Community Calendar

On December 6 at 7pm in Kingston at Holy Cross/Santa Cruz Episcopal Church at 30 Pine Grove Avenue and on December 7 at 4pm in Woodstock at Overlook United Methodist Church, we present Holiday Sampler, a concert weaving holiday music and traditions developed in the American colonies with the sacred Christmas music of Europe. Joining us will be the Hudson Valley Youth Brass Ensemble led by Harvey Boyer. This program leads off our 2025–26 season which celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through our distinctive lens focusing on the many rich and diverse cultures that represent America.

This year’s program will celebrate all the ways we look for and generate light in dark days. Featuring the Smith College Glee Club, Chamber Singers and Vespers Orchestra, under the direction of Jonathan Hirsh and Hanif Lawrence; the Handbell Choir, conducted by Anita Anderson Cooper; student-led performing groups, and a special appearance from the Campus School Chorus, Kathy Marks-Huber, director. The celebration will be led by Rev. Matilda Rose Cantwell, director of Religious and Spiritual Life, with readings by Smith College students, staff, and faculty.

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Cantata “Sweet Comfort“ BWV 151, his Mass in G Minor BWV 235, and festive 16th century double choir motets. In this program we explore the convergence of vibrant Italian polychoral splendor and the venerable German chorale tradition in works by Bach’s German predecessors Schröter, Weissensee, Otto, and Schein. At the heart of this program lies the profound genius of Bach, whose innovative and deeply moving vocal compositions embody the pinnacle of these magnificent styles.

Crescendo Chorus, soprano Jennifer Tyo, countertenor Nicholas Tamagna, tenor Pablo Bustos, baritone Will Dereza, Crescendo Period Instrument Orchestra (Edson Scheid, concertmaster) directed by Christine Gevert.

Dutchess Community College’s (DCC) Mildred I. Washington Gallery will present “Looking Through: 1997–2025 New York Series,” a solo exhibition of photographs by Jason Torres, on view Nov. 5–Dec. 12. The show captures nearly three decades of street and documentary photography reflecting the vibrant character and cultural rhythm of New York.

An opening reception will be held Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m., followed by a gallery talk with the artist on Monday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

A professional photographer, street photographer and visual artist, Torres once taught photography at DCC and returns this fall with a collection that pays tribute to both the city that shaped his artistic lens and his cultural roots. His work celebrates the texture, energy and diversity of Latino and New York life—extending the College’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month into November.

The exhibit is free and open to the public Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Docent-led tours are available on Saturdays by appointment. Visitors are advised to park in Lot D (GPS address: 97 Cottage Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601). Accessible parking is available at the top of the hill outside the gallery entrance.

The Mildred I. Washington Art Gallery hosts rotating exhibitions featuring regional, national and student artists. For more information about “Looking Through,” visit jtorresphoto.com or contact Gallery Director Dana Weidman at weidman@sunydutchess.edu or (845) 431-8612. Details about upcoming exhibits are available on the gallery's website page.

Join us for a beloved Hotchkiss tradition! The Hotchkiss Chorus presents the 66th annual Festival of Lessons & Carols on Sunday, December 7, at 7:00 p.m. in the Hotchkiss Chapel. Led by faculty member Jack Brown, with Joe Rose on the Chapel organ and Chaplain Jason Larson leading the service, the evening features classic a cappella carols, contemporary works by English and American composers, and a new setting of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” by student composer Jeff Gong. The audience is invited to sing along with favorite carols, and the night concludes with the candlelight singing of “Silent Night.” Free and open to all—come early to ensure a seat and enjoy this magical celebration of the season.

Our traditional Holiday Fair promotes the holiday spirit with regional artisans featuring handmade pottery, jewelry, fiber, artisan foods and much more!

All inside our historic 1848 Meeting House.

Choose unique gifts for your loved ones while helping support local businesses this holiday season.

October 8th through December 14th

Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm
Closed Mondays

Admission is free, donations welcome!

The Norman Rockwell Museum is honored to present a rare series of early twentieth century lighting advertisements by Norman Rockwell and fellow Golden Age illustrators Maxfield Parrish, N.C. Wyeth, Dean Cornwell, Stanley Arthurs, Worth Brehm, and Charles Chambers created for Edison Mazda Lamps, a division of the General Electric Company. These luminous, richly painted works were widely circulated in published advertisements through the 1920s and are on loan to the Museum for the first time through the generosity of GE Aerospace.

Step back into the vibrant world of the 1920s and 1930s with Jazz Age Illustration, a major exhibition exploring the art of popular illustration during this transformative era. Featuring over 100 works by renowned artists such as Aaron Douglas, John Held Jr., and Frank E. Schoonover, the exhibition delves into the cultural impact of illustration during a time of dramatic social change.

Organized by the Delaware Art Museum, Jazz Age Illustration is the first major exhibition to survey the art of popular illustration in the United States between 1919 and 1942—a vibrant and transformative era of innovation, evolving styles, social change, and expanding popular media.

This heartwarming collection of holiday themed works by Norman Rockwell—from Thanksgiving and Christmas to New Year’s—are showcased in this lively installation of enduring seasonal favorites. Renowned for his ability to capture the spirit of American life, Rockwell’s paintings reflect the joy and nostalgia of the season as inspired by classic tales, holiday festivities and greetings, and the artist’s unique brand of gentle humor. His masterful artistry and keen observations of human nature are also revealed in this important collection of original artworks—aspirational images that continue to inspire.
For more information, please visit https://www.nrm.org/2024/09/134735/

WATERCOLOR, A Regional Exhibition Juried by Betsy Jacaruso

This regional exhibition, juried by Betsy Jacaruso, medium of watercolor the only constraint, artwork on view ranges from realism to pure abstraction. Jacaruso has selected 15 watercolors from over 100 works submitted, subject matter ranging from botanical details and wildlife studies to landscapes that walk us in and out of Hudson Valley vistas.

Exhibiting artists: Elizabeth Foster, Jennifer Gibson, Margaret Grasso, Janet Gunderson, Keith Gunderson, Ju Kang, Serene Lincoln, Ping Moroney, Roberta Rosenthal, Richard Taddei, Marilyn Whitely, and Susan Wilson.

About the Juror: Betsy Jacaruso is an award-winning watercolorist and a long-standing member of the Hudson Valley’s art community. Widely exhibited throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond, she also curates’ exhibitions and teaches watercolor at her Rhinebeck gallery and studio.

On view October 31 – December 21, 2025

Gallery hours: Friday – Sunday, 12 – 5 pm