A Week-Long Festival Celebrating the Beauty and Ecology of our Local Pollinators
During our week-long festival, enjoy some of the amazing learning activities offered from August 8 – 14. Then join us for the Festival Finale on Saturday, August 15th from 4-7:30pm. The Festival Finale features music on the lawn, hay rides, activities, face painting, crafts, food trucks, and much more. Scroll down for more information.
FESTIVAL WEEK WORKSHOP SCHEDULE (Aug 8 – 15)
| Forest Bathing with Dorian Burden Sat Aug 8 | 10am-12pm | Ages 17+ | $20 per person meet at the Woodland Trailhead at the North end | Experience the restorative practice of forest bathing, a guided, slow-paced walk that invites you to connect with nature through your senses. This mindful experience encourages relaxation, reduces stress, and fosters a deeper appreciation for the natural world as you immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and tranquility of the forest. |
| Hive Dive with Mary Ellen McCue Sun Aug 9 | 10 am | Ages 17+| $25 per person meet at the Learning Center at the North end | Explore the inner workings of a honey bee hive through a hands-on hive inspection experience. Learn about hive structure, bee behavior, and the basics of beekeeping while gaining practical insight for those interested in keeping bees. |
| Evening Moth Walk with Cameron Laird Sun Aug 9 | 8pm | All Ages| $10 per person meet in front of the Manor House at the North end | Discover the fascinating world of moths during an evening guided walk as we explore the farm after dark. Learn about the incredible diversity, beauty, and ecological importance of these often-overlooked nighttime pollinators while observing moths attracted to light and uncovering the hidden wonders of the nocturnal landscape. |
| Storytime & Pollinator Discovery with Debbie Muesser Mon Aug 10 | 10am | Ages 3+| free meet at the Verplanck Perennial Garden at the North end | Join us for a delightful storytime as we celebrate butterflies and discover how these beautiful pollinators help gardens bloom and keep nature thriving. Bring a picnic blanket. |
| Community Science: Search for Monarchs with Stacey Lynch Adnams Tues Aug 11 | 5:30pm | All ages | $5 per person meet at the Greenhouse at the South end | Join a community science effort to search for monarch butterflies and learn how to identify, observe, and support these incredible pollinators. Participants will explore monarch habitat, migration, and conservation while contributing valuable observations to help protect this beloved species. |
| Storytime: Hop on the Literacy Trail with Avocado Magic with Book Giveaway & Seed Activity with Debbie Muesser Wed Aug 12 | 11am | Ages 3+ | 1 book per family | free meet at the Verplanck Perennial Garden at the North end | Celebrate Literacy Month with a special storytime featuring Avocado Magic! Families will enjoy this heartwarming story together, start a seed activity and each attending family will receive a free copy of the book to take home and continue the joy of reading. Bring a picnic blanket. |
| Insect Safari and Bug Pinning with Cassidy Jimenez Thurs Aug 13 | 5 – 6:30pm | Ages 5+| $15 per person meet at the Learning Center at the North end | Join us for an exciting insect safari as we search fields, gardens, and forest edges for fascinating bugs and beneficial insects. After our outdoor exploration, participants will learn the basics of insect identification and the art of insect pinning while gaining a deeper appreciation for the diversity and important roles insects play in our ecosystems. |
| Storytime: Únete a la Ruta de la Alfabetización con ¡Viva El Aguacate! y el sorteo de libros y actividad de siembra con Miss Carmen Viernes 14 de agosto | 10 am | Ages 3+ | 1 libro por familia | gratis reunirse en el Jardín de Plantas Perennes Verplanck, en el extremo norte | ¡Celebre el Mes de la Alfabetización con una hora del cuento especial protagonizada por ¡Viva El Aguacate! Las familias disfrutarán juntas de esta conmovedora historia, y cada familia asistente recibirá un ejemplar gratuito del libro para llevarlo a casa y seguir disfrutando de la lectura. Trae una manta de pícnic. |
FESTIVAL FINALE & cONCERT ON THE LAWN
Aug 15- Finale Activity Schedule
| 4 – 5:30pm Hay Rides in the Butterfly Wagon | All Ages | Free | Rides leave from in front of the Manor House Bounce along in the hay wagon as we pass field and forest and enjoy a jovial afternoon. |
| 4 – 7:30pm Activity Tents, Pop-up Shop, Food Trucks & Concert on the Lawn | All Ages | Free parking | Suggested donation of $5 at entry | On the Lawn in front of the Manor House Butterfly-themed activities for all ages! Enjoy free crafts and games, shop the Stony Kill pop-up shop, and enjoy food truck fare from the BBQ Crew, and The Dog House. You can also BYO picnic! Bring cash (preferred) or credit card for food, face painting, and pop-up purchases. Sorry, no alcohol or dogs on the premises please. Bring lawn chairs and blankets, and prepare to dance along and enjoy a relaxing evening of music in a beautiful setting. This year we have several performers including Soil & Soul, Warren Banholzer, and Lauren and Friends. |
FREE ADMISSION: Festival Finale admission and activities are free. A $5 suggested donation at entry helps support community programming and ongoing stewardship of Stony Kill Farm. Bring cash to purchase crafts, food, etc.
WHERE TO PARK: Stony Kill Farm is located at 79 Farmstead Ln, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. Enter the farm using the NORTH ENTRANCE (between the pillars) and park in the hay field on your right. From there, it is a short stroll to the lawn in front of the Manor House.
ACCESSIBLE PARKING: For accessible parking, enter the farm from the NORTH ENTRANCE and follow signs for accessible parking in the lot beside the Manor House. Space is limited. Please be advised that parking in the accessible lot is restricted to only those with physical disabilities who require accessible parking.
