10 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Rockland this August

By Alison Reiser July 29, 2013

Looking for fun and low-cost things to do with your kids in Rockland County, NY this August? Check out our top 7 picks, including family events in Airmont, Bear Mountain, Rhinebeck, Stony Point, Suffern, and Tuxedo.

New York Renaissance Faire

Sterling Forest, Tuxedo
Aug. 3-Sept. 22

There’s little historical reality to the New York Renaissance Faire, but it sure is fun! Highlights of this annual, 16th-century-style event include circus-type acts and games, camel rides, musical performances, pedal-boats, comedic theater performances, outrageous fair food (turkey leg, anyone?), a chess match on the lawn with human “pieces,” and a jousting match on horseback. Costumes are encouraged. Aug. 3-Sept. 22: Weekends and Labor Day, 10am-7pm. Opening weekend only: Buy a Quest Kit for $10 that leads you on a scavenger hunt around the fair’s 35-acre grounds; proceeds benefit the Lustgarten Foundation to Cure Pancreatic Cancer.

Lighthouse Tour

Stony Point Lighthouse and Battlefield, Stony Point
Aug. 3

Philadelphia. Boston. Virginia. Sure, they all have something to say about the American Revolution, but so does Stony Point, right in our own backyard. The town’s historic battlefield and lighthouse are open through October with historical re-enactments and artillery demonstrations each weekend (weather-permitting) that inform visitors of the important role the site played in our nation’s history. On Aug. 3, the site offers two special events. At 1pm, visitors ages 6 and older can take a special guided Lighthouse Tour. And at 8pm, those ages 10 and older can grab a lantern for an Evening Battlefield Walking Tour.

Native American Heritage Celebration of the Hudson Valley

Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, Bear Mountain
Aug. 3-4

Learning is more fun when it’s a sensory experience—and the Native American Heritage Celebration of the Hudson Valley is certainly a multi-sensory event. Kids can check out a real teepee, play with Native American instruments, sample food from Native American cultures, and watch an incredible music and dance performance representing indigenous groups from throughout the Americas. Rain or shine.

Hot Peas 'N Butter in Concert

Penguin Rep Theatre, Stony Point
Aug. 13-14

Hot Peas 'N Butter blends Latin music, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, jazz, folk, and rock in a unique mix aimed at appealing to young audiences. The band was founded by Danny Lapidus and Francisco Cotto, both professional musicians in New York City who wanted to make children's music "without lowering musical standards."

Public Space Mission

Town of Ramapo Challenger Center, Airmont
Aug. 18

Just like the real astronauts, crewmembers will attend a briefing session and then select tasks to perform on the mission. Small teams of space adventurers will conduct research, perform scientific experiments, and even deploy a probe. Tasks are detailed enough to feel real and simple enough for kids to do.

Dutchess County Fair

Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck
Aug. 20-25

For six days each August, Rhinebeck hosts the second-largest county fair in New York State. The Dutchess County Fair features animals and agriculture, crafts, fair food, live music, novelty acts, and after dark it’s a colorful carnival. Highlights include a petting zoo, pig races, a horse show, award-winning fruits and vegetables (think giant pumpkins and zucchinis), delicious milkshakes that benefit the local 4-H club, cow-milking demonstrations, and the chance for kids to milk a dairy goat (pictured). The bathrooms are clean, the parking is plentiful, and there are special facilities for nursing mothers.

Rockland Boulders Games

Boulder Stadium, Provident Bank Park, 1 Provident Bank Park Drive, Pomona

Take your kids out to the ballpark without the long drives to Queens or the Bronx and the cries of "Are we there yet?!" The Rockland Boulders play right here in Pomona at a beautiful new stadium that includes a playground for restless young fans. Search our full calendar of events for details on games and special promotions, including your chance to play catch on the field and run the bases after the game.