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From unforgettable performances and art exhibitions to culinary workshops and farm experiences, there are a lot of interesting and exciting events scheduled for March here in Dutchess County. In fact, this is a perfect time to visit!
Use this list of our Top 10 March Events to help plan your trip to the heart of New York's Hudson Valley, where there is fun for everyone year-round.
March is Women’s History Month; click here to read about the “Top 10 Women Who Influenced Dutchess County's History.”
Of course, March in the Hudson Valley is maple season, several Dutchess producers have some fantastic events lined up for the New York State Maple Weekends (March 16 – 17 and 23 – 24). Click here for all the sweet details.
Be sure to check out our St. Patrick’s Day spotlight and stay tuned for updates on Easter festivities!
As always, keep that camera handy; feel free to share your photos here and tag @DutchessTourism on social media.
Happy travels!
Thursdays through Sundays at Tenmile Distillery, Wassaic
Tenmile Distillery uses locally sourced ingredients to craft its high-quality spirits, which include Little Rest Single-Malt American Whisky, Listening Rock Gin, and Sinpatch Vodka. You can sample these fine potables and see how they’re made, as tours and tastings are available at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 12, 2 or 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. While you’re there, be sure to check out Dutchess Tourism’s new Commander in Cheers promotion, an augmented reality experience that serves up a pint-sized George Washington to share a story about one of Dutchess County’s heroic endeavors during the Revolutionary War. Getting to Tenmile Distillery is a breeze, even without a car; the Tenmile River station on the Metro-North Harlem Line is right across the street from the distillery, so you can hop on the train at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan and be sipping a Manhattan about two hours later!
Related: Sip your way through the region with the Duchess Tourism Taste Finder, a mobile passport program that serves up perks at 13 craft beverage tasting rooms and tap houses on the trail.
March 1, 12 p.m. at The Moviehouse, Millerton
Filmmaker and playwright Neil LaBute hosts this new monthly feature at The Moviehouse, which will include a special mid-day screening of a film of his choosing followed by a discussion and talk-back session. The club kicks off its new initiative with a showing of the Ilker Catak film “The Teachers’ Lounge,” which tells the story of how a young teacher lands her first job at a high school and struggles mightily to find her place in the established structure of the school system. Click here to purchase tickets. And remember – popcorn is perfect for lunch!
Sunday, March 3, 7 p.m. at Daryl’s House, Pawling
Jim Messina’s legacy of musical genius spans more than 50 years and includes more than 16 million records sold with groups like Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and Loggins and Messina, as well as a successful solo career. His upcoming performance at Daryl’s House promises to be a night of great music and fun. Click here to reserve tickets. If time allows, make a weekend out of it. The Station Inn is within walking distance of the Pawling station on the Metro-North Harlem Line and is a quick Uber or cab ride to and from Daryl’s House.
Sunday, March 10, 1 p.m. at the Mesier Homestead, Wappingers Falls
Docent-led tours of the Mesier Homestead are set for 1, 2 and 3 p.m. and will include the upstairs portion of the main house, which was built in 1741 by Dutch miller Adolphus Brouwer and his son Nicholas and was allegedly the site of a particularly fascinating event during the Revolutionary War: The Wappingers Tea Party of 1777. Nicholas and his sons were ardent Patriots and contributed supplies to the Continental Army free of charge. The homestead was sold in 1777 to Peter Mesier, a Tory loyalist merchant from New York City who fled the city to escape anti-British sentiment. Mesier operated a store from his home and charged a particularly high price for tea. So high, in fact, that his infuriated neighbors broke into the store one day in May of 1777, beat and tied up Mesier, his wife and his slaves and locked them in the basement. The intruders then proceeded to drink all their wine and made off with all their tea. In the aftermath of the attack, the Mesier family kept its political views secret and eventually became well-respected members of the community. These days, the Wappingers Historical Society is the custodian of the historic homestead. The museum features an extensive collection of artifacts and ephemera from throughout history, including details on the life of Daniel Nimham, the last Sachem of the indigenous Wappinger people and Revolutionary War hero who fought alongside the Continental Army and was killed at the Battle of Kingsbridge (the present site of Van Cortlandt Park in The Bronx) in 1778. To purchase tour tickets, click here.
Related: Experience the Hudson Valley’s captivating past with the Dutchess Tourism Story Finder, a free mobile passport program inviting visitors to enjoy stories and discounts at Dutchess County’s most notable mansions, museums, estate gardens and more.
Thursday, March 14, 5 p.m. at The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie
Big Gay Hudson Valley has teamed up with Vassar College’s Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center to present a free night out to celebrate the career of Rosalie (Rollie) Thorne McKenna, a Vassar alum and queer American photographer. After graduating from Vassar in 1940, McKenna worked as an architectural and portrait photographer and made many great — although sadly underrecognized — contributions to American modernism and documentary photography. McKenna’s work was published in numerous books and magazines including Fortune, Harper’s, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. Click here to register.
Tuesday, March 19, 7 a.m. at the Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie
Enjoy breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the surrounding highlands as you welcome the new season at the World’s Longest Elevated Pedestrian Bridge. Every year on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, the sun rises in line with the Walkway deck, making for spectacular photo opportunities from 212 feet above the river. The gates at either end of the Walkway will open early for this free event. Elevator access to the Walkway is available at Upper Landing Park in Poughkeepsie. Click here for more details. The 1.25-mile Walkway is a repurposed railroad bridge. Opened 1889, it originally formed part of the Maybrook Railroad Line of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. It was taken out of service in 1974 after being damaged by fire. It was reopened in 2009 as a pedestrian walkway and forms part of the Empire State Trail, a 750-mile trail used by thousands of hikers and bicyclists every year.
Related: Find your moments of peace with the Dutchess Tourism Zen Finder, a mobile passport program featuring some of the best hidden-gem trails, fresh air activities, and captivating views in a curated itinerary of outdoor highlights.
March 19 – 22 at the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park
Calling all Foodies! Do you want to learn how to cook like a world-renowned chef? Then the Culinary Institute of America’s bootcamps are just for you. The CIA, the world’s premier culinary college, offers a variety of bootcamps that can help anyone cook like a professional. In this four-day Italian Cuisine Bootcamp, you will explore the different regions of Italy and the flavor profiles unique to each one. You'll cook with indigenous ingredients and create specialties from areas like Emilia-Romagna, Toscana and Umbria in central Italy; Piemonte, Lombardia, and Veneto in the north; and Apulia, Calabria and Sicily in the south. You'll pair regional wines with each meal, you'll work with fresh Italian cheeses, you'll prepare antipasti dishes, and you'll learn to make handmade pizza dough. Buon appetito! Click here to register.
Related: Dutchess Tourism’s CIA Chef Finder is a digital passport that helps you find Culinary Institute of America-educated chefs who create world-class cuisine in the heart of New York’s Hudson Valley.
Saturday, March 23, 11 a.m. at the Beekman Arms, Rhinebeck
The kids will love this! Bring the little ones to the Beekman Arms for a delicious brunch with special guests Ariel and Cinderella. They'll lead their young guests in storytime and a special dance. Guests will have the opportunity for a photo with their favorite princesses. Young guests will be able to make their own crown to take home with them. The price of a ticket includes a buffet brunch with a coffee and juice bar. Click here to purchase tickets. Opened in 1766, the Beekman Arms is the oldest continuously operating inn in America and has hosted a long list of distinguished guests, including George Washington, Oprah Winfrey, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Billy Joel, and Courtney Love. Click here to book a room.
Thursday, March 28, 7 p.m. at the Towne Crier Cafe, Beacon
Beacon Dance Beat hosts a vibrant mix of fun music events that feature a wide array of Latin rhythmic styles, including salsa, merengue, bachata, cha-cha, rumba, bolero and more. This event at the Towne Crier is produced by Rhoda Averbach and all are welcome: couples, singles, friends, newcomers, everyone. Click here to reserve tickets. The iconic Towne Crier has been a Dutchess County hotspot for more than 50 years. While you’re there, be sure to enjoy a delicious meal from their expansive menu and, of course, a decadent dessert made in-house by pastry chef Mary Ciganer.
Saturday, March 30, 7 p.m. at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Tivoli
In this 2024 Baryshnikov Arts Fellowship Showcase, choreographer Kyle Marshall shares excerpts of his latest work in development, "Femenine." The new dance piece is set to a recording of Julius Eastman’s minimalist composition "Femenine" (1974). The pulsating, emotional journey of the score is a counterpoint to Eastman’s sometimes dark life, a complex reality of a brilliant and marginalized figure. The dance seeks to celebrate the joys of queerness without ignoring the injustices and societal frustrations. Click here to purchase tickets. Kaatsbaan Cultural Park is a scenic, 153-acre campus where world-class dancers and artists from around the world come to create and inspire.
March 16 and 17 at 13 Hands Equine Rescue, Clinton Corners
Mother figures of all kinds (grandmothers, aunts, beloved friends) are invited to join their daughters (or granddaughters, nieces, friends) at this retreat, which aims to celebrate and strengthen the bond between mothers and daughters and explore the sacred relationship between women and girls. Join Jennifer Cohen Harper and the team at 13 Hands Equine Rescue for a chance to connect, play, and explore a new way of relating to the world and each other. You will also learn from the horses, who are experts in living with authenticity, courage, and self-love. Best for girls ages 8 – 12. Click here for more details and to register.
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