November’s 11 Top Things To Do In Beacon
Toward the east end of Main Street, fall 2025.
Cooler nights, longer sleeves, and a hint of woodsmoke in the air can only mean one thing: November’s here. The good news is there’s plenty of fall magic left and a calendar full of things to keep us all curious, connected, and cozy as the evenings close in.
Here’s just some of Beacon’s November highlights:
1. NEW: The Beacon Beacon Events Hub on WhatsApp (It’s Free!)
First off we’re super-excited to be “soft launching” a new Events Hub on WhatsApp just in time for the busy fall and Holiday events season. This mobile-friendly channel on the ubiquitous WhatsApp chat app is free to join.
The Beacon Beacon Events Hub is a user-friendly, event-lover’s one-stop shop to everything happening across Beacon’s music, performance, art, literary, festival, and entertainment scene. It’s where you can easily discover what’s on, when it’s on, and click through to buy tickets or RSVP. You’ll find it in the WhatsApp Updates tab once you’ve followed it via this link.
You can turn on notifications to get the latest events as soon as they drop. Or, if that’s too much, turn off the notifications and check in when it suits you. And you can scroll 30 days’ worth of events at any time once the channel is fully active. So, we’ve got you covered whether you’re a long-term planner or a game day decision-maker. (Plus, did we mention it’s free?)
This new TBB platform is a mobile-friendly, easy-to-use resource you can carry in your pocket or purse. Not to worry, our Events Guide here on the website will continue to provide up-to-date information on events—chronologically and often weeks in advance for the organizationally-inclined. If your friends are social butterflies who don’t know about our events resources, please send them our way! We’ll help keep them in the know.
2. The Countdown Begins To Beacon Bonfire
Beacon Bonfire Music + Art Festival starts Wednesday, November 5th.
Do you have your pass yet? Beacon’s largest music and arts festival returns for a third time and will span five days from Wednesday, November 5th to Sunday, November 9th.
This year’s event promises to be even more spectacular than the sold-out one in 2023, which attracted more than 4,000 festival goers from across the Hudson Valley, New York City, and beyond. With more than 400 performers and 100+ performances in over 20 venues across the city, Beacon Bonfire showcases a vibrant melting pot of art, music, and culture from Beacon and the region over the course of five days. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover new artists, new ideas, and spark connections. Read here to learn all about it and snag some passes before they disappear. What’s more, The Beacon Beacon readers get 20% if they use promo code TBB20 at checkout.
3. Second Saturday Weekend
Beacon Bonfire conveniently falls on the same weekend as Beacon’s weekend Second Saturday artist showcase. So, be sure to stop by the city’s galleries and latest exhibitions in between Beacon Bonfire events. On Sunday, November 9th at 2 PM—as part of Beacon Bonfire—Distortion Society (155 Main Street) presents an Artist Talk with Laura Bochet, whose work is currently on show there. Bochet’s Intangible Devotions is a series of new, sensuous figurative paintings in which she depicts the place where the physical world and inner psyche converge.
There’s an opening reception on Saturday, November 8th starting at 5 PM for Reframing The Constant: Photography and Mixed Media by Jennifer Sarah Blakeslee & Denise DeVore at Hudson Beach Glass (162 Main Street). We’ll update this feature as more news from other galleries is announced.
4. Last Chance Leaf Peeping
Hudson Valley Brewery with Mount Beacon in the background this week.
According to the I Love New York’s Fall Foliage Report, Beacon’s peak foliage transformation is only at 65% as of this writing. This means there’s still leaf peeping to enjoy for a little while longer. With the cooler temperatures, it’s the perfect time to climb one of the Mount Beacon trails or to take part in Beacon Bonfire’s 10K trail race to the iconic firetower on Mount Beacon. Alternatively, explore the five-mile trail around Beacon, starting at Long Dock Park, continuing to Dennings Point and onto Madam Brett Park before ending on Main Street for a creamy, decadent hot chocolate.
5. Enjoy A Flamboyant Theatrical Performance Reading
Catch Fallen Angels by master of wit and flamboyance, Nöel Coward, at Savage Wonder Arts Center (139 Main Street) every Saturday in November from the 1st to the 22nd. The premise involves “two elegant housewives, one charming Frenchman, and far too much champagne,” according to its marketing materials. Savage Wonder’s performance reading turns this English farce into an intimate, surprising night where love, loyalty, and friendship are tested. The production is directed by Savage Wonder’s founding artistic director, Christopher Paul Meyer. Tickets are available here.
6. Taproots Festival Free Community Event.
Beacon Climate Action Now’s fourth annual Taproots Festival is this Sunday, November 2nd between 2 PM and 5 PM at The Yard (4 Hanna Lane). This free event is an opportunity to meet neighbors, enjoy free food and drink, and learn how to get involved with groups working to make Beacon’s community stronger. RSVP to attend in the link.
7. A New York State Nouveau Party at Paul Brady Wine
The iconic and much-loved Beaujolais Nouveau is released without fail every year on the third Thursday in November. Not to be outdone, Paul Brady Wine (344 Main Street) is hosting a New York Nouveau—Beaujolais-style party—on Thursday, November 13th for lovers of the delicious light-bodied gamay red wine grape. Vinophiles can expect freshly bottled Gamay-Nouveau from Fjord Vineyards, the release of Paul Brady Wine’s own Gamay/Cab Franc blend, Noire Valley Red ‘24, plus new Gamays from Apollo’s Praise and Six Eighty Cellars. There’ll be wines by the glass and the bottle, and French-inspired food from Promises Kept Events. Expect bistro vibes for this one night only event. You can make a reservation or just roll up on the evening.
8. Little Women, The Broadway Musical Comes To Beacon
Presented and performed by the Beacon Players, Little Women, The Broadway Musical is an adaption of the beloved novel based on its author’s— Louisa May Alcott’s—life. The play follows the adventures of sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March in Civil War America. Expect music, laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit. The Beacon Players is the Beacon High School’s drama and theater organization that brings together students who share a passion for the performing arts. Performances take place on the evenings of Friday, November 14th and Saturday, November 15th, as well as a matinée on Sunday, November 16th at the Pete & Toshi Seeger Theater, 101 Matteawan Road. Details are here.
9. A Night Of Storytelling
Expect a night of stories and laughter at The ARTICHOKE Main Stage Show at the Howland Cultural Center (477 Main Street) on Saturday, November 15th. Hosted by founder, Drew Prochaska, and some of the best storytellers around including Anoush Froundjian (storyteller, improviser, and cartoonist), Bridget O’Neill (storyteller, comedian, and essayist), Jim O’Grady (Moth GRANDSlam winner and contributor to This American Life), Jeff Simmermon (host of the podcast, The Reluctant Phoenix) Julie Piñero (winner of the Audio Nonfiction Prize at the 2024 Tribeca Awards), and Steve Whyte (a regular at the Magnet Theater in Chelsea). The show starts promptly at 8 PM. Get tickets here.
10. A Literary Night Out
Savage Wonder Arts Center, 139 Main Street.
Hit House Creative brings author Jeannie Zusy to Savage Wonder Arts Center (139 Main Street) on Sunday, November 16th. Zusy will perform a new, autobiographical work called Turkish Delight which evolved from her residency with New York City’s The Barrow Group. Zusy’s play is directed by The Barrow’s Co-Artistic Director, Lee Brock and will premiere in NYC on November 2nd before traveling to Beacon for this performance.
Zusy’s novel, The Frederick Sisters Are Living The Dream, published by Simon & Schuster/Atria Books, was chosen as the Best Book of the Year by Real Simple magazine who described it as “funny and insightful.” She is currently adapting it for the screen with Oscar-winning director Eric Simonson. NOTE: Just as we were to publish, Hit House Creative announced the event was already sold out! However, there’s a waitlist so email info@hithousecreative.com if you’d like to join it.
11. GRAMMY® Award-Winners Perform At The Howland
The Howland Chamber Music Circle presents the two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning Attacca Quartet at the Howland Cultural Center (477 Main Street) on Sunday, November 16th. This versatile string quartet is recognized as one of the most outstanding ensembles of the moment, and it’s known for blending traditional classical repertoire with contemporary, electronic, and video game music. Formed at The Juilliard School, they have collaborated with a broad spectrum of artists from Flying Lotus to the American Repertory Ballet. There’ll be a meet-the-artists reception following the performance.
So, there you have it. Consider this your prompt to start planning now to avoid missing out on Beacon’s next sell-out event. You’ll find plenty more choices in our website Events Guide for November and December, and there’s guaranteed to be more added in the coming days and weeks. Our recommendation for staying in the know? Follow The Beacon Beacon Events Hub on WhatsApp to keep up with events as they drop, plus remember to check our website Events Guide regularly for the latest updates and long-term event-planning!
And that’s not all. In our opinion, a social life is incomplete without a plan for where to eat and drink, and what to wear. Explore our Eat & Drink Directory and Shop Directory to find the answers.
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Until next time…
The Beacon Beacon🧡