Did you start the summer with big plans and long summer bucket lists? Do you also feel the summer slipping by? We cannot believe it's already August and before we know it the kids will be back to school and we will be back to routines and busy days. The days are already getting shorter and the evenings cooler.
We aren't ready to say goodbye to summer yet! Squeeze in all the ice cream making, cookouts, sprinklers, and s'mores you can at home but also check out these 20 fun ideas for summer fun this August in Southern Dutchess, NY.
1. Picnic at Riverfront Park in Beacon
Pack a cooler and plan to spend the day. There are picnic tables and BBQs for grilling. Tennis, volleyball, and basketball hoops will keep the whole family active. You can also go fishing, make new friends at the awesome playground, and cool off in the river pool. If you go on a Sunday, don’t miss the Beacon Farmers Market!
2. Visit a waterpark
Splashdown Beach, 'America's Biggest Little Water Park' is a must-do every summer for kids of all ages. Local tip - visit on Mondays! There are far fewer (maybe none?) camp trips and out-of-towners on Mondays. Enjoy water slides for the entire family, plus a lazy river, pool, wave pool, giant splash area, and even a few places to put your toes in the sand! (another tip: bring some sand toys and park yourself on a chair while the littles play to soak up a few minutes of uninterrupted sun).
3. Jump in a Lake
There are quite a few places to cool off in Southern Dutchess this summer, check them all out here. Red Wing Lake is one local favorite where residents of East Fishkill and non-resident neighbors including Beekman, Fishkill, Lagrange, Pawling, and Wappingers can enjoy the beach plus bath-house, restrooms, concession stand, picnic area, 2 pavilions, basketball court, volleyball court, swim lanes, fishing area, and playground.
4. Go Mini Golfing
Those of us who have been around a long time have fond memories of mini golfing (and probably a few birthday parties) at DC Sports (though a different name back then). While DC Sports has a fun outdoor mini golf course it’s not all they offer. Family and friends can spend a summer afternoon enjoying outdoor mini golf, blacklight mini golf, sand volleyball, arcade games, bounce houses, golf simulators, and even live music.
5. Catch a Ballgame
A trip to Heritage Financial Park, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades is one of the best ways to spend a summer day with your family. Good food, themed nights, baseball, and my favorite fireworks display most Friday nights! Check the calendar for upcoming games and events.
6. Attend a Festival
There is nothing we love more than summer festivals and fairs and Dutchess County has no shortage of events to keep us busy! Check out Barton Orchard’s Sunflower Festival on August 23 - September 2.
7. Go to a playground
You can easily find dozens of local playgrounds including town and county parks, elementary schools (summer only), and town recreation centers. Don't miss a trip to Julie’s Jungle in Hopewell this summer! This fully fenced-in space is fully accessible and inclusive of all abilities.
8. Visit a Farm
Stony Kill Farm is located in Wappingers Falls on over 1,000 acres! The property has trails and ponds open to the public from sun up to sun down. The Barn is open on weekends and offers free or low-cost events and programs. Check out our calendar for a list of special events this summer.
9. Outdoor Movie in the Park
Grab a chair or a blanket and head to the park for the Movies in the Park Summer Series from Story Screen. Be advised that most of the movies may be suited to older children. Wednesday nights at each of Beacon’s parks through the end of August. Visit the calendar for the lineup.
10. Picnic at a Summer Concert
Every Friday this summer East Fishkill Recreation hosts the Summer Concerts Series at the Hopewell Recreation Field. Bring your lawn chair and dinner for a fun night out! There is plenty of room nearby to toss a ball, play in the skate park, the tennis courts, or on the playground! Even the dog can play on a leash! Times vary, check them out on Facebook or here for more info. For summer concerts in more Southern Dutchess towns, check our calendar.
11. Go Fishing
Did you know that we have great places for recreational fishing in Southern Dutchess and some local towns such as the Beekman Rec. even have Kid’s Fishing Derbys? Wappinger Lake, Sylvan Lake, and Emmadine Pond are all great options for family-friendly fishing. Check with your town for fishing rules and regulations.
12. Berry Picking
Make a reservation to pick your own at Fishkill Farms. This summer they have blueberries, peaches, nectarines, currants, and raspberries. Don’t want to pick your own and still want fresh produce? We highly recommend Berry’s Farm in Hopewell!
13. Explore a Farmer’s Market
We have two awesome Farmer’s Markets here in Southern Dutchess County. Pawling Farmers Market, Saturdays 9-1pm through October, and Beacon Farmers Market, Sundays, year-round from 10-2pm.
14. Go Camping
Not quite backyard camping and not quite a big camping trip. Sylvan Lake Camping in Hopewell Junction is set on 65 acres of wooded/open grounds along the private Sylvan Lake Beach. The beach, only open to campers offers fishing, boating, and swimming while the park has a playground, horseshoe pits, open fields for playing ball, and basketball nets.
15. Go Hiking
The Appalachian Trail is one of Dutchess County’s largest parks with 30+ miles of trails within a protective corridor of 4,000+ acres. The Pawling Appalachian Trail has a new 1,600-foot-long boardwalk spanning the Great Swamp. The boardwalk provides several sitting areas and a 34-foot bridge. The trail enters in Southern Dutchess County and goes through the towns of East Fishkill, Beekman, Pawling, and Dover before entering Connecticut. There is Free Parking right in Pawling off Route 22 at Pawling's Metro-North Appalachian Trail Train Station.
16. Eat outdoors
Eating outdoors in the warmer months gives us all the summer feels! There are a handful of places to sit outside for a bite in Southern Dutchess County including Joe's Bar & Grill, Patsy's Roadhouse, and Sloop Brewing @ The Factory. One of our family’s favorites is the Dutchess Biercafe on Main St. in Fishkill. There is something about their chicken tenders and fries that seem to be addicting to the kids! For the adults, the food and drinks are too good to resist.
17. Bring the dog to the park
Located on Route 52 just east of the Route 82 intersection is Doug Phillips Park featuring a nature trail, two softball fields, a sensory playground, picnicking, tennis courts, a basketball court, and bathrooms. Friendly Paws Park also located at Doug Phillips Park is open every day except Thursdays for the furry family member!
18. Enjoy an Ice Cream Cone
We have a lot of wonderful places sprinkled (pun intended!) throughout Southern Dutchess!
- Joe’s Dairy Bar - Hopewell Junction
- Fishkill Creamery - Fishkill
- Village Creamery - Wappinger Falls
- East Fishkill Provisions Smoke Haus - Hopewell Junction
- Zora Dora’s Micro Batch - Beacon
- Beacon Creamery - Beacon
- Five Pennies Creamery - Beacon
- Tacos and Cones - Pawling
- Carnival - Fishkill
- Ron’s Ice Cream - Beacon
- Carvel - Hopewell Junction
- Toppings - Wappinger Falls
19. Go to a carnival
While Southern Dutchess has a few iconic carnivals each summer including the Hudson Valley Fair, and the Son’s of Italy Italian Festival Carnival at the East Fishkill Rec., the Pawling Fireman’s Carnival is Wednesday, August 14, 2024 (All day) to Saturday, August 17, 2024 (All day) at Lakeside Park.
20. Go school supply shopping
It's hard to think about school while we are trying to hold onto summer but school supply shopping each August can be a fun family tradition with a visit to Jerricks Lower East Side! Great prices and everything you will need in one place plus friendly and helpful employees. Plus, support a local business that's been around for 51 years.
What other fun and unique traditions have you started this summer? What was your favorite outing or activity?
Southern Dutchess MacaroniKID is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in Southern Dutchess County, NY
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