Here Are Some Late August Things to Do!

We’ve had several days of lovely summer weather and that pattern looks like it will hold up. Why not get out and about with your family and enjoy yourselves this weekend? Here are some ideas:

· See the county fair. The Dutchess County Fair runs through Sunday at the county fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. The event is the second largest county fair in the state and features everything from rides to live concerts to food to farm animals. For more information, check out the fair's website. General admission is $15. The fairgrounds' GPS location is 6636 U.S. Route 9.

· See the state fair. You can go further afield and travel upstate to the 2016 Great New York State Fair in Syracuse. The state fair runs through Sept. 5 and features concerts, performances, exhibits, competitions, commercial attractions. For more information, check out the fair's website.

· Slide in Nyack. Slide the City will be setting up a huge slip and slide at North Midland and Main Street on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets for three hours of sliding, plus a drawstring bag, a mouth guard, and the loan of an inflated tube are $40 now or $45 on Saturday. The event also features live music and food. Wear sunscreen, an appropriate bathing suit, and shoes. All sliders must be 5 years old and over 46 inches tall and must use the inflated tubes. More information is here.

· Give blood (and eat BBQ). The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Thomas Orthodox Church at 2 Riverview Place, Yonkers. There is a dire blood shortage going on and your donation can help save someone’s life. St. Thomas is also holding a “Grill and Give” event, so you can be generous and get free BBQ! If you can’t make this blood drive, go to www.RedCrossBlood.org and enter your zip code to find out where you can donate blood.

· Calligraphy art exhibit and reception. The Art Gallery at the Rockefeller State Park Preserve will present an exhibition of works by Steven Rockefeller Jr., “Digital Expressions, Calligraphy Reflections.” The exhibit Opens Sunday with a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. and runs through Sept. 11. The Art Gallery at Rockefeller State Park Preserve is located at 125 Phelps Way (Route 117. The exhibit includes fixed-frame video and photo-motion studies as well as Rockefeller’s studies of calligraphy. For further information about the Preserve, visit www.nysparks.com orwww.friendsrock.org.

· “A Life in Colors” Exhibit at Mariandale. The artistic works by Sister Mary Ellen Wisner, OP, a Dominican Sister of Hope, will be on display at the Mariandale Retreat and Conference Center through Sept., 16, 2016. There will be a reception for the artist on Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. “A Life in Colors” features her mixed media work in oils, water colors, and stained glass. Mariandale Retreat and Conference Center is an ecumenical retreat center at 299 North Highland Avenue. For more information about the Mariandale Center, facilities and programs visit here or call 914-941-4455.

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