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Weekend Fun: County Fairs, Insane Inflatable, Lighted Boat Parade

Catch the final weekend of the Orange County Fair in Middletown. Photo courtesy of the fair
Catch the final weekend of the Orange County Fair in Middletown. Photo courtesy of the fair
7/24/19 - By Susan Miele

A bounty of festivals and other summer fun continues this weekend for Westchester and Hudson Valley families.

Held in a rural setting, the second annual Hudson Valley Brassroots Festival offers two days of brass-band music, plus food, farm tours, and a kids’ processional.

The Putnam County Fair has all the trappings of carnival amusement, live animals, and other fun stuff. If your family likes action, you won’t want to miss the Insane Inflatable 5K—not your toddler’s bouncy house, for sure, though there are kid-directed options.

Other top picks: For daytime fun, the Stony Kill Butterfly Festival; for evening fun, watch the nautical procession along the harbor at the festive Lighted Boat Parade.

Read on for more details and more great options—then consult our Event Calendar for our daily selection of activities. Also check out our Summer Fun Guide, with ideas for every aspect of the season!

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Meet some friendly animals at the Putnam County Fair in Carmel. Photo courtesy of the fair
Meet some friendly animals at the Putnam County Fair in Carmel. Photo courtesy of the fair

Things To Do All Weekend

Putnam Country Fest and 4H Showcase

Carmel
This free outdoor festival features 4H horse and dog shows and demonstrations as well as live music, inflatables and games, activities and a magician, a car show, food trucks, and much more. READ MORE

Euphonia: Brassroots Festival at Opus 40

Kingston
Enjoy brass bands all day with food and drink vendors in an amazing location. The festival also features hands-on crafts and music-focused kids programming by Jason Vance and Laura Ward in the Kids Activity Tent from 3 to 6pm (think drum circles, musical Simon Says,  and interactive instrument crafting). READ MORE

Orange County Fair

Middletown
The annual Orange County Fair returns, featuring new carnival rides, a performance by the Anastasini Circus, monster truck shows, a petting zoo, fireworks, and more. READ MORE
Boats will light up New Rochelle Harbor on Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Lighted Boat Parade
Boats will light up New Rochelle Harbor on Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Lighted Boat Parade

Things To Do on Saturday, July 27

Lighted Boat Parade

New Rochelle – FREE
The annual Lighted Boat Parade returns to the New Rochelle coastline this Labor Day weekend. This event draws dozens of area boaters from skiffs to cruisers, decked out in their best illumination. The best viewing points are Hudson Park and Neptune Park.  READ MORE

Insane Inflatable 5K

Rhinebeck
This 5K features approximately three miles of a giant inflatable obstacle course that tours the country, stopping at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. Form a team and wear costumes or just go solo. Kids aged 4-9 get their own course, a discounted rate, and a midway. READ MORE

Stony Kill Butterfly Festival

Wappingers Falls
More than 2000 visitors are expected at this year's festival, which features butterfly tents, expert Q&A, face painting, henna art, hula hooping, vendors, storytelling, food, music, and crafts. READ MORE
Kids can draw with illustrators at Katonah Museum of Art's Family Day on Sunday. Photo by Margaret Fox
Kids can draw with illustrators at Katonah Museum of Art's Family Day on Sunday. Photo by Margaret Fox

Things To Do on Sunday, July 28

KMA Family Day: Symbols, Stories, and Self

Katonah
Join artist Damien Davis, whose work is featured in The Pollack Family Learning Center, for a collaborative kinetic sculpture project bursting with vibrant colors and magical moving parts. Creative activities will be happening all around the Katonah Museum of Art, including decorating rocket ships, astronaut buttons, a cozy story corner, and more.  READ MORE

Ice Cream Social

Garrison
The construction of Boscobel House and Gardens coincided with the introduction of ice cream to the White House menu. Enjoy this frozen treat--both contemporary flavors and those popular in the 1800s--along with live music, colonial lawn games, and self-guided tours. READ MORE
Big Bounce America comes to Brooklyn this weekend! Photo courtesy of Big Bounce America
Big Bounce America comes to Brooklyn this weekend! Photo courtesy of Big Bounce America

Things To Do Beyond Westchester

The World's Biggest Bounce House

Brooklyn
The Big Bounce America–the world's largest touring inflatable event–is returning to Brooklyn. READ MORE

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