Summer brings long, sunny days and warm moonlit nights filled with flickering fireflies. It’s the best time of year for music, especially when it’s played outside. So let us show you the best places for summer music in the Hudson Valley. There are free concerts and ticketed concerts of every type of music, so there is sure to be something that will appeal to your musical sensibilities.
When planning your getaway; include hiking or horseback riding. Visit a retro ice cream stand that will make you think of Fonzie and Happy Days. Tour lighthouses and West Point, then spend an afternoon or evening listening to the sizzling sounds of summer.
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is located on the grounds of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. The season includes multiple weekly concerts with headline acts like James Taylor. The Catbird Music Festival is in August. Depending on the ticket, there is seating near the stage and lawn seating that is not designated.
Bethel Woods has free parking, and tailgating is allowed in the parking lot. You can bring allowed amounts of food, a blanket, and a spirit of fun to the concert.
West Point Band
The West Point Band has a summer concert series; this year has several locations since its home venue of Trophy Point is temporarily out of commission. Concert themes are varied, including a special Independence Day concert with fireworks, classic Americana tunes, Latin music, and Dancing Under the Stars.
Wineries
Many of our local wineries have concerts during the summer:
- Applewood Winery has live music on the weekends.
- Bashakill Winery is adults only and has music on Fridays through Sundays.
- Brotherhood Winery has live music on Saturdays and Sundays.
- City Winery Hudson Valley has music and events many days during the summer.
- Clearview Vineyard and Winery has live music on weekend afternoons.
- Robibero Family Vineyards has live music on Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday afternoons.
- Torne Valley Vineyards has dinner and music Fridays in a tented venue.
- Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery has music on weekends and some special festivals.
Free Concerts
Pack a picnic, grab a blanket or some chairs, and sit outside for free music. Isn’t that what summer is all about?
- Croton-on-Hudson has concerts on Friday evenings through the beginning of August.
- Peekskill has concerts on Wednesdays from July 4 through August 20.
- Monroe has free concerts on various days during the summer, mostly Saturdays.
- Warwick has a summer concert series, mostly on Saturdays, with some Fridays.
There is More Than Music with a Hudson Valley Getaway
As you can see, summer music in the Hudson Valley is happening almost every day of the week! Check your schedule, and get your tickets for that event. If you don’t want to be bound by a tight schedule, just book your stay, and play it by ear. Summer has started, so don’t waste time!
