12 Ways to Enjoy Beacon on a Budget
The west end of Main Street at sunset.
If you’re looking for fun, free, or budget-friendly things to do in Beacon this summer, then read on. Here’s our top tips of at least 12 ways to enjoy the city without having to spend a fortune.
See Free Art
Patrick Prosser Exhibition, “Work in Decay” showing at the Howland Cultural Center.
Beacon is blessed with many great galleries, all of which are free. Patrick Prosser’s ‘Work in Decay’ at the Howland Cultural Center is a banner exhibition currently running until mid-July. This series of photographs, originally shown at the Howland in 1982, is part of Prosser’s college senior thesis capturing people and places in and around the city. While the bones of Beacon are instantly recognizable, the exhibition reflects the years of decay that preceded the city’s renaissance in the 1990s.
Beacon Open Studios returns
For arts and culture devotees, Beacon Open Studios is an annual self-guided studio tour that takes place from Friday, June 27th to Sunday, June 29th. 80 plus artists will be featured at multiple locations across the city. The art walking is free while the evening performance tickets are super-affordable, starting at $20 for advance purchases. The Participating Artist Group Show will be on view for the weekend at The Yard (4 Hanna Lane), and the month-long BOS Group Show will be on view from July 12th to August 3rd at the Hudson Beach Glass Gallery (162 Main Street).
Art All Year Round
There’s always thought-provoking contemporary art to enjoy free of charge at many locations on and off Main Street throughout the year. New shows are typically launched every second Saturday of the month, and venues include BAU Gallery (506 Main Street), Distortion Society (155 Main Street), KuBe Art Center (211 Fishkill Avenue), Super Secret Projects (484 Main Street), and the newly opened Savage Wonder Art Center (139-141 Main Street).
Plus, Dia Beacon (3 Beekman Street) is free to Beacon residents all year round. You just need to show proof of address at the admissions desk.
What time’s wine o’Clock?
The Grape Rebellion at Savage Wonder Arts Center, 139 -141 Main Street.
For free music and a very reasonably priced libation, visit the Grape Rebellion wine bar and accompanying Parlor space in the basement of Savage Wonder on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays. On these days you’ll find $6 (yes, $6!) glasses of wine and talented musicians who are either veterans or veteran adjacent. If you’re wondering whether a $6 glass of wine can be any good, just know that hospitality director, Jeremy Plyburn, was formerly the bar manager of Danny Meyer’s famed Gramercy Tavern in New York City. Consequently, the wine at Grape Rebellion is well-curated and worth coming back to for more.
Happy Hour Destinations
It's worth noting that some Beacon bars also offer Happy Hour prices where you can score a deal on a wine, beer, or cocktails. Best enjoyed with a delicious small plate or entrée, of course.
Lyonshare (246 Main Street), Monday to Friday, 4 PM to 6 PM.
Dennings Point Distillery (10 North Chestnut Street), Fridays from 4 PM to 6 PM.
Cooper’s Beacon (47 East Main Street), Sunday through Thursday, 3 PM to 6 PM and ALL DAY on Thursdays (bar only).
Carters Restaurant (424 Main Street) offers 15% off your entire check from Monday to Thursday, 2 PM to 7 PM.
Melzingah Tap House (554 Main Street), Monday to Friday between 4 PM and 6 PM.
The Vinyl Room (396 Main Street), Monday to Friday, 3 PM to 6 PM.
And stop by the Roundhouse at any time if you’re in the mood for an excellent glass of champagne for the amazingly low price of only $10.
Embrace the Great Outdoors
Long Dock Park on the Hudson River, Beacon.
You could ask 10 people what they like best about Beacon and every answer would be different. Some say it’s the incredible shopping options on Main Street (with more than 90 shops to explore), others say it’s the coffee shops, the bars and restaurants, or the culture. For some it’s a beautiful mêlée of everything the city has to offer, including the spectacular Hudson River, Mount Beacon, and the multitude of trails available across the city. All of which can be enjoyed for free.
Mount Beacon and the Trails
Mount Beacon has seven trails to hike and explore. Trail discovery website, AllTrails, breaks down each hike and rates it in terms of distance, elevation, time needed to complete, and ease (or difficulty). Note, most of Mount Beacon’s hikes are rated as “hard.” Hikers arriving from Beacon Train Station can pick up the Beacon Free Loop Bus directly from the station and jump off at the foot of the mountain. And yes, as its name suggests, the Beacon Free Loop Bus is free! Read on for more details about the Loop.
For those who prefer distance walking to climbing, Beacon has several stunning nature walks that can be enjoyed year-round. All that’s needed is a pair of sturdy sneakers, some insect repellent, and a keen eye to observe all the incredible wildlife you may see.
Each trail is a sanctuary for so many diverse species—from the carp jumping in the Hudson River near Dennings Point and the frogs croaking in the nearby pond, to the multitude of songbirds, raptors, and river birds. That’s not to mention the abundance of groundhogs, deer, rabbits, chipmunks, and squirrels, as well as the occasional bear, bobcat, or coyote. No one should be overly concerned about the latter critters though as they’re generally more scared of us than we are of them.
Choose from Long Dock Park, Dennings Point Park, Madam Brett Park, or enjoy all three and end up on Main Street via Tioronda Avenue and the Fishkill Creek. A gentle stroll around Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park is also worth adding to the mix, especially if you’re a fan of iconic American bridges. Here you get the perfect view of the striking Newburgh-Beacon Bridge that connects those two historic Hudson Valley cities.
Not only is Long Dock Park a beautiful spot to sit and watch the sun go down, it’s also a place of community where small events and gatherings take place throughout the year. The Thursday Drum Circle is a summer highlight open and free for anyone to join. Bring a drum or kick off your shoes and dance like no one’s watching! The Drum Circle starts at 6 PM.
Pack a Picnic
One of the joys of living in a city sandwiched between a river and a mountain is the sheer number of pretty spots to enjoy an al fresco lunch. Pack a hamper with delicious treats, grab a blanket from the closet, and catch a cool river breeze off the Hudson while everyone else sweats it out under the blazing sun.
Be at One With the Birds
You’re never far from nature in Beacon, even in the heart of the city. We downloaded the Merlin App from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology several years ago and have become obsessed with the birds in our own backyard, as well as on our regular Beacon hikes, as a consequence.
Here’s just a few of the birds we’ve encountered and identified thanks to the Merlin App: Yellow Warbler, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Warbling Vireo, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal , Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Black-billed Cuckoo, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Redtail Hawk, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Wild Turkey, Blue Jay, Pileated Woodpecker, and Red-winged Blackbird. Each is beautiful and mesmerizing. And they all peacefully co-exist with Beacon’s nearly 15,000 human residents.
Go for a Swim
The Beacon Pool costs $25 per season, per household.
Located in the Park at Settlement Camp (724 Wolcott Avenue), the 140 foot x 50 foot Beacon Pool is a pristine, perfectly maintained gem for Beacon residents on hot summer days. Open from July 1st to September 1st, the pool only costs $25 per season for a household and $10 per season for an individual (for residents), while kids can use the pool for free. Day passes are also available. Visits must be booked online in advance. It’s a perfect place to cool off after playing a round of disc golf right there in the camp.
Enjoy a History Fix
There’s an opportunity to visit the Madam Brett Homestead—the oldest building in Dutchess County—from May through December every second Saturday of the month. Opening hours are 1 PM to 4 PM. Owned and operated by the Melzingah Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, this immaculate property built around 1709 offers a window into the life of Catheryna Rombout Brett, a trailblazing woman whose legacy is still felt in Beacon today. There are guided tours offered on the hour for $10 per person, and each tour can accommodate up to 10 guests. Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Get the Bus
Beacon is a highly walkable city. In fact, its current “Walker’s Paradise” listing gives it a walkability score of 95 out of 100 (determined by Walk Score), which essentially means daily errands can be done without a car.
However, if transportation is needed, Beacon’s beloved Free Loop Bus now runs seven days a week. The bus loops from the train station to Dia Beacon, around onto Main Street, and ends at the mountain before heading back to the train station. Download the ETA SPOT App for the schedule, route, (on the G route), and to see where the bus is in real time.
Score a Bargain
Beacon’s Spring City-Wide Yard Sale takes place this Saturday, June 14th between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Hundreds of bargain-hunting residents and visitors hit the streets of Beacon seeking out treasures they never even realized they needed. Full of surprises and good quality items, it’s also a fun way to explore the backstreets of Beacon. As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another’s treasure!
For a more curated experience, visit Beacon’s high-quality antique, vintage, and consignment stores dotted along Main Street where you’ll find some special and almost always affordable items.
From the west to the east end of Main Street: Citivintage Antiques (188 Main Street); Finders Keepers (285 Main Street); Psychedelic Sunset Vintage (317 Main Street); Dickenson’s Antiques (440 Main Street); Blackbird Attic (442 Main Street); Maryanns (444 Main Street); Another Door (468-470 Main Street); Vintage Beacon (478 Main Street); and Hyperbole (484 Main Street.
Finally, Beacon Flea Market is open every Sunday from April to mid-November, 8 AM to 3 PM. You’ll find it in the parking lot behind Sun River Health Center on Henry Street.
Community is Everything
A peek at the Howland Public Library’s (313 Main Street) calendar on any given week is a window into Beacon’s vibrant community culture. A sample of the programs offered at the library includes Come & Play, a Chess Club, Reading to Dogs, adult writing groups, reading groups, collage meetups, and film screenings followed by Q&A sessions. There’s truly something for every age group and interest at the Howland Public Library. Bookmark their calendar for the latest updates.
Other community-focused venues in Beacon include the Howland Cultural Center, which hosts a Monday Bridge Club, and Happy Valley Arcade Bar, which hosts a multitude of workshops and community events like the Crappy Craft Club monthly. Choose from the Beacon Film Society, the Beacon Photo Club, the Silent Book Club, Write Today Beacon, the Beacon Bicycle Coalition, and many more to find your tribe. You’ll find them all on Instagram.
Break Bread With Your Neighbors
Being a good neighbor is important to Beacon folks. That’s why volunteers contribute their time and donate to organizations that address food insecurity in the community.
Fareground (37 Lamplight Street) and Beacon’s Backyard Kitchen (12 Hanna Lane) are volunteer-run and supported, and they welcome anyone who wants a meal. Fareground runs several important programs to address food insecurity, and its current awareness drive includes a Friday night Welcome Table with a delicious menu which always includes a vegan option.
Meanwhile, Beacon’s Backyard Kitchen offers a hot breakfast from 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM, and a “to-go” lunch until 10:30 AM from Tuesday to Thursday. Volunteers and donations are always welcomed. Don’t forget to save the date for Beacon’s Backyard Kitchen Oyster Night Fundraiser on Thursday August 14th at The Yard.
Finally, remember The Beacon Beacon Rewards program is also here to help you get perks from your favorite Beacon businesses. Discover the latest offers here. Dig into our Eat & Drink and Shop Directories, as well as our Events Guide, to explore more of what Beacon has to offer.
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Until next time…
The Beacon Beacon🧡