, summertime outdoor exhibit and auction.
    • The Saugerties Chamber of Commerce page, especially as we get closer to summertime and this event begins to come to life.

      Each year, the artists' creations are displayed on Saugerties streets (with maps on the Chamber website) during the summer until Labor Day and then they are auctioned off (online or live) at a big event in September, with a good amount of the proceeds going to good causes.
       
  • Saugerties is blessed to be the home of Arm-of-the-Sea Theater and their giant puppet troupe.  As their mission statement says, they inspire wonder, provoke thought, give joy and enrich the public imagination.  They typically appear in Saugerties at various times from June through October, including their regular appearance at the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival™.  See the Arm-of-the-Sea Theater website for more information, including date specifics.  Their website also covers their appearances as they tour outside Saugerties.
August
  • August features the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour, with visits to the participating area artists' studios/work spaces.   Specifics to be added here and to the calendar when we have them.  Click here for the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour webpage, for insights into this wonderful event.
     
  • Saugerties is blessed to be the home of Arm-of-the-Sea Theater and their giant puppet troupe.  As their mission statement says, they inspire wonder, provoke thought, give joy and enrich the public imagination.  They typically appear in Saugerties at various times from June through October, including their regular appearance at the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival™.  See the Arm-of-the-Sea Theater website for more information, including date specifics.  Their website also covers their appearances as they tour outside Saugerties.
     
  • HITS-ON-THE-HUDSON and their Hunter/Jumper horse shows are in Town this month.  For more information, visit the Horse Shows - HITS page on this website or   visit the HITS Saugerties webpage for more information.
     
  • August is a good month to visit the historic Kiersted House, which is typically open 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, from late May/early June through mid-October.  See the Saugerties Historical Society webpage or the Kiersted House page on this website for more information about the Kiersted House and the recently renovated historic Dutch Barn on the same property.
     
  • The Saugerties Farmers Market runs each Saturday in August.  It's open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Visit the Saugerties Farmers Market page on this Web Site or the Saugerties Farmers Market Webpage for more information.
     
  • The Saugerties Summer Day Camp (a.k.a. Summer Youth Recreation Program)   that started in early July runs through mid-August.  If you want your child to participate, make sure to visit the Summer Recreation Program page and sign your child or children up.  There is a scholarship application as well.
     
  • Saugerties has become known for its summertime Saugerties Street Art.  In the past, visitors have seen how local artists have gotten creative with various themes: horses, lighthouses, rocking chairs, butterfly figures, sailboats, rocking horses, pedal cars and even an owl (in honor of Rocky the Owl).  In 2023, the Saugerties Village and Town street decoration theme was "Hors'n Around Saugerties".  In 2024, the plans seem to be aimed at painted/decorated VW (hippie) bus figures (in honor of a planned celebration in Saugerties in 2024 of the 30th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival that took place in Saugerties).  For more information, visit the Saugerties Chamber website. 

    Each year, the artists' creations are displayed on Saugerties streets (with maps on the Chamber website) during the summer until Labor Day and then they are auctioned off (online or live) at a big event in September, with a good amount of the proceeds going to good causes.
September
  • HITS-ON-THE-HUDSON and their Hunter/Jumper horse shows are in Town this month.  Visit the HITS Saugerties webpage for more information.
     
  • The Hudson Valley Garlic Festival - Saugerties' rolls out the welcome mat for tens of thousands of garlic lovers.  Typically the last full weekend in September, the Garlic Festival features (literally) tons of gourmet garlic, and everything you can imagine that can relate in some way to garlic ... including food, T-shirts, crafts and garlic products including soap(!), chocolate(!) and dog treats!.  Educational, fun, musical (5 stages, all with great musicians), and tasty!  Some general information and pictures on this page.  Full info available at hvgf.org.
     
  • September is a good month to visit the historic Kiersted House, which is typically open 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, from late May/early June through mid-October.  See the Saugerties Historical Society webpage or the Kiersted House page on this website for more information about the Kiersted House and the recently renovated historic Dutch Barn on the same property.
     
  • September is a month that includes a Sunday Saugerties Pro Musica live performance of classical chamber music, jazz, and/or vocal music. Visit the Saugerties Calendar or the Saugerties Pro Musica website for more information.
     
  • The Saugerties Farmers Market runs each Saturday in September.  It's open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Visit the Saugerties Farmers Market page on this Web Site or the Saugerties Farmers Market Webpage for more information.
     
  • Saugerties is blessed to be the home of Arm-of-the-Sea Theater and their giant puppet troupe.  As their mission statement says, they inspire wonder, provoke thought, give joy and enrich the public imagination.  They typically appear in Saugerties at various times from June through October, including their regular appearance at the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival™.  See the Arm-of-the-Sea Theater website for more information, including date specifics.  Their website also covers their appearances as they tour outside Saugerties.
     
  • During the month of September, the Kiwanis Ice Arena hosts local teams' hockey games as well as figure skating ice instruction ... and there are opening for free-style skating and drop-in hockey.  For more information, visit the Kiwanis Ice Arena website.
     
  • Saugerties has become known for its summertime Saugerties Street Art.  In the past, visitors have seen how local artists have gotten creative with various themes: horses, lighthouses, rocking chairs, butterfly figures, sailboats, rocking horses, pedal cars and even an owl (in honor of Rocky the Owl).  In 2023, the Saugerties Village and Town street decoration theme was "Hors'n Around Saugerties".  In 2024, the plans seem to be aimed at painted/decorated VW (hippie) bus figures (in honor of a planned celebration in Saugerties in 2024 of the 30th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival that took place in Saugerties).  For more information, visit the Saugerties Chamber website. or the Summer Street Art page on this website.

    Each year, the artists' creations are displayed on Saugerties streets (with maps on the Chamber website) during the summer until Labor Day and then they are auctioned off (online or live) at a big event in September, with a good amount of the proceeds going to good causes.
October
  • Since For 53 years running, the Saugerties Mum Festival shows off the beautiful rolling grounds of Seamon Park.  The colorful mums, the crowning of the Mum queen, the artwork, the food and the crowds are all a big part of the charm of Saugerties.  The locale for uncountable numbers of wedding photo shoots (contact the Village office - 845-246-2321 x1 if you're interested) Seamon Park has its peak day on Mum Festival Day, typically on the first Sunday in October.
     
  • The first half of October is a good time to visit the historic Kiersted House, which is typically open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, from late May/early June through mid-October.  You can find useful additional information about the Kiersted House, both the Saugerties Historical Society website or the Saugerties website's Kiersted House page for additional information.
     
  • October is a month that includes a Sunday Saugerties Pro Musica live performance of classical chamber music, jazz, and/or vocal music. Visit the Saugerties Calendar or the Saugerties Pro Musica website for more information.
     
  • The Saugerties Farmers Market runs most if not all Saturdays in October.  It's open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Visit the Saugerties Farmers Market page on this Web Site or the Saugerties Farmers Market Webpage for more information.
     
  • Saugerties is blessed to be the home of Arm-of-the-Sea Theater and their giant puppet troupe.  As their mission statement says, they inspire wonder, provoke thought, give joy and enrich the public imagination.  They typically appear in Saugerties at various times from June through October, including their regular appearance at the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival™.  See the Arm-of-the-Sea Theater website for more information, including date specifics.  Their website also covers their appearances as they tour outside Saugerties.
November
December
  • Holiday in the Village happens the first weekend in December.  The events change a bit from year to year, but what you can expect to see are an amazing holiday raffle, horse-drawn carriage rides, entertainment, caroling, the decked-out Kiersted House Dutch Barn, where Santa is ready to greet any children visiting Saugerties that day.  The Holiday in the Village page is typically updated in late November preceding the event.  
     
  • December is a month that sometimes includes a Sunday Saugerties Pro Musica live performance of classical chamber music, jazz, and/or vocal music. Visit the Saugerties Calendar or the Saugerties Pro Musica website for more information.
     
  • During the month of December, the Kiwanis Ice Arena hosts local teams' hockey games as well as figure skating ice instruction ... and there are openings for free-style skating and drop-in hockey.  For more information, visit the Kiwanis Ice Arena website.