Plan Your Weekend
A Relaxed Weekend in Hudson, NY
Coming up for the weekend? Here are two easy ways to do Hudson: one if you want to stay walkable, another if you’ve got a car and want to explore a little farther.
Upper Depot fits either version — as an afternoon reset, a place to meet before dinner, or the kind of stop that turns into the rest of the evening.
Why Upper Depot fits the weekend
Hudson is one of those places that works whether you come up for one night or stretch it into a long weekend. You can walk a lot of it, eat well, see something interesting, and still keep the pace pretty relaxed. If you’re coming up from the city, Jersey, Boston, or anywhere nearby, this is a good place to do less planning and still have a good time.
Upper Depot makes sense somewhere in that plan. We’re a brewery and taproom in a restored historic train station in Hudson, brewing beer on site and pouring a rotating draft list in a space that’s easy to settle into for a while. If you want a good afternoon reset, a place to meet friends before dinner, or an easy way to wind down after walking around town, this is a pretty good spot for it.
If you’re coming by train and want to stay walkable, Hudson is a good town to do on foot. The downtown core is compact, Warren Street gives you plenty to browse without trying too hard, and it’s easy to build a day around a few shops, a meal, and one or two things you actually want to see instead of cramming in ten stops.
Start with a slow walk through downtown and Warren Street. Pick a few places that look interesting and let the day shape itself a bit. If you want a cultural stop, Hudson Hall is one of the city’s anchors right on Warren Street, and Basilica is another good one to check if you like to plan around an event, show, or market.
By late afternoon, that’s a good time to head to Upper Depot. Have a beer, sit for a while, and figure out whether you want dinner after or whether this turns into the start of the evening. That’s really the role we’d recommend for it: not a rushed stop, more like the part of the day where things get easier.
If you want to turn that walkable day into more of a beer afternoon, there are a couple of other Hudson spots worth knowing about too. Return Brewing is a practical one because its Hudson location is walkable from the Amtrak station and north of Warren Street. Union Street Brewing is another easy in-town option if you want to keep the day local.
If you’ve got a car or want to explore a little farther
The second version is for people who want Hudson as a base, but not the whole map. In that case, it makes sense to get out for a few hours, see something with a little more space around it, and then come back into town for the evening.
Olana is a great place to start. The house, the grounds, and the views all make the area make more sense once you’ve seen them. If you want a second stop, Art Omi is a good one because it gives the day a totally different feel. It works well if you want outdoor time without turning the day into a full hike.
After that, head back toward Hudson and let Upper Depot be the reward stop. That version of the day works especially well in summer: a little scenery, a little art, and then a beer in a place where you can actually sit and stay a while.
If you want one more drink stop in the wider area, Old Klaverack is a solid brewery mention for the drive version, and Cooper’s Daughter is a good detour if cocktails or spirits are more your speed.
What’s Happening Around Hudson
August Events
August is a good month to keep the day loose: hit the market, get outside, catch something weird or beautiful, and end up back at the Depot for a beer on the deck. Here are a few nearby things worth building a weekend around.
Hudson Farmers Market – Saturdays Throughout August | Sixth Street & Columbia Street, Hudson
One of Hudson's favorite weekly traditions, with local produce, flowers, baked goods, coffee, and handmade goods. It's an easy stop before exploring downtown or heading to Upper Depot.
Mac-Haydn Theatre Summer Season – Throughout August | Chatham
Summer musicals continue throughout August at one of the Hudson Valley's best regional theaters. A great evening option after a day exploring Hudson.
Olana Summer Tours & Programs – Throughout August | Hudson
Historic house tours, landscape walks, and seasonal programs continue throughout the month at one of the region's most iconic historic sites.
Columbia County Fair – August 27–September 1 | Chatham
One of the largest annual events in the region, featuring agricultural exhibits, live entertainment, rides, food vendors, and family activities.
Chamber Music at Churchtown Dairy – Late August | Hudson
Churchtown Dairy hosts chamber music performances in one of Columbia County's most distinctive rural settings.
Hudson Hall Summer Performances – August | Hudson
Hudson Hall's calendar regularly includes live music, theater, film, and community events throughout the summer.
Art Omi Summer Public Programs – August | Ghent
Art Omi continues its seasonal artist talks, performances, and public programs alongside its renowned sculpture park.
Basilica Hudson Summer Events – August | Hudson
Basilica Hudson's calendar often includes exhibitions, performances, workshops, and creative community events throughout the summer.
Planning your day around one of these? Check hours and details before you go, then come find us at the Depot.
September Events
September is one of the best times to explore Hudson and the surrounding area. Start at the market, catch a concert or festival, and leave time to settle in at Upper Depot for a beer. Here are a few nearby events worth building a weekend around
Hudson Farmers’ Market – Saturdays in September, 9 AM–1 PM | Sixth Street and Columbia Street, Hudson
Start Saturday with local produce, baked goods, flowers, prepared food, and other Hudson Valley finds. From the market, it is an easy walk through Warren Street before heading to Upper Depot.
Columbia County Fair – September 2–7 | Columbia County Fairgrounds, Chatham
Six days of agricultural exhibits, rides, food, live entertainment, demolition derbies, tractor pulls, fireworks, and family activities. It is one of Columbia County’s biggest annual traditions.
Art Omi Long Light: 95 Bulls and Dauber – Saturday, September 5 | Art Omi, Ghent
Art Omi closes its summer Long Light series with an evening of free live music in the Sculpture and Architecture Park. Explore the grounds, hear the bands, and enjoy the park during its final extended Saturday evening.
Spencertown Academy Festival of Books – September 5–7 | Spencertown
Browse thousands of gently used books, first editions, vinyl records, and other finds during one of the region’s biggest literary weekends. The festival also includes free author talks and children’s activities.
Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival – September 12–13 | Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck
Sample wine, spirits, craft beverages, specialty foods, and products from makers across New York. This is a larger regional outing, but an easy addition to a Hudson Valley weekend.
Olana End-of-Summer Party – Saturday, September 19 | Olana State Historic Site, Hudson
Celebrate the end of summer with food, drinks, and sunset views across the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains from Olana’s East Lawn.
Soundscape Presents: Boy Harsher – Friday, September 25 | Basilica Hudson
Electronic duo Boy Harsher brings its dark, high-energy sound to Basilica Hudson. This is one of September’s standout concerts and an easy addition to a night near the train station.
The Misanthrope at Time & Space Limited – Saturday, September 26 | Time & Space Limited, Hudson
Sandra Oh stars in a sharp new version of Molière’s dark comedy, filmed live at London’s National Theatre and presented on the big screen at TSL.
Planning your day around one of these? Check hours and details before you go, then come find us at the Depot.
If Beer Isn’t the Only Thing You’re After
Neverstill Wines — A good in-town option if you want to stay on foot and work a wine stop into the weekend.
WYLDE Hudson — A solid coffee stop for getting the day started or taking a break between walking around town.
BackBar — A good cocktail-and-bar option if you want to shift gears later in the day without leaving Hudson.
Hudson Chatham Winery — A good short-drive winery option if you want a little more room to settle in, especially outdoors.
Cooper’s Daughter Spirits — A good detour if someone in your group is more in the mood for cocktails or spirits than another brewery stop.
Try Something Different?
Looking for something beyond the usual sightseeing stops? Try a hands-on workshop, set sail on the Hudson, explore the forest after dark, or learn something new in the landscape around us.
These limited-run experiences are worth building part of your weekend around. Space may be limited, so check availability before you go.
August Experiences
INDIGENOUS HISTORY SAIL ABOARD THE SCHOONER APOLLONIA
August 1, 15 or 22 | Hudson
Set sail from Hudson Riverfront Park aboard a working cargo schooner. This guided river experience explores Indigenous history, culture, and connections to the Hudson.
NIGHT IN THE FOREST
August 15 | Cairo
Explore the forest after sunset while listening and looking for glowworms, flying squirrels, owls, and other nighttime wildlife. This slow-paced guided walk is designed for adults and families.ALL ABOUT ELDERBERRIES
ALL ABOUT ELDERBERRIES
August 16 | Cairo
Learn about the many food, medicinal, and traditional uses of the American elderberry. Participants may also have an opportunity to harvest elderberries or elderflowers to bring home.
FOREST FARMING INTENSIVE
August 22–23 | Cairo
Spend two days learning about forest-grown mushrooms, medicinal plants, sustainable harvesting, and other forest-farming practices at Wild Hudson Valley.
September Experiences
SEPTEMBER FORAGING WORKSHOP
September 5 | Cairo
Take a guided walk through meadow and woodland habitats to identify seasonal edible and medicinal plants. The workshop also includes a chance to taste several wild foods.
INDIGENOUS HISTORY SAIL ABOARD THE SCHOONER APOLLONIA
September 5 or 12 | Hudson
Board a working sail-powered cargo vessel at Hudson Riverfront Park for a guided program about Indigenous history and the living Hudson River.
FOREST FARM TOUR
September 6 | Cairo
Walk through a working forest farm and see mushroom-growing areas, forest gardens, medicinal plants, and a wild-simulated ginseng planting. The tour is free, but advance registration is required.
THE RIVER PEOPLE: LENAPE LIFEWAYS BOAT TOUR
September 24 | Kingston
Cruise aboard the solar-powered Solaris while learning about Lenape life, history, and relationships with the Hudson River landscape.
Want to plan your stop?
Check our current hours, see what’s on tap, and take a look at upcoming events before you head over.