

Hudson Valley in New York is known for its festive spirit, celebrating culture, art, history and, of course, independence. This lively region in New York has numerous events and festivals that happen throughout the year. Whenever you are in the Hudson Valley, you will be able to find a festival and experience the true American spirit as well as enjoy the scenic beauty of the Hudson River. From wine and food festivals to live music shows, you will be able to enjoy the rich history of the land by being a part of these events. Here is our list of popular festivals in Hudson Valley, New York.
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1. All-American Celebration

All-American Celebration is a very popular festival in Saratoga Springs that attracts people from all over Hudson Valley every year for the fourth of July American Independence Day celebration. This festival is a non-profit that lasts the whole day. The morning celebrations include events like a fireworks display and road race. The evening celebrations happen outside the historic Congress Park, which is comprised of a concert, a live reading of Benjamin Franklin’s Declaration of Independence, and a fireworks display with patriotic music. In this festival, you will experience the exhilarating joy of American Independence.
All-American Celebration
Address: Saratoga, NY, USA
Takes Place: July
2. Dutchess Dragon Boat Race and Festival
One of the popular boating festivals on the Hudson River is the Dutchess Dragon Boat Race and Festival that is organized in the month of July every year. This festival is quite popular among the locals, mainly because the revenue is donated to the amazing cause of creating safe and affordable homes for the poor. This fabulous event is organized by a non-profit organization called Habitat for Humanity. Witness the 42-feet (12.8-meter) long dragon boats pierce through the waters as participating teams compete against each other. You will also find delicious food stalls, game stalls, and entertainment booths on the premises.
Dutchess Dragon Boat Race and Festival
Address: 270 N Water St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Website: Dutchess Dragon Boat Race and Festival
Takes Place: July
3. An Old-Fashioned Independence Day
An Old-Fashioned Independence Day, as the name suggests, is the celebration of American independence in an 18th-century fashion. The celebration takes place on the Hudson River, and it is a completely donation-based event. In this event, there will be a lot of actors reenacting the 18th-century events that led to the Declaration of Independence. You can also enjoy live music, a fireworks display, delicious food from various stalls, and other entertaining activities. This event is a great way to educate the younger generation about American history.
An Old-Fashioned Independence Day
Address: Clermont State Historic Site, 1 Clermont Ave, Germantown, NY
Takes Place: July
4. Hudson Valley Wine & Chocolate Festival
Hudson Valley Wine & Chocolate Festival is an annual event where you can enjoy the authentic brews and delicious foods from New York wineries, breweries, and food trucks. During this festival, you will be able to sample wine and chocolates from all the participating brands. You can also purchase local specialties such as olive oil, homemade sauces, honey, and handcrafted items. This is an event that is not only a treat to your taste buds but to all your senses.
Hudson Valley Wine & Chocolate Festival
Address: Ulster County Fairgrounds, New Paltz, New York
Takes Place: Usually held in May
5. Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival
For about three decades, Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival has been a premium event that attracts numerous balloonists from across the country. The event premises will be packed with food vendors and handicraft sellers. During this festival, hundreds of balloonists will launch their hot-air balloons, and it attracts thousands of visitors from across the globe. Come here to experience hot-air balloon rides, helicopter rides, kid’s activities, tether rides, live music shows, and hayrides. A major attraction at this festival is the majestic Hot-Air Balloon Illumination Moon Glow.
Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival
Address: Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6636 Route 9, Rhinebeck, NY United States 12572
Website: Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival
Takes Place: Usually held in July
6. Hudson Valley Garlic Festival

With hundreds of garlic farmers from across the country participating in this unique festival, Hudson Valley Garlic Festival happens every year in the month of September at Saugerties, New York. Witness and experience the great love for garlic in the country at the second-largest garlic fest in the US. During this event, the whole of Cantine Field will be filled with numerous participating vendors, unique craftsmen, live music performers and, of course, a flock of garlic fans. Have you ever tasted garlic flavored ice-cream? Grab a scoop here at Hudson Valley Garlic Festival.
Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Address: Cantine Field, Washington Avenue Extension, Saugerties, New York 12477
Website: Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Takes Place: Usually held in September
Price: 10 USD
7. Warwick Food Truck Festival
Warwick Food Truck Festival is a popular event featuring the best food trucks and beermakers in Hudson Valley. Enjoy the lip-smacking taste of deep-fried foods at this food truck fair and try amazing craft brews. Savor the wide range of food, desserts, drinks, and snacks freshly made for you at each stall. As you are treating your taste-buds you can listen to some great live music. This is a festival that will awaken the foodie in you, and it is definitely a must-visit event while in Hudson Valley.
Warwick Food Truck Festival
Address: 100 St. Stephens Pl, Warwick, NY 10990
Website: Warwick Food Truck Festival
Takes Place: Usually held in June/ July/ August or September
8. Pleasantville Music Festival
When speaking of festivals in Hudson Valley, you cannot miss a great music festival. One such unmissable event is the Pleasantville Music Festival that visitors and locals enjoy every year. This music event is a treat to lovers of rock music. This is an open-air festival, so you can enjoy setting up tents, sipping a drink, checking out fun activities, dancing, and more. Do note that this is a zero-waste program, and its whole purpose is to introduce emerging talents to ardent music lovers.
Pleasantville Music Festival
Address: Parkway Field Pleasantville, New York, United States
Website: Pleasantville Music Festival
Takes Place: July
9. JetLag Music Festival
Another must-see music festival in the Hudson Valley is the JetLag Music Festival that celebrates Asian and European music in the USA. This event welcomes not only established bands with a wide following but also new talents worth discovering. Enjoy a variety of music genres like Balkan wave, cabaret, Russian folk music, rap, rock, reggae, and more. It is a great place to be for fans of unique music genres. Every year JetLag brings in new participants to ensure that fans get to experience different styles of music every year.
JetLag Music Festival
Address: Downsville, Delaware County, NY
Website: JetLag Music Festival
Takes Place: Usually held in June
10. Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival
When speaking of American festivals, one cannot miss this particular event. It has become an American thing to celebrate the great works of Shakespeare, and the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF) does just that. This is organized by a non-profit theater near Manhattan. Come watch professional actors and artists perform Shakespearean plays and sonnets in a creative manner. This is an open-air festival that is held on the banks of the Hudson River, at the beautiful gardens of Boscobel House. You can relax inside tents while watching stunning renditions of William Shakespeare’s plays. With over 60,000 art students and teachers, the community brings his works to life.
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival
Address: Boscobel House and Gardens, 1601 Route NY-9D, Garrison, NY 10524
Website: Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival
Opening hours: June to September
Experience the culture and the festive spirit of Hudson Valley
The festivities here are a one-of-a-kind experience where you can witness and celebrate the culture of Hudson Valley. You will find some celebration or other all throughout the year in this amazing region, and you will surely catch the New York fever in no time. The festivities on the banks of the Hudson River will surely be a refreshing treat. For a memorable time in the US, be sure to check out these amazing festivals in Hudson Valley.
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