12 Essential Things To Do In Beacon This Summer

The west end of Main Street, Beacon, NY on a postcard by The Beacon Beacon.

It’s time to get serious about making summer plans now that the July 4th Holiday weekend is upon us. Beacon has more than enough activities to keep you busy, whether you’re planning a staycation or visiting from afar. Sandwiched between the Hudson River and Mount Beacon—and recently named the Hudson Valley’s best neighborhood by readers of Hudson Valley Magazine—Beacon also has an abundance of epic outdoor activities to experience. Read on for our complete guide to summer in Beacon.

Celebrate the Holiday weekend

First things first. Head to Memorial Park on Saturday, July 5th for the Independence Day celebration Fireworks.  The big event starts after dusk, but arrive early for entertainment, food, and community fun. History lovers can join City representatives for a reading of the Declaration of Independence at 11 AM on Friday, July 4th at Municipal Plaza.

All Summer Long

The east end of Beacon’s Main Street, near the Howland Cultural Center.

You’ll find whatever takes your fancy in Beacon. Make a day of touring and exploring what you love most, whether it’s sampling craft beers or spirits, shopping, hitting the trails, catching an outdoor movie, swimming, kayaking, artwalking, taking in a live performance, or, ideally, a little of everything.

Retail Heaven

Beacon is nothing short of heaven for retail fanciers (we count ourselves in this category). Whether your thing is home goods, vintage, elevated fragrance and beauty, home fragrance, campfire marshmallows, literature, or jewelry, Beacon has more than 90 independent, one-of-a-kind stores on Main Street to explore. See our Shop Directory which lists them all. Beacon’s Main Street is at least a mile long, so it’s worth walking it from end to end. There’s also the Beacon Free Loop Bus for those who prefer to beat the heat. You can jump on and off along the route that circles the city.

A Taste of Everything

One of many iced tea options at Beacon Coffee Co & Mercantile, 344 Main Street.

Shopping can be thirsty work, but staying hydrated shouldn’t be a problem. There’s more than 15 coffee and tea shops in Beacon, offering anything from a simple cup of Joe to an iced espresso with a dash of citron, a premium uji matcha latte to an artisanal boba, a thai iced tea to an iced hibiscus blend. You’re also likely to work up an appetite, so make time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at any one of Beacon’s 90+ eateries. Our Eat & Drink Directory will help you choose.

Take a Brewery & Distillery Tour

Anyone partial to an artisanal tipple should consider taking their own brewery and distillery tour, which doesn’t require an afternoon of binge drinking. That’s because every stop sells bottles and cans to go. Here’s our recommendations for restocking your bar cart or refrigerator, or for enjoying a libation on the spot, starting from the west to the east end of Main Street. 

Start at Two Way Brewing (18 West Main Street). Anyone coming to Beacon from NYC via Metro North should exit at the front of the train and walk uphill to West Main Street where you’ll find this great spot full of upstate vibes. Take a welcome break and enjoy a refreshing (half) pint of liquid gold before hitting Main Street. Next up is Dennings Point Distillery (10 North Chestnut Street) where premium craft spirits are distilled on site using locally grown grains. Book a tasting in their cute little tasting room to try something new or enjoy a delicious cocktail from their bar.

Right on Main Street, Pillow & Oats (385 Main Street) prides itself on its hazy IPAs, while Liquid Fables (1 East Main Street) distills and sells creative canned cocktails themed to Aesop’s famous fables. Finally, the OG premium craft beermaker, Hudson Valley Brewery (7 East Main Street) sits majestically in front of Mount Beacon. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore its extensive IPAs, lagers, wines, and cider while enjoying a gentle respite in their lovely pollinator gardens.

Ice Cream All Round

Summer wouldn’t be summer without ice cream. Lucky for us, there’s plenty of the cold, sweet stuff to choose from in Beacon. Here’s the scoop on the top spots to enjoy a cooling gelato, sorbet, or good old fashioned ice cream:

The Beacon Creamery, 134 Main Street.

Ron’s Ice Cream (298 Fishkill Avenue), The Beacon Creamery (134 Main Street), Five Pennies Creamery (Hudson Valley Food Hall, 288 Main Street), The Chocolate Studio (498 Main Street), and Zora Dora (201 Main Street) for micro-batch ice pops. Finally, while Beacon Bath & Bubbles may look like a destination for all things scented, it’s also famous for its vintage soda counters that offer a spectacular ice cream float with an authentic 1950s vibe.

Enjoy Dinner Al Fresco

Speaking of sweet spots, there’s one (somewhere between 70°F and 85°F) for eating al fresco. Any hotter and (maybe) it’s time to find a suitably air-conditioned spot indoors. When the temperature is right though, head to and score an outside table at one of these delicious eateries. The Roundhouse (2 East Main Street), Café Amarcord (276 Main Street), newcomer Wild Kitchen & Bar (416 Main Street), Wonderbar (449 Main Street), Brothers Trattoria (465 Main Street), and Hudson Valley Brewery (7 East Main Street).

Spend time outdoors

If climbing Mount Beacon in 90°F heat isn’t your idea of fun, there are more gentle ways to have fun in the sun without overdoing it. Beacon has multiple walking trails to explore including the stunning Madam Brett Park, Long Dock Park (on Beacon’s waterfront by the train station), and the Fishkill Creek trail which ends at the breathtaking Fishkill Overlook Falls by The Roundhouse. You can also spend a whole day artwalking in Beacon, hopping from gallery to gallery to enjoy a diverse breadth of local and international art. See our recent feature on 12 Ways to Enjoy Beacon on A Budget for ideas on where to explore, picnic, swim, kayak, and more.

And summer wouldn’t be complete without a boat ride on the Hudson to Bannerman Island, home to the crumbling yet still majestic Bannerman Castle. A guided tour conveniently leaves from Beacon’s waterfront on weekends, from May through October. Not only is the history of the island and castle fascinating, but the island itself serves as a cultural hub for outdoor movies, theater performances, and themed dinners throughout the season. You can also take a tour timed to a spectacular Hudson Valley sunset.

Beacon Sloop Club’s Corn Festival

Save Sunday, August 10th from 12 PM to 5 PM for Beacon Sloop Club’s annual Corn Festival at Pete and Toshi Seeger Park (Red Flynn Drive). Not only can you indulge in as many corn cobs as you like, there’ll also be music, food vendors, arts and crafts, and rides on Pete Seeger’s famed Woody Guthrie sloop, which has been offering the public the chance to sail and learn more about the Hudson since 1978.

Time for the Sprinklers

This one’s for the kiddos. Every year, starting July 1st, the Wee Play Project volunteers turn on the sprinklers at Green Street Park to help the little ones cool off. There are also refreshing misters at Memorial Park’s Wee Woods to enjoy. Follow them on Instagram or Facebook for the latest updates.

See a Movie Outdoors

During summer in recent years, Story Screen Movies shows classic movies in Beacon’s parks. All films begin around dark, sometime between 8:30 PM and 9:00 PM. Keep a watch on the City of Beacon Recreation Department’s Instagram and Facebook pages for updates, and don’t forget the bug spray!

Here’s the schedule:

Wednesday, July 23rd | South Ave Park |The Little Rascals

Wednesday, July 30th | Memorial Park | Pee Wee's Big Adventure

Wednesday, August 6th | Green Street Park | Barbie

Wednesday, August 1st | Settlement Camp Park | The Lorax

Wednesday August 20th will be reserved for a rain date.

Discover what’s new in Beacon

Finally, 2025 has been a banner year for new shop, restaurant, and cultural openings in Beacon. There have been at least 11 new spots on Main Street to explore (and we may well have missed some) since we first wrote about new openings back in January. Read here for the full story.

Don’t let summer pass without enjoying everything Beacon has to offer. There’s something for every budget and taste. Bookmark our Events Guide to keep up to date with what’s on in Beacon and follow us on Instagram for daily updates on Stories. Plus, sign up to our weekly newsletter to keep up with all good things in Beacon, NY.

Until next time…

The Beacon Beacon 🧡

 

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