14 Top Things To Do This Second Saturday Weekend
BAU Gallery, 506 Main Street.
October’s Second Saturday weekend in Beacon is almost here, and it promises to be action-packed. We’ve curated 14 of the top things to do on and off Main Street. There’s something to suit every taste, whether you’re looking for art, theater, music, food, or drink. Plus, the approaching Hudson Valley peak leaf-peeping season means whatever you choose to do will be set against the backdrop of some of nature’s most stunning hues.
For ticketed events, see the venue’s website, or our Events Guide.
Second Saturday New Art Shows
There’s new art to explore across the city every Second Saturday, and October’s is no exception. Midnight Ride by Eileen Sackman opens at BAU Gallery (506 Main Street) on Friday October 10th, with an opening reception on Saturday October 11th between 6 PM and 8 PM. The exhibit is described as a “contemplative ceramic exhibition exploring our nation’s mortality.”
Also opening at BAU Gallery is Unraveling Light and Time by photographers Pamela Zaremba and Síle Marrinan who explore how light within a place can reawaken childhood memories and reveal how family is layered, revised, and reimagined over time. The artists investigate the tension between emotional memory and historical record by using varied photographic techniques and the inclusion of personal family artifacts. Finally, Fractional Landscape, a solo photography exhibition by George Kimmerling reflects on the fractured nature of the human and global experience and “the resulting sense of anxiety, loss, and rootlessness.”
A solo exhibition called Fields of Becoming by Stephen Wiesmore opens at Super Secret Projects (484 Main Street) on Saturday, October 11th, with a reception between 4 PM and 7 PM.
Meanwhile, the Howland Public Library presents the group exhibit, New Work from the Beacon Thursday Painters. The show is on view in the Community Room Exhibit Space from October 11th to November 1st, with an Artists’ Reception taking place on Saturday, October 11th, from 1 pm to 3 pm.
The Thursday Painters, led by teaching artist Jan Dolan, is a group of senior artists who’ve been meeting to paint at the Beacon Recreation Center every Thursday since 2014.
A Night Market Like No Other
Cirque Du Creep Hudson Valley, a celebration of the bizarre, the weird, and the wonderful, returns for a fall night market at The Yard (4 Hanna Lane) on Saturday, October 11th from 5 PM to 11 PM, and it features 50+ alt vendors and artists. Get a flash tattoo, watch some live bands or mind-altering sideshow performances, sign up for a tarot reading, and enjoy all sorts of other ghoulish treats.
Plus, There’s Theater
Theatre On The Road’s popular retelling of Dracula. (Photo Credit: Theater On The Road)
Theatre on the Road’s Dracula, a dramatic retelling of the legendary psychological thriller is being staged at the Howland Cultural Center (477 Main Street), Friday, October 10th to Saturday, October 11th. There are three performances, including a Saturday matinée. This highly anticipated annual performance has become a sell-out cornerstone event in the Hudson Valley, so this will likely be a hot ticket.
Savage Wonder’s resident artist and former U.S. Marine Philip Korth reimagines Nicolai Gogol’s legendary satire—The Inspector General— in an actor-driven adaptation with just five performers tackling thirteen roles.
Described by Savage Wonder (141 Main Street) as being “set in a world that feels both absurdly distant and uncomfortably familiar, Korth’s adaptation preserves Gogol’s original play while amplifying its urgency for a modern audience.” This reading performance takes place every Saturday throughout October in the arts center’s Parlor, an intimate and cozy space. This means you’ll get a front row spot wherever you sit. There’s also full food and drinks service.
And A Splash of Music
There’s music every weekend at the Towne Crier Cafe (379 Main Street).
The Main Stage at the Towne Crier Café (379 Main Street) welcomes Jeffrey Gaines with special guest, RJ McCarty, on Saturday, October 11th. The Boston Globe said of Gaines, “Gaines’ soulful, wounded vocals make a case for him being one of pop’s finest singers.” McCarty has showcased his intricate folk and Americana-inspired songwriting as far as England and Canada, as well as across the U.S. He also tours as a multi-instrumentalist with the critically acclaimed, Hudson Valley psychedelic folk band, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams.
Celebrate National Coming Out Day
Hudson Valley Queer Collective is hosting Queeroake on Saturday, October 11th for National Coming Out Day at Industrial Arts Brewing Co (511 Fishkill Avenue). It promises to be a night where you can confidently sing like nobody’s judging!
A Grand Opening Celebration at The Chisel
The Chisel with Chief Greeting Officer, Alice at 155 Main Street. (Photo credit: The Chisel)
Join the team at The Chisel (155 Main Street)—Beacon’s newest salon and barber experience—for their Grand Opening celebration from 9 AM to 6 PM this Saturday, October 11th. Clients who book or complete an appointment that day will earn a chance to win incredible door prize giveaways including a custom cutting board made by The Chisel’s owner and head stylist, Richard, and some fun salon merch. You’ll also receive a coupon for 25% off your next retail hair purchase if you sign up for their mailing list in person or give them an Instagram follow in person that day.
Richard and his wife/business partner, Liz, spoke recently with The Beacon Beacon to introduce the team, share the story behind the salon, as well as some insights into their business philosophy.
BJ’s Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Plus, BJ’s Restaurant (213 Main Street) is hosting a fundraiser in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Saturday October 11th between 1 PM and 3 PM. Proceeds will go to the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation. Stop by for party wings, raffles, music, and more.
Vintage Glassware Collectors’ Heaven
Join the Hudson Valley Depression Glass Club on Saturday, October 11th from 10 AM to 4 PM for an epic fall sale and show of the finest 20th Century glass, pottery, china, and accessories. There’ll be free glass ID and appraisals (limit three pieces), as well as books for sale.
A Free Wellness Festival
Beacon Flow (University Settlement Camp, Saturday, October 11th) is a free community event designed to showcase the abundance of talented musicians and skilled wellness professionals in the region while also offering Hudson Valley residents a free opportunity to connect and engage in mindful activities that promote relaxation, inspiration, and wellbeing. Register for free tickets in advance. From musical performances to movement and mindfulness, yoga and meditation, sound healing and a wellness marketplace, this a full immersion into the world of wellness in a spectacular setting.
For the Historians and Literary Lovers
Join the Beacon Historical Society (61 Leonard Street) and Writing Out of Bounds on Sunday, October 12th at 3 PM for Beyond Conflict & War: Civilian & Military Perspectives. This event features leading authors and members of the military sharing works and insights on the topic. The panel includes Ruth Danon, (Poet Laureate, Dutchess County), Paul Alexander (author of biographies of Billie Holiday and John McCain), Doug Anderson (HM3, poet and author of a memoir about his time as a medic in Vietnam) and Malia du Mont (Lieutenant Colonel and former Director of Strategy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense). It’s a free event but space is limited, so RSVP to vfw_post666@outlook.com.
And finally, Saturday, October 11th, from 9 AM to 3 PM, is the second Citywide Yard Sale of the year. Beacon residents get to clear their closets and pack their front yards with their pre-loved wares to sell. This fun event is perfect for the vintage foragers looking for a one-of-a-kind bargain.
That’s a wrap for this Second Saturday weekend rundown. Whether you live in Beacon or are visiting, here’s a reminder of the directories that will help you make the most of the city. Discover our Eat & Drink, Shop, and Stay Directories as well as the Lifestyle Directory for salon, spa, and wellness services. Plus, our regularly updated Events Guide will keep you up to date with the latest event announcements.
Until next time…
The Beacon Beacon🧡
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