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22 Best Free and Fun Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids August 2024

Make a splash at the Muddy Puddles Mess Fest in Mahopac this month. Photo courtesy of the fest
Make a splash at the Muddy Puddles Mess Fest in Mahopac this month. Photo courtesy of the fest
7/28/24 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

There are tons of things to do in August in Westchester and the Hudson Valley–enjoy outdoor movies and concerts, summer festivals, and the best beach days. After all, summer is not over yet!

New attractions this August include Circus POP The Giant Bubble Show at Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center and Fearless-The Taylor Swift Experience at the Paramount Hudson Valley.

Other August fairs and festivals include big ones like the Dutchess County Fair. Meanwhile, families who don't mind a little dirt (or a lot!) are invited to beat the heat by getting muddy with Peppa Pig at the Muddy Puddles Mess Fest in Mahopac. 

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.  

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Top Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids This August

Ulster County Fair

New Paltz
Tuesday, July 30-Sunday, August 4, 2024
This 6-day fair–steeped in more than 130 years of history–offers rides, food, entertainment, exhibits, and games in traditional county-fair style. Listed attractions include racing pigs, fireworks, a baby contest, horse shows, stilt walkers, a petting zoo, and other assorted fun. READ MORE

Family Fun Day and Sand Art Competition at Glen Island Beach

New Rochelle
Saturday, August 3, 2024
Bring your best buckets, shovels, and molds (and a few friends) to this county-sponsored sand-castle competition. Enjoy family-fun games as well.  READ MORE

Muddy Puddles Mess Fest at Kiwi Country Day Camp

Mahopac
Saturday, August 3, 2024
Get messy while supporting pediatric cancer research with a slopstacle course, splatter paint, mud pit, pie tosses, food fights, beauty tent, zip lining, water balloons, kiddie car wash, slime time, climbing walls, paddle boats, bounce houses, and games. And don't forget to meet Peppa Pig! READ MORE

Heritage of India Festival at Kensico Dam

Valhalla–FREE
Sunday, August 4, 2024
Enjoy traditional Indian dance performances, music, food, vendors, and more at this celebration of the culture of India.  READ MORE

Fishkill Police Department's National Night Out

Fishkill–FREE
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
The 3rd annual Law Enforcement National Night Out at Geering Park features live entertainment by Best of the Hudson Valley 2023 Winners, The Carrie Zazz Band, plus food trucks, bouncy houses, and more.  READ MORE

South Salem Fire Department's Carnival

South Salem
Wednesday, August 7-Sunday, August 10, 2024
Spend any of four August evenings enjoying the fun of a classic carnival–rides, games, food, and prizes. Additionally, a fireman's parade is scheduled for Wednesday with some 20 fire departments joining. Enter the raffle on Saturday for a chance to win cash prizes. READ MORE

Whimsical Water Day at Sarah Lawrence

Yonkers
Saturday, August 10, 2024
Families are invited to learn about water quality in the community, go fishing with a seine net, play games, and win prizes at Sarah Lawrence College Center for the Urban River at Beczak. There will be free food and music. READ MORE

New York Air Show at the Orange County Airport

Montgomery
Saturday, August 10-Sunday, August 11, 2024
At this two-day event devoted to aircraft and aerial maneuvers, participating flyers include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the West Point Parachute Team, and others. Get an up-close look at the static display of aircraft, and pop over on Friday night to catch a glimpse of practice runs. READ MORE

Ecuadorian Heritage Festival at Croton Point Park

Croton
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Enjoy music, entertainment, crafts, and food vendors at the Ecuadorian Heritage Festival held in scenic Croton Point Park.  READ MORE

Beacon Corn Festival

Beacon–FREE
Sunday, August 11, 2024
This festival, hosted by the Beacon Sloop Club, celebrates all things corn at the Beacon Riverfront Park. Expect live music, food, craft vendors, and free kids’ activities. READ MORE

Summer Lawn Series: Broadway in Bedford - West End Hits

Bedford
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Enjoy your favorite songs from London's West End, presented on the Playhouse Lawn, conducted by Dan Micciche, musical director of "Wicked." READ MORE

Saugerties Caribbean Carnival & Parade

Saugerties–FREE
Saturday, August 17, 2024
Experience the festive culture of the Caribbean at this fun, family-friendly carnival with face painting, a costume contest, DJ, arts & crafts, food vendors, and more, plus a colorful parade. READ MORE

New York Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo

Tuxedo
Weekends from Saturday, August 17-Sunday, October 6, 2024
Also on Labor Day
Travel back in time for an amusing romp through 30 acres of Elizabethan England, with games, rides, food, fairies, performances, and roving actors jovially interacting with the crowd. Of course, wearing period attire adds to the fun and can be rented or purchased on-site. READ MORE

Jewish Music & Arts Heritage Festival at Kensico Dam

Valhalla–FREE
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Celebrate Jewish culture at Kensico Dam Plaza at the annual Jewish Music and Arts Festival. Bring your blankets and chairs and enjoy a day of music, Israeli dancing, food, vendors, and children's activities including free face painting, a WonderSparks puppet show, and juggling with Ned Gelfars. READ MORE

Dutchess County Fair

Rhinebeck
Tuesday, August 20-Sunday, August 25, 2024
This large-scale fair features Midway carnival rides, games, livestock exhibits, competitions, and a slew of entertainment that ranges from racing pigs and dock-diving dogs to chainsaw carving and a tractor pull. The fair features a petting zoo, kids' fun zone, acrobats, concerts, and much more. READ MORE

Sunflower Festival at Barton Orchards

Poughquag
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 23-September 1, 2024
Roam through 5 acres filled with 100,000 sunflowers of various sizes and colors for a sunshiny family photo-op and mood lifter. Admission includes transportation to the field via hayride and access to the Fun Park. Live music and refreshments are available for purchase.  READ MORE

Summer Hoot Music & Nature Festival at the Ashokan Center

Olivebridge
Friday, August 23-Sunday, August 25, 2024
Enjoy three days of eclectic live roots music, restorative time in nature, and inter-generational community building at the Ashokan Center's Summer Hoot.  READ MORE

Community Art Day at Pelham Art Center

Pelham–FREE
Saturday, August 24, 2024
Pelham Art Center presents its Community Art Day, an afternoon dedicated to the celebration, creation, and appreciation of art. There will be art workshops, a live DJ, kids activities, and more! READ MORE

Circus POP The Giant Bubble Show at Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center

Warwick
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Ringling Bros. alumnus Logan Jimenez presents Circus POP Giant Bubble Show at Sugarloaf Performing Arts Center. Logan combines crazy circus stunts such as fire-eating, daring escapes, and crawling inside a giant balloon with incredible bubble artistry. He effortlessly creates bubble sculptures, bubbles that burst into flames, and bubble volcanoes. READ MORE

Muslim Heritage Celebration at Kensico Dam

Valhalla–FREE
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Explore Muslim culture through exhibits, performances, and food. READ MORE

Fearless- The Taylor Swift Experience at the Paramount Hudson Valley

Peekskill
Sunday, August 25, 202
Get ready for a show the whole family will love! The Paramount Hudson Valley presents Fearless – The Taylor Swift Experience. Special kids pricing is available for children under 12.  READ MORE

Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival in Tymore Park

Union Vale
Friday, August 30-Sunday, September 1, 2024
Plan your next photo-op as some 75 hot-air balloons paint the sky in a rainbow of colors—or schedule a tethered or full flight of your own. Fireworks, helicopter rides, live music, food trucks, and family activities add to the fun at Tymore Park. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Sarah Lawrence College Center for the Urban River at Beczak
Beacon Riverfront Park
Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center