Family events in Dutchess County, NY

Barton Orchards presents a series of live performances alongside cider and tasty bites. Visitors can wander the orchard and pick up something to eat. The well known lobster rolls are a highlight.

Tract-or-Treat Weekend brings a family-friendly Halloween celebration to The Sound Garden at Barton Orchards, where guests are welcome to dress up and a costume contest recognizes standout adult, child, and dog looks. A Farm Festival Day Pass includes a Halloween parade that assembles at the Goat Bridge, the contest in the Sound Garden, and Tract-or-Treat right after. Entertainment features the Hocus Pocus Rock Show live in the Sound Garden, pig races, live music, and special appearances such as Zack Alexander’s magic shows and a visit from Two by Two Animal Haven. Around the farm, explore the Fun Park with a mega slide, pedal carts, a cow train, mini golf, and tube slides, along with a carousel, a petting zoo, a wooden ship playground, and a dog park. Haunted thrills await in Rotten Core Manor and the corn maze, and a flashlight adds extra fun after dark. Pick-your-own apples and pumpkins are available, with apple bags priced at $25 per peck or $45 per half bushel. Admission is $25 for ages 4 to 12 and $37 for ages 13 and up, and ages 3 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online or at the farm, and all sales are final with no refunds. Discounted early bird pricing is offered for advance online purchases, and carnival add-on tickets are available on festival weekends.

Step into the Hyde Park Historical Museum to explore highlights from the community’s past. This is a casual, family friendly outing where curiosity is encouraged and discoveries await. Share the experience with friends or kids, uncover surprises from Hyde Park’s history, and enjoy an easygoing visit that makes the past feel lively and fun.

Young creators explore flight in a lively, hands-on program presented by the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum. At East Gate Plaza in Poughkeepsie, children design, build, and launch their own flying inventions while investigating how aircraft work. Try hoop gliders and paper planes, compare how shape, balance, and wing size change performance, and test which designs soar the farthest or stay aloft the longest. The session is led by museum educators from the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, a children’s science center devoted to igniting curiosity, nurturing creativity, and learning through exploration and play. All Walkway Connections events are free and welcoming to all ages. Support for Walkway Connections is provided in part by the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and The M&T Charitable Foundation.

See Walkway Over the Hudson in a new light with an evening walk as the valley glows and the moon rises. From high above the river, take in sweeping night views as the lights of Poughkeepsie and Highland shimmer in the distance, and enjoy a twilight journey across the world’s longest elevated pedestrian span. Weather allowing, members of the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association set up telescopes on the bridge for close-up looks at the night sky. Admission is free for Walkway members. Non-members may purchase tickets for $5 in advance or at the gate, and children 12 and under are free. Pre-registration is encouraged to help shorten wait times at entry. Friends of the Walkway, a nonprofit partner of New York State Parks, directs proceeds and donations from this program to community-focused events, added amenities, and ongoing improvements to the park. Members receive an emailed registration code that provides one complimentary admission for Individual memberships and up to four for Household memberships.

Enjoy a lighthearted puppy yoga session with gentle poses, playful movement, and plenty of time to cuddle and interact with the pups. This class welcomes ages 5 and up. Fifty percent of proceeds benefit The Incredible Pups Pet Rescue. Pricing is $20 per individual, $50 for a family of up to four, and $15 for each additional family member after four. Capacity is limited.