The Vernal Equinox, the longest day of the year, happens this year on a Saturday. Doesn't it behoove us to make good use of all this extra daylight by attending an event (or events) in the Hudson Valley?

Vernal What?
There are only two times of the year when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in a "nearly" equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes. These events are referred to as Equinoxes and will occur on March 19th at 9:49 pm MDT (Vernal Equinox - the first day of Spring) and again on September 22nd at 7:30 am MDT (Autumnal Equinox - the first day of fall).

A Few Things to Do on the Longest Day of the Year in the Hudson Valley
Donate Items to AnimalKind’s Upcoming Virtual Auction “Raise a Paw” AnimalKind in Hudson is planning an online auction to raise money for our rescue. We are reaching out to you with the hopes you maybe able to donate: Service, Art, Vacation Rentals, Gift Certificates, Jewelry, Antiques, any item that we can use in our auction. Contact: Loni.animalkindny@gmail.com for donations and questions.

8:00 am-1:00 pm Middletown Farmers’ Market Saturdays, 8am–1pm held through October 24th on Cottage Street and Railroad Avenue in Middletown.

9:00 am-2:00 pm 2020 Outdoor Kingston Farmers Market Featuring 50 vendors offering produce,dairy, meats, baked goods, specialty foods, prepared food, wines/cider, wellness items (view website for vendor details). Located at a NEW location, Ulster County Courthouse Parking Lot - entrances from Wall Street, John Street between Crown and Wall, and from Wall Street via the courthouse driveway across from the Old Dutch Church. Customers are encouraged to sign up for 30 minute shopping spots online and to pre-order to expedite shopping times. Outdoor market will run every Saturday 9am-2pm through Nov 21. Vendors accept EBT/SNAP benefits at the market, and for every $5 in SNAP spent, customers will receive a $2 FreshConnect check to spend at the market! For details visit the website and social media: kingstonfarmersmarket.org; facebook.com/kingstonfarmersmarket; info@kingstonfarmersmarket.org; 646-262-4672.

9:00 am-1:00 pm Hudson Farmers’ Market Held Saturdays, 9am-1pm, through Nov 21st. For the purposes of public safety and proper social distancing the Market is splitting vendors between two municipal lots at 6th street and Columbia. Columbia between 5th and 6th AND?6th Street & Columbia, Hudson, NY?Rain or Shine!

9:30 am-10:30 am Centering Prayer and Meditation A receptive method of silent prayer. People of all faiths are welcome and no previous meditation experience is required. St Gregory’s Church, Woodstock.

10:00 am-12:00 pm Teen Tech Tutors Answering questions about your smart phone, iPads, tablets & laptops. Bring your device with you! Meets every 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month from 10am-Noon. Info: 845-246-4317. Saugerties Public Library, Saugerties.

10:00 am Call for Artists: Fine Art Exhibition & Competition Submissions are now being accepted for area artists to premiere the “Kingston Annual 2020.” The exhibition is scheduled for Sept. 5-27 and hosted by the Kingston Midtown Arts District (MAD) and Arts Society of Kingston (ASK), will showcase emerging artists living and working in Kingston and the Mid-Hudson region. The works will be exhibited at the ASK galleries at 97 Broadway in Kingston and in an online gallery. Deadline for submissions is July 1. Prizes will be awarded for first- ($500), second- ($250) and third place ($150) entries. If the ASK galleries are open to the public, there will be opening and closing receptions on Sept. 5 and 26. The online gallery will be active for one year, then archived for future viewing. For more information and eligibility/submission guidelines, visit kingstonannual. art

10:00 am CAI Saturday Morning Service Via Zoom and at the temple. Temple attendance is limited, masks must be worn inside and everyone must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Please bring your own kippah and tallit. Info: Temple Beth Jacob | 290 North Street, Newburgh, NY 12550 (845) 562-5516.

11:00 am-5:00 pm Natural Worlds A group exhibit featuring new work by local artists Jeri Eisenberg, Louise Laplante, Allyson Levy, and Lori Van Houten. Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson.

11:00 am-11:00 pm Clearwater’s Virtual Revival 2020 Great Hudson River Revival will be online this year Saturday, June 20th, 11am-11pm. Featuring musicians, storytellers & activists. Online at www.clearwater.org Donations are welcome. Info: 845-265-8080; office@clearwater.org; office@clearwater.org

11:00 am-5:00 pm Bannerman Castle Trust Touring Season boaters, kayakers and canoe enthusiasts For now, only smaller boat tours to the island will be permitted on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. Private boats, kayaks and canoes that can navigate in shallow waters can visit and tour the island by booking their trip through www.bannermancastle.org. Boaters should know that the water at the Bannerman Island dock is 1.5 - 3 feet deep depending on the tides. Special weekday visits for smaller boats can also be arranged by calling BCT Executive Director Neil Caplan at 845-831-6346. For those who do not own a boat, the BCT has partnered with Storm King Adventure Tours who will be running Kayak tours to Bannerman’s Island all summer! Please visit www.stormkingadventuretours.com for more information. Tours on board the Estuary Steward, the BCT’s larger tour boat, are slated to begin on July 2nd. You must make a reservation online at www.BannermanCastle.org or call 845-203-1316 to reserve your time and trip to Bannerman Island. At this time, boats are not permitted to carry more than 10 people when visiting Bannerman Island. Tickets are $30 per person and include one and a half hours on Bannerman Island with a self-guided tour. Adults $37.50 and children, $32.50. Info: 845-845-6346; neilcaplan@aol.com.

12:00 pm “Parkland Rising”-Streaming on RosendaleTheater.org Supporting Gun Violence Awareness Month, The Rosendale Theatre is offering the streaming of the documentary Parkland Rising. Streaming daily through 6/20. Streaming on RosendaleTheater.org.

12:00 pm Bethel Woods Center Virtual Programming A few different programs for you and your family: Growing Hope; an initiative that provides flower-growing kits and art supplies to school students, classes and a coloring book.Additional kits will be available at The Museum at Bethel Woods (200 Hurd Rd, Bethel, NY 12720), Mondays-Fridays from 10am-4pm. Vehicles can drive into the circle for a contact-free pickup. For details, log onto: https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/creativity-home

1:00 pm Alive @ 25 A defensive driving course designed for young drivers. Endorsed by the National Safety Council. Third Saturday of every month. Info: 845-765-2728. Resource Training Center, Beacon.

1:00 pm-4:00 pm Six-week Storytelling Workshop Series with Hudson Valley Story Workshops In this six-week storytelling workshop, led by Hudson Valley Story Workshops, you’ll learn how to give shape to your life stories. Opus 40, Saugerties.

1:00 pm-2:00 pm Live Virtual Watercolor Demos Led by Rhinebeck based artist, Betsy Jacaruso, streamed to you live via Zoom. Register: https://www.betsyjacaruso.com/online-studio 8831, Rhinebeck.

1:00 pm Online Exhibition: The Earth Beneath Their Feet Featuring works by Ellen Driscoll, Margot Glass, Laura Moriarty, and Laura Sharp Wilson. Show will display through the end of June. Pamela Salisbury Gallery, LLC, 362 1/2 Warren St, Hudson. Log onto: https://mailchi.mp/964b55dd5e3f/announcing-new-exhibition-the-earth-beneath-their-feet-12528627?e=6d605739ea

3:00 pm-5:30 pm June 2020 Solo Exhibition – 49 Virtual Works by Saugerties artist Margaret G. Still 49 works by Saugerties artist Margaret G. Still. Show will be on display through 6/28. Log onto: https://greenkill.substack.com/p/margaret-still-june-2020 Green Kill, 229 Greenkill Ave, Kingston, NY.

5:00 pm-8:00 pm Rhinebeck’s ArtWalk Ongoing, every third Saturday of each month, 5-8pm. Village of Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck.

6:30 pm-9:30 pm Open Mic at Kingston Artist Collective! Every 3rd Saturday of the month we host our beloved Open Mic Night! Everyone welcome! 6:30pm Sign Up 7pm start. The Kingston Artist Collective & Cafe, Kingston.

6:30 pm-9:00 pm Summer Solstice Soiree Join the Columbia Land Conservancy for an evening celebrating this land we love. This stunning protected property in Copake Falls provides a wonderful gathering place to enjoy Columbia County's scenery and bounty on the longest day of the year. High Valley Farm, High Valley Rd., Copake Falls. Info: 518-392-5252; info@clctrust.org.

Our thanks to the Hudson Valley One Calendar for this event information.