Nothing’s as sweet as the coming of spring, heralded by the running sap in the sugar maples, and the trill of returning birds.  There is lambing on the farms and fly-fishing in the streams.  All creatures renew their vows with nature, including the golfers, who can’t wait to shake out their championship games at one of the region’s 50 courses. Contests of strength, skill and stamina can be found at Civil War re-enactments, the Shad Festival fly-fishing contest, vintage baseball in Roxbury, the triathlon at Belleayre and the auction houses that dot the region.

During the winter, artisans have worked tireless hours on art and craft that dons the spring fairs in New Paltz and Saugerties.  Charming customs from other cultures are shared with visitors at the Irish Festival, The Cinco de Mayo Festival and the Pennsylvania Dutch Festival. 

Arts and Culture

Chamber Arts Festival of Marbletown, 845 687 2687, www.chamberartsfestival.org

• Festival of Dance, Kingston, 845 339 6088, www.upac.org
• Hudson Valley Arts Festival, Saugerties, 845 246 9038, ww.4mcontemporary.com
• Woodstock/New Paltz Art & Craft Fair, New Paltz, 845 679 8087, www.quailhollow.com

Ethnic Heritage

• Cinco de Mayo Festival, Kingston, 845 340 9895
  
• Irish Festival, East Durham, 518 634 2286, www.east-durham.org
  
• Pennsylvania Dutch Festival, Port Ewen, 845 338 0356

Fishing

• Opening Day of Trout Fishing, countywide, 607 252 7366, www.dec.state.ny.us
• Annual Two-Headed Trout Dinner, Roscoe, 607 498 4240
• Hudson River Shad Festival, Catskill, 518 622 9820
• Shad Festival, Kingston, 845 338 0071, www.hrmm.org

Maple Syrup

• Maple Syrup Sunday

History

• Civil War Re-enactment, Riverside Park, Walton, www.catskill.net/walton
• Hanford Mills Museum May Day, East Meredith, 800 295 4992, www.hanfordmills.org

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

• Kingston, 800 331 1518, www.ci.kingston.ny.us
• Yulan

Sports and Recreation

• Belleayre Mountain/WKNY Challenge Race, Highmount, 845 254 5600, www.belleayre.com
• HITS-on-the-Hudson Show, Saugerties, 845 246 5515, www.hitsshows.com
• Kite Festival, Loch Sheldrake, 845 434 5750 X4303, www.nyke.org/sullivan.htm
• Mini World Cup at Hunter, 888 HUNTER MTN, www.huntermtn.com
• Snow Cross Snowmobile Race at Holiday Mountain, Monticello, 845 796 3161, www.holidaymtn.com
• Snowmobile Drag Race, Roxbury, 899 NEED 2 SKI, www.plattekill.com
• Triathlon at Belleayre, Highmount, 845 254 5600, www.belleayre.com
• Vintage Baseball, Roxbury, 607 326 3722, www.roxburyny.com