The Town of New Paltz was established in 1677, when twelve men and their families, in search of religious freedom and economic opportunity, signed an agreement with sachems of the Esopus-Munsee tribe to reside on nearly 40,000 acres of their land. A patent was then granted by the first proprietary governor of New York, Sir Edmund Andros. The original boundaries of the patent contained a large part of present-day southeastern Ulster County stretching from the Shawangunk Mountains to the Hudson River, including portions of, what are today, neighboring towns.

The Historic Huguenot Street Walking Tour app provides succinct narratives for each of the historic buildings on the street with information about the architecture, past residents, and multicultural history of New Paltz. While using the app, you can view archival photos, images of the buildings’ interiors, and the collections pieces within. The tour features the Crispell Memorial French Church, the replica Esopus Munsee wigwam, and all seven historic house museums.

Development of the app was made possible in part through support from the County of Ulster’s Ulster County Cultural Services & Promotion Fund administrated by Arts Mid-Hudson. Narration by Grace Angela Henry.

Huguenot Street is proud to offer a new walking tour app titled “Jacob Wynkoop: Building a Free Black Neighborhood,” narrated by Chaundre Hall-Broomfield, a Newburgh native and performer known for his dual roles as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in the national tour of “Hamilton” with the Angelica company. This new addition to the app (available now at the App Store and Google Play) takes visitors on a guided tour of the Broadhead-Church-Mulberry neighborhood of New Paltz, highlighting the houses built by 19th-century Black carpenter and Civil War veteran Jacob Wynkoop.

Website: Huguenotstreet.org

Instagram: @HuguenotStreet

Facebook: @HuguenotStreet

The Historic Properties Map is an interactive resource through which you can research individual properties plus historic hamlets and areas in the Town of New Paltz for detailed information about each. The Town of New Paltz Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has produced and made the map and database available to the public. Its contents reflect a town with a deep, valuable, and varied history.

Website: https://www.townofnewpaltzny.gov/historic-preservation-commission

Facebook: @NewPaltzTownHPC

New Paltz in the Civil War

This exhibit includes the entire 1863 New Paltz Enrollment Book and its transcription, a consideration of conscription laws, an examination of particular New Paltz regiments, a partial list of Civil War veterans buried at the New Paltz Rural Cemetery, and a look through the eyes of individuals who experienced the war.

Poverty in Early New Paltz

This exhibit is a study of the history of poverty and social welfare in the town of New Paltz, New York. The 1805 Overseer of the Poor Ledger is included with additional documents dating from 1767-1827.

Tales of a Congregation

frican American History through the lens of the AME Zion Church of New Paltz, NY: This exhibit chronicles the birth of the New Paltz AME Zion Church from 1871 to its slow decline circa 1915. Using various primary sources, the exhibit highlights the many obstacles the African American Community would face in the church's 45 years of existence.

There are no known photographs of John Hasbrouck, born to enslaved parents Peg and Philip. We know John through 19th-century documents such as government records, account books (including two extraordinary books he kept himself), newspaper clippings, and a few personal notes, letters, and receipts. From these fragments, we can form an impression of an intelligent, industrious, and imaginative man, who overcame the challenges of growing up under gradual abolition to marry and raise a family, purchase land, and become one of the first African Americans eligible to vote in New Paltz, New York.

This online exhibit reflects new discoveries about John’s family connections and his early adult years as a free man, as well as previously unexplored connections to both the Black and White communities of New Paltz. It updates and greatly expands the exhibit text for John Hasbrouck, “A Most Estimable Citizen,” installed at the DuBois Fort Visitor Center, Historic Huguenot Street, in 2017 and 2018.

Website: Huguenotstreet.org

Instagram: @HuguenotStreet

Facebook: @HuguenotStreet

Inch by inch
row by row
let us help your garden grow!

In partnership with the Library of Local we are offering the resources you need to get your garden into shape from seeds to seed starters to books on gardening.

We carry seeds such as:
Arugula
Basil
Tomato
Butternut Squash
Cilantro
Daisies
Nasturtium
Lettuce
Snap Peas
and many, many more! Including SPICES and HERBS, we carry: Bay Leaves, Coriander, Cumin, Fennel Seeds, Chili Powder, and more!

Both the Spice and Seed Library are not part of the online catalog. Please visit the library to make use of these resources.

If you need a place to plant those seeds check out New Paltz Gardens for Nutrition for possible garden plots!

While no Revolutionary War battles took place in New Paltz, New York, the conflict drastically impacted the lives of two men, brothers Roelof Josiah Eltinge and Solomon Eltinge, as well as their family. Roelof Josiah and Solomon were accused of being Loyalists to the British side after refusing to accept paper currency produced by the Continental Congress in their family store. As a result, both brothers were imprisoned and eventually exiled to live behind enemy lines in British-controlled New York for the duration of the war, leaving behind their elderly parents, siblings, and Roelof Josiah’s wife Maria and their eleven children.

Drawn primarily from original eighteenth-century documents in the Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) Archives and the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection, Elting Memorial Library, this exhibit updates and expands upon text written for an earlier HHS exhibit. It adds to the story of Solomon Eltinge and highlights the experiences of Roelof Josiah’s wife Maria Louw and their family.

To explore additional online exhibits created by Historic Huguenot Street, go to https://www.huguenotstreet.org/exhibits.  

Website: Huguenotstreet.org

Instagram: @HuguenotStreet

Facebook: @HuguenotStreet

What is the flavor of change? Sometimes sweet, often bitter, always complex.

In a time of great upheaval, three cultures tasted change in their encounters in this region. From the late 1600s through the 1700s, the food traditions of the Indigenous Esopus people met with those of Europeans colonizing the land and Africans they transported here under the coercion of enslavement. These interactions permanently transformed the landscape and the people who called it home.

Interior scenes with ordinary people performing everyday tasks were a popular theme in Dutch genre painting. This particular painting shows two women in a large room featuring a stone fireplace, box bed in the distance, and various domestic items, such as a spinning wheel, copper pot, ceramic vessels, and a few pewter items.

Local at Heart is an organization that fundraises to support food pantries in Ulster County. We are hosting this event, Sparkle and Shine, Bringing Local to Light for the 250th birthday of the USA by bringing back the July 4th fireworks celebration at the Ulster County Fairgrounds.  We hope to raise enough funds to cover the costs of the event and to continue our mission as many food pantries are in great need. We have worked with Family of New Paltz, Helping Hands in Gardiner, Rondout Valley Food Pantry, Rosendale Food Pantry, Plattekill Food Pantry, SUNY New Paltz, The Methodist Church Senior Food Program, The Backpack Program with NPSCD which is now run by New Paltz Rotary.  We have recently added the Family of Ellenville Food Pantry which is in dire need. You can see some of our work over the last 10 years on our website:  www.localatheart.org

We welcome all the food pantries and the Regional Food Bank to have a table at our event, free of charge, to promote what they do and are planning a non perishable food drive with a"stuff the truck" collection.   

This is a family fun oriented event.

Music, Food, Interactive Kids Center, car show, civics and history,
craft projects in the youth building.

Admission: $5 admission, kids under 10 FREE.

Website: www.localatheart.org

Live Music with Jack Spann!

Website: https://www.twinstarorchards.com/

Instagram: @twinstarorchards

Facebook: @twinstarorchards

Live Music with Adam Fitch!

Website: https://www.twinstarorchards.com/

Instagram: @twinstarorchards

Facebook: @twinstarorchards

Back to the night sky of July 4, 1776.

"Astronomy Nights" are held on the first and third Thursday of each month that the university is in session. Astronomy Night activities are appropriate for ages 10 and up.  The program begins with an indoor public planetarium show at the John R. Kirk Planetarium.  Tickets are REQUIRED for the planetarium show.  There is a suggested ticket price of $5 per seat (you can enter any payment amount of your choice).  A second show will be offered if the first show reaches capacity.  After the planetarium show, Smolen Observatory will be open for telescope viewing only if the sky is clear (tickets are not required at the Observatory). Call the Observatory at 845-257-1110 to hear a message indicating if the public viewing has been canceled due to cloudy weather/staff availability. Visitors can participate in either the planetarium show, observatory telescope viewing, or both.

Astronomy Night telescope viewing begins shortly after sunset and therefore the start time changes according to the seasons.

Admission: Tickets for Astronomy Night Planetarium shows become available one week prior to each show (on Thursday at 12:00 PM).

Parking: All visitors who park on the SUNY New Paltz campus must display a valid Visitor/Day Parking Permit on the vehicle's dashboard or hanging from the rear view mirror, Monday - Friday between 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Park & Pay machines are located in the entrance of the Rt. 32 Lot, West entrance located on Hawk drive, off Rt. 208 and Elting Lot adjacent to Parker Theater. A Visitor/Day Permit is valid for the date of purchase only.

Weather: Smolen Observatory will be open for telescope viewing only if the sky is clear. Call the Observatory at 845-257-1110 to hear a message indicating if the public viewing has been canceled due to cloudy weather/staff availability.

For more information and directions see our websites at http://www.newpaltz.edu/planetarium/ and http://www.newpaltz.edu/observatory/

Website: https://www.newpaltz.edu/planetarium/

Join us Thursdays at 7pm at the New Paltz Community Center for open improv practices, welcoming adults of all experience levels (17+). Founded in 2020, our free community program fosters creativity, laughter, and connection.

Thursdays!

For schedule updates, follow us on social media: @happenstancery_improv.

Dates: Thursdays, 7:00 PM.

Admission: Free. Donations can be made to our party fund!

Accessibility: Age 18+. Handicapped parking is available in front of entrance. Ramp leading to entrance. Main hall is on the ground floor. Bathrooms are handicapped accessible. Entrance doors are not automatic. Please call 845-255-2512 if assistance is needed.

Parking: Available in front of the Community Center.

Monthly Community Potluck Dinner, to connect with
neighbors, build community and break the bread together.

Join your neighbors for a shared meal and meaningful conversation about the issues shaping New Paltz. Together, we’ll talk about housing, sustainability, transportation, education, and other topics that matter to our community. If you'd like, bring a dish to share, but there will be plenty of food!

This is a space to share stories, exchange ideas, and explore real solutions. Whether you’ve lived here for decades or just arrived, your voice is important. Come connect with fellow residents, build relationships, and help shape the future of New Paltz — one conversation at a time.

We hope to see you there!

Admission: Free.

Parking: Available at 51 North Chestnut Street, New Paltz, NY, or on nearby streets. Please follow all posted parking regulations.

Website: https://www.familyofwoodstockinc.org

Facebook: @familyofnewpaltz

The varied countries of the Balkans (Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Greece, etc.) all have rich traditions of music and dance. The rhythms range from slow & even to quick & complex, as do the dances, which are typically done in a line holding hands. No partner is necessary. Our programs include some instruction but mostly consist of dancing to recorded music. Easier dances are programmed during the first hour and should be accessible to participants with limited experience.

For further information and to be put on the group’s email list, contact John Feroe at feroe@vassar.edu.

Thursdays!

Dates: Thursdays, 1:30 to 4:30pm. (Community Center. Field of Dreams in warmer weather.)

Admission: The class is free and meets at the Field of Dreams Pavilion in warmer weather.

Accessibility: Handicapped parking is available in front of entrance. Ramp leading to entrance. Main hall is on the ground floor. Bathrooms are handicapped accessible. Entrance doors are not automatic. Please call 845-255-2512 if assistance is needed.

Parking: Available in front of the Community Center.

Website: http://www.townofnewpaltzny.gov/rec

Learn dances in a variety of styles and rhythms to beautiful music from many cultures. Some of the countries represented are Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Albania, Armenia, Israel, and Greece. No partner necessary, comfortable clothing. Folk dancing is an enjoyable way to exercise our bodies and brains. It is stress reducing, cardiovascular and a protection against dementia.

Tuesdays!

Dates: Tuesdays, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

Admission: Come join our circle! $12 a class.

Accessibility: Handicapped parking is available in front of entrance. Ramp leading to entrance. Main hall is on the ground floor. Bathrooms are handicapped accessible. Entrance doors are not automatic. Please call 845-255-2512 if assistance is needed.

Parking: Available in front of the Community Center.

Website: http://www.townofnewpaltzny.gov/rec

Dive into the culture of West Africa every Sunday afternoon at the Community Center!

Assane Badji Sylla and Momadouba Camara, both originally from Guinea, teach drumming and dance, a practice they say “is healing to the mind and body. When you embrace these activities, it will fill your mind, body, and heart with freedom and blessings.”

Sylla has been playing drums since he was four. He went on to perform with his uncle on the djembe, dundun, kenkeni, and sangban drums, as well as the 21-key balafon, a type of xylophone made with gourds. He also traveled the world as the Director of the Senegalese-based Ballet Bougarabou. Camara is a Grandmaster of the djembe, but also plays many other African drums and instruments. Together they have taught and performed throughout the Hudson Valley for over two decades.

Sundays!

Dates: Sundays, 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

Admission: $15 per class ($25 for both). $10 for students. No one turned away.

Accessibility: Handicapped parking is available in front of entrance. Ramp leading to entrance. Main hall is on the ground floor. Bathrooms are handicapped accessible. Entrance doors are not automatic. Please call 845-255-2512 if assistance is needed.

Parking: Available in front of the Community Center.

For more information, see their Facebook page.

Website: http://www.townofnewpaltzny.gov/rec

HV Drum Circle Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/503042968229708

Social salsa dance can be a great tool in learning how to play, communicate, connect with other humans.

​Dancing causes us to be in the moment and is an excellent way to relieve stress and anxiety. It is also a great exercise for our brains and bodies. 

The aim of this class is to have fun while learning at our own individual pace. This class will be a practice in bringing awareness to our bodies while also building connections and a community with like minded people.

​Learn salsa dance basics without pressure to lead or follow! No partner needed.

Well-behaved kids can join in or play board games in the hall.

Dates: Saturday, June 27th, 7-10pm

Admission: Classes are by donation.

Accessibility: Handicapped parking is available in front of entrance. Ramp leading to entrance. Main hall is on the ground floor. Bathrooms are handicapped accessible. Entrance doors are not automatic. Please call 845-255-2512 if assistance is needed.

Parking: Available in front of the Community Center.

For more information, go to www.newpaltzdance.com.

Website: http://www.townofnewpaltzny.gov/rec

Stop in for popcorn and a movie at Elting for this fun and engaging musical.

Step into the historic grounds where legends were forged and history was written. We cordially invite you to the historic Floyd Patterson Estate, the sanctuary where icons like Floyd Patterson, Tracy Patterson, Muhammad Ali, Ingmar Johansson, Mike Tyson and George Foreman once sparred and gathered. This landmark serves as the headquarters for Home of Champions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of young people through mentorship and leadership development. By joining us, you are not only honoring the golden age of boxing but also supporting a vital mission to ensure our youth have the tools to become the champions of tomorrow.

Come experience the legacy and help us invest in the next generation of greatness!

Dates: Thursday, June 25 and Saturday June 27th from 1:00-3:00 PM.

Admission: This event is free to attend. Advance registration is required—please register by emailing homeofchampionsny@gmail.com. Donations are appreciated. https://homeofchampionsny.org/donate/

Parking: Parking is available at the Springtown Road Rail Trail Parking Lot (41 Springtown Road, New Paltz, NY 12561), located where the rail trail intersects with Springtown Road, near the entrance to the River-to-Ridge Trail. From this lot, it is approximately a 0.1-mile (2-minute) walk up the driveway to Home of Champions (85 Springtown Road).

Accessibility: Because there is no parking available at Home of Champions, this lot is the most convenient option for visitors. Guests may be dropped off at the entrance; however, please note that the driveway to Home of Champions is long and uphill.

Home of Champions is situated in New Paltz, New York, located in the former home of and training facility of heavyweight boxing world champion Floyd Patterson. It also served as a training camp for two undisputed world heavy weight champions, Muhammad Ali and Ingemar Johansson as well as Patterson’s son, Tracy Harris Patterson. The home has a history of facilitating world famous champions and serves as a symbol of top achievement.

The home’s history will be an inspiration for our champions. Our goal is to continue this legacy, and the boxing and training facility will be converted into the Home of Champions Community Center which will house leadership, holistic health, and creative arts seminars.

Home of Champions is a 501 c3 non-profit organization with a mission to provide a “home base” for New York City and New York State youth ages 18 – 24 who are emerging from the foster care system.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Still Becoming: Arrivals & Afterlives at Unison Arts offers a timely lens on American history—one shaped not only by founding documents, but by the ongoing movements of people, culture, and memory. Presented during Immigrant Heritage Month and Upstate Art Weekend, this multidisciplinary program brings together immigrant and first-generation artists whose work reflects on arrival, adaptation, and the afterlives of migration across generations.

Through visual art, sound, storytelling, and performance, the exhibition traces how personal histories intersect with larger national narratives—revealing the layered, often untold stories that continue to define the country. Set within Unison’s historic site, now marking its own 50th anniversary, the program invites visitors to consider how places carry memory, and how communities evolve over time.

Admission: Free.

Parking: Unison Arts is located at the end of Paradies Lane in New Paltz. From the NYS Thruway (Exit 18), turn right onto Route 299, then make a quick right onto Paradies Lane. From the Village of New Paltz, head west on Main Street toward Highland/Poughkeepsie and turn right just after the Thruway traffic light. From Poughkeepsie, follow Route 299 east, pass the Ohioville Road light, and turn left onto Paradies Lane just before the Thruway entrance. Parking is available both on the street and in designated areas on site.

Accessibility: Unison is accessible at ground level with wheelchair access, an ADA-compliant restroom, and a designated accessible parking space. Staff and signage are available in both English and Spanish.

People of all backgrounds in Ulster County—Europeans, Africans, and the indigenous Esopus—participated in the American Revolution as patriots and loyalists. Explore the historic Daniel Hasbrouck House, built in 1721, while learning how the war shaped Black patriots, Dutch loyalists, and other local revolutionaries.

Admission: $17.76 General; $13 Discounted Admission for HHS members, seniors, students, and children under 13. Free for veterans, active military personnel and their families, and children under 7

Accessibility: Please note due to the nature of historic homes, this tour may not be accessible for everyone. Historic Huguenot Street aims to make its programs accessible to everyone, wherever possible, with understandable limitations given the historic nature of our grounds. For more information about the accessibility of this tour, please contact our Tours & Interpretation Coordinator at (845) 255-1660 x114. It is helpful to inform us in advance if you plan to visit the site with someone who has limited mobility so that we can ensure we are prepared.

Parking: Gravel parking lot along Broadhead Avenue

This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Website: Huguenotstreet.org

Instagram: @HuguenotStreet

Facebook: @HuguenotStreet

Take a walk back in time to the Van Leuven Cabin and learn what life was like during the 19th century in the Trapps Mountain Hamlet, once home to around sixty families. Hike leader and interpretive guide Richard Feuer will share the history of the land during this two-hour hike. The hike is sure to be entertaining for everyone who loves the Shawangunk Ridge and is curious about the history of settlement in this challenging environment. The program will include Split Rock and the Shongum Path leading back to West Trapps, which involves a moderately strenuous climb uphill. Space is limited and registration is required for this free program.

Admission: Free. Please show your ticket to the trailhead ranger to receive free admission during this program.

Capacity: Limited to 20 participants.

Accessibility: Due to the terrain of the trail (a steep grade, raised roots), this program is not accessible for wheelchairs. ASL interpretation can be provided if given at least 10 business days advance notice. Please contact pkrakower@mohonkpreserve.org or call (845) 255-0919 ext.1238.

Website: www.mohonkpreserve.org

Instagram: @mohonkpreserve

Volunteer to help plant a pollinator garden at New Paltz's Field of Dreams park.

This free event is a collaboration between PollinateHV of PCA, the New Paltz Recreation Department, and Wild Ones Mid-Hudson Valley. Also be sure to attend the potluck party, Sunday, June 21, 5:00 - 7:00 PM, learn more about it here: https://www.revolutionary-newpaltz.org/calendar/event-gardening

Admission: Free. No registration required.

Accessibility: Handicapped parking available.

Parking: Park near concession stand.

If you have any questions, please contact recreation@townofnewpaltzny.gov.