Kingston, NY is buzzing this summer with an packed lineup of live music, art, theater, and family fun in the heart of the Hudson Valley.

Music lovers can catch the Los Angeles indie band Allah-Las at Assembly, a Doors tribute from Feast of Friends, and Bon Scott-era AC/DC sounds from Scott Down in Flames along the historic Rondout Waterfront.

The Arts Society of Kingston opens three exhibitions exploring surrealism, hidden realities, and the art of seeds, while Voice Theatre stages the psychological thriller JOB.

Families can ride the Dinosaur Express on the Catskill Mountain Railroad, join youth workshops, and explore summer camps tied to the Hudson River Maritime Museum.

Joke Of The Day

Someone told me Kingston, NY has been around since the 1600s and still can't decide if it's a city or a town.

At that age, I respect the commitment to keeping everyone guessing.

Kingston Pop Museum is gearing up for a bold fall exhibition with the return of its acclaimed group show series. STANDPOINT 4, running September 19 through October 11, 2025, brings together six regionally connected artists united by the theme of Neo-Pop.

Expect saturated color, graphic intensity, and a mix of painting, sculpture, and digital work — all filtered through the distinct perspectives of artists rooted in Upstate New York.

The series challenges each participant to reinterpret a single theme through their own lens, making every edition a fresh conversation. This one promises to be a vivid, playful, and thought-provoking take on Pop art's enduring legacy.

Kingston, New York just got a stunning new place to swim. The Lake Sophia swimming facility at Sojourner Truth State Park officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, drawing officials, families, and eager swimmers to its turquoise quarry waters for the first time.

The facility features a 12,000-square-foot shallow swim crib connected to a 16,000-square-foot deep-water area, with lifeguards, an ADA-compliant gangway, changing rooms, and a food truck on site.

Named for Sojourner Truth's daughter, the lake is part of a park backed by an $83 million investment from New York State. The facility is open daily through Labor Day weekend for just $8 per vehicle.

Interesting Facts

Kingston, New York hides some genuinely surprising chapters in American history — here are a few worth knowing:

• First capital, briefly burned: Kingston served as New York State's first capital in 1777, but British forces under General John Vaughan torched nearly the entire city that October, just weeks after the state constitution was adopted there — making it one of the few American capitals literally destroyed by enemy forces.
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• A cement empire: Kingston was the epicenter of America's natural cement industry in the 19th century, producing the material used to build the base of the Statue of Liberty and the foundations of the Brooklyn Bridge — a fact largely forgotten today.
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• The oldest surviving steam locomotive route: The Delaware and Hudson Canal, which terminated near Kingston, was part of the first integrated transportation system in America to use a steam locomotive commercially, predating many more famous railway milestones.
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• Two downtowns, one city: Kingston is unusual in having two distinct historic commercial centers — the Stockade District and the Rondout waterfront — which were separate communities for centuries before officially merging into one city only in 1872.
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• Bob Dylan's hideout: After his 1966 motorcycle accident, Dylan retreated to the Woodstock and Kingston area, recording the legendary Basement Tapes informally with The Band in nearby Big Pink — an album that was bootlegged for years before any official release.

RECLAIM YOUR OVERPAID TAXES. 🤑

Pointe of Praise Church in Kingston, New York hosted a voter registration drive called "Getting Into Good Trouble" — a tribute to the late civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis. The event featured music, documentary screenings, and an interpretive dance honoring Lewis's legacy, including his pivotal role in the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march.

Organized by the church's Social Justice Ministry, the event aimed to expand voting access ahead of November's midterm elections. Rev. Evelyn Clarke also highlighted the still-pending John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, urging the community to keep fighting for fully protected voting rights.

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