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Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids August 2025

Make a splash at the Muddy Puddles Mess Fest in Mahopac. Photo courtesy of the fest
Make a splash at the Muddy Puddles Mess Fest in Mahopac. Photo courtesy of the fest
7/27/25 - 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!

All aboard! Kids won't want to miss a ride on the Catskill Mountain Railroad's Dinosaur Express, featuring dinosaur hunters and roaming dinos on the train ride that ends at a dinosaur park. Alternatively, 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.

Our picks this August also include multiple family-friendly sunflower festivals in the Hudson Valley, such as the Sunflower Festival at Barton Orchards and the Sunflower Extravaganza at Kelder's Farm, both of which feature great photo-ops and tons of activities for kids and adults.

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this May—we're adding more events to the Westchester Events Calendar every day. 

More Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Take a train ride back in time to the Jurassic Period on the Dino Express. Photo courtesy of the Catskill Mountain Railroad
Take a train ride back in time to the Jurassic Period on the Dino Express. Photo courtesy of the Catskill Mountain Railroad

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

Ulster County Fair

New Paltz
Tuesday, July 29-Sunday, August 3, 2025
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

Muddy Puddles Mess Fest at Kiwi Country Day Camp

Mahopac
Saturday, August 2, 2025
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

Fishkill Police Department's National Night Out

Fishkill – FREE
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
The annual Law Enforcement National Night Out at Geering Park features live entertainment by The Carrie Zazz Band, plus food trucks, bouncy houses, and more.  READ MORE

South Salem Fire Department's Carnival

South Salem
Wednesday, August 6-Sunday, August 9, 2025
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 20 fire departments joining. Enter the raffle on Saturday for a chance to win cash prizes. READ MORE

Catskill Mountain Railroad's Dinosaur Express

Poughquag
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 8-17, 2025
Grab your explorer’s hat and take a train ride back in time to the Jurassic Period and discover the magic of dinosaurs! One of the highlights of this train ride is the presence of roaming dinosaurs and friendly dinosaur hunters onboard. Let your little ones’ imaginations run wild as they encounter these prehistoric creatures during the journey and at the Dinosaur Park. READ MORE

Whimsical Water Day at Sarah Lawrence

Yonkers
Saturday, August 9, 2025
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. Enjoy free food and music. READ MORE

Community Art Day at Pelham Art Center

Pelham – FREE
Saturday, August 9, 2025
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

Hudson Valley Sunflower Festival at Kelder's Farm

Kerhonkson
Select dates from Saturday, August 9 - Monday, September 1, 2025
Celebrate summer at the Hudson Valley Sunflower Festival at Kelder's Farm all month long. The 6-acre sunflower field is blooming with multiple varieties and colors of sunflowers. And, as usual, enjoy all the farm attractions, including a taproom for adults, mini golf, tube slides, farm animals, jumping pillow, corn maze, new combine slides, and more.   READ MORE

Beacon Corn Festival

Beacon–FREE
Sunday, August 10, 2025
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

Princess Brunch at the Bear Mountain Inn

Bear Mountain
Sunday, August 10, 2025
Treat your little ones to a royal experience at the Bear Mountain Inn's Princess Brunch. It’s an unforgettable day filled with delicious food, enchanting princesses, and VIP memories your kids will cherish forever. Ticket includes brunch, magical drinks for kids, and cocktails for adults. READ MORE

Sunflower & Sangria Festival at Meadowbrook Farm Catskills

Leeds
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 15-17, 2025
Enjoy the beauty of Meadowbrook Farm's sunflower field, which boasts more than 125,000 sunflowers in bloom. And be sure to try a flight of sangria or a local craft beer. Each festival ticket also includes a hayride to the sunflower fields, time to take photos and enjoy the blooms, live music, and access to food and craft vendors. READ MORE

Evening with the Moths at Westmoreland Sanctuary

Mount Kisco
Saturday, August 16, 2025
This outdoor program at Westmoreland invites participants to explore the world of moths through tree baiting and the use of specialized outdoor lighting. The event provides a unique opportunity for species identification, education, and photography. READ MORE

Hudson Valley Caribbean Festival

Saugerties – FREE
Saturday, August 16, 2025
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 16-Sunday, October 5, 2025
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

Dia de la Cultura Ecuatoriana - Westchester Roots Festival

Sleepy Hollow – FREE
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Join Westchester Roots for an afternoon of Ecuadorian music, dance, food, and crafts, along with family-friendly presentations that feature traditional Ecuadorian costumes and the indigenous Kichwa language. READ MORE

Dutchess County Fair

Rhinebeck
Tuesday, August 19-Sunday, August 24, 2025
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

Summer Hoot Music & Nature Festival at the Ashokan Center

Olivebridge
Friday, August 22-Sunday, August 24, 2025
Enjoy three days of eclectic live roots music, restorative time in nature, and inter-generational community building at the Ashokan Center's Summer Hoot.  Kids under 18 are free!  READ MORE

Sunflower Festival at Barton Orchards

Poughquag
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 22-31, 2025
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

New York Air Show at the Orange County Airport

Montgomery
Saturday, August 23-Sunday, August 24, 2025
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

Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival in Tymore Park

Union Vale
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 29-31, 2025
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

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About the Author

Katherine Dhurandhar
Katherine Dhurandhar is a Community Publisher for Mommy Poppins, representing the Westchester and Hudson Valley region of New York, and a freelance copyeditor for Westchester Publishing Company. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling with her husband and son.
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