New York: Greene County, Catskills Summer Family Fun - Celebrating Hudson Valley’s History, Art, and Culture. 
From artful cats and market days to lighthouse tours, boat races and summer music festivals, family fun is on the calendar. Make plans to attend Reel Teens Festival, Rip Van Winkle’s Wacky Raft Race or the Catskill Mountain Renaissance Faire. Wind up the season with the 16th Annual Apple Harvest Festival or the Massacre Mansion - Haunted House.
Cat’ n around Catskills (Memorial Day – Labor Day). Catskill will celebrate the Hudson River Valley with more than 60 cats decorated by local artisans to reflect the culture, art, history, agriculture, industry and landscapes of the area. Stroll down Main Street in this 19th century riverfront village and choose the cat you would bid on as a piece of art and a memento of this fun art festival, now it its 5th year. For more information, call (518) 943-0989 or visit
www.cat-n-around.com).
Cairo: Bears and Butterflies (Memorial Day – October). Statues of fiberglass bears, each individually painted by local artists with scenes relevant to Henry Hudson’s life and legacy, will be placed along Main Street in Cairo and surrounding hamlets. The summer-long celebration includes a clever interactive quest complete with clues and an “Explore with Henry Hudson” treasure map. The exciting and educational quest was created for families to share while learning fun facts about Henry Hudson and his journey. Using Quest Map participants find each bear and look for the hidden butterflies somewhere within each bear's design. Inside one of the butterflies on each bear you will find a clue that corresponding to one of the questions about Henry Hudson. Finalists are eligible for a prize drawing, and coupons from local businesses (For more information call (518) 622-3939 or visit
www.cairosbearsandbutterflies.com).
Hudson/Athens: Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Sunset Benefit & Lighting (Julu - October). In 2011 public tours will be held on July 9th, August 13th, September 10th and October 8th. Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Tours are a great family event. Hudson Cruise Boat departs Henry Hudson Riverfront Park on the hour & Village of Athens Waterfront Park on the half hour. Emily Brunner tells tours tales of living on the Lighthouse. (For information call (518)828-5294 or visit
www.HudsonAthensLighthouse.org).
Catskill Point: Classics @ the Point Presents Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit (July 16-17, 2011). Noel coward's Blithe Spirit is an enchanting comic farce, which embraces an era when life had a very special style. The time of the 1930's was a period in history that was vastly different from 2010, and has never been forgotten. Directed by Joe Capone. Starts at 8pm. Tickets: $20.00, $15,00 seniors/students. (For more information, call (518)943-2680).
Catskill Point: A Celebration of Everything Dutch (July – October). The Greene County Historical Society will sponsor lectures on tpoints of Dutch history and culture; an August 5 “Silvery Moon” nighttime event with storytellers and music; and the publication of “Historic Places in Greene County,” a book celebrating the county’s heritage starting with the first Dutch settlers (For more information, call (518)731-6490 or visit
www.gchistory.org).
Catskill: Rip Van Winkle’s Wacky Raft Race (August 7, 2011). Now in its 7th year, Rip Van Winkle’s Wacky Raft Race features a flotilla of homemade raft self-propelled with poles, oars, paddlewheels, sails or other non-motorized devices racing down a six-mile stretch of the Hudson River. Sail into history by entering your own wacky raft or just come to cheer on your favorite competitors. Start time is 11:00 am at the Riverfront Park in Athens. The finish line will be at Dutchmen’s Landing at the end of Main Street in Catskill, where there will be awards, food, vendors and live entertainment (For more information, call toll-free 1-800-355-2287 or visit
www.greenetourism.com).
Hunter Mountain: International Celtic Festival (August 20-21, 2011). This annual event features traditional and popular Celtic bands from the Emerald Isles, plus world-class Irish-American bands. It’s a bit of the Emerald Isles in the Catskills. There will be dozens of authentic Irish vendors, traditional foods, and plenty of beverages, a bagpipe competition, and caber tossing (Hunter Mountain, Rt. 23A, Hunter. Toll-free 1-800-HUNTERMTN or
www.HunterMtn.com).
Hunter Mountain: Hunter Oktoberfest II (October 8-9, 2011). October is the time of the harvest, and in the old country, after the harvest is in, it's time for celebration. Celebrating Oktoberfest, in the finest old-world tradition there will be Austrian and German-American bands, Schuhplattler dancers, lots of vendors, puppet shows, jugglers, magicians, horse petting zoo, and food and drink. Enjoy free arts & crafts and free pumpkins for the kids. The Skyride will be operating, weather permitting (Hunter Mountain, Rt. 23A, and Hunter. Toll-free 1- 800-HUNTERMTN or
www.huntermtn.com).
East Durham: Massacre Mansion - Haunted House (October 28-30, 2011). Journey through a Gothic cemetery overseen by "Crazy Joe" the gravedigger, and his ghouls! Then, if you’re brave enough to continue, enter the old house known locally as the "Massacre Mansion" and enjoy a frightful guided tour in the scariest haunted house in the Catskills. Explore the house, dark maze and wolf hollow trail (Fri. & Sat. 7-11pm, Sun. 7-9pm. Blackthorn Resort, 348 Sun side Rd., East Durham. (518) 634-2541 or
www.blackthorneresort.com).
Make it happen. Take a summer vacation in the Northern Catskills of Greene County and make memories with your children. All inclusive seven-day family vacation packages range from $1500 to $3700 for a family of four or for shorter stays, rates start at $150 per person for weekend two-night stay including meals. No two resorts are alike but all offer family fun made easy. Knowing the cost of your family vacation makes it much easier to unwind, relax and enjoy yourself and your kids – no surprises. Greene County Tourism Catskill, NY. Toll-free 1-800-355-CATS (2287), (518)943-3223 or log on to
Greene Tourism and make your family vacation happen.
Content and images provided by Green County Tourism and City of Cairo. Copyright 2011.
