Kingston, NY

Local Events

Reenactments, heritage festivals, and living history programs — experience the Revolution where it happened.

Upcoming This Year

Oct

CeremonyFeatured

Burning of Kingston Anniversary Commemoration

Senate House State Historic Site, 296 Fair Street, Kingston, NY

Annual commemoration of the October 16, 1777 burning of Kingston by British forces under General John Vaughan. The event typically includes a ceremony at the Senate House State Historic Site, readings of historical accounts, living history interpreters portraying residents who witnessed the destruction, and guided walking tours of the Kingston Stockade District highlighting buildings that survived or were rebuilt after the conflagration.

Free for outdoor events; small fee may apply for indoor museumHeld on or near October 16; exact programming varies by year. Contact Senate House State Historic Site or Friends of Historic Kingston to confirm.More info →

May

Festival

Pinkster Festival at Senate House

Senate House State Historic Site, 296 Fair Street, Kingston, NY

A cultural heritage festival reviving the historic Pinkster celebration, rooted in the Dutch colonial and African American history of the Hudson Valley. Held at or near the Senate House grounds, the event explores the diverse community of 18th-century Kingston — including the enslaved and free Black residents who lived through the Revolutionary era. Features music, dance, historical interpretation, and educational programming about the often-overlooked contributions and experiences of people of African descent in colonial Kingston.

FreeTypically held in late May or early June, near the Pentecost/Whitsunday holiday. Contact Senate House State Historic Site to confirm dates and programming for the current year.

Jun

Guided Tour

Kingston Stockade District Walking Tours

Kingston Stockade Historic District, Kingston, NY (tours often depart from the Friends of Historic Kingston gallery at 63 Main Street)

Guided heritage walking tours through the Kingston Stockade Historic District, one of the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhoods in New York State. Tours cover the colonial Dutch settlement of Wiltwyck, the Revolutionary War era including the adoption of the state constitution, the British burning, and the resilience of the community that rebuilt. Stops include the Old Dutch Church, the Wiltwyck Cemetery, and numerous stone houses dating to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Free or small suggested donationTours offered seasonally from approximately June through October, often on weekends. Organized by Friends of Historic Kingston and other local groups. Contact Friends of Historic Kingston at friendsofhistorickingston.org for current schedule.More info →

Jul

Guided Tour

Senate House State Historic Site Colonial Living History Programs

Senate House State Historic Site, 296 Fair Street, Kingston, NY

Seasonal living history programs at the Senate House, where the first New York State Senate convened in 1777. Costumed interpreters demonstrate 18th-century trades, domestic life, and the political events surrounding the adoption of the New York State Constitution. Special programs often coincide with Independence Day weekend and include readings of the Declaration of Independence and discussions of Governor George Clinton's inauguration.

Free to small fee; varies by programJuly 4th weekend programming; the site also offers programs throughout the summer season (typically mid-May through October). Contact the site for specific schedules.More info →

Oct

Lecture

Loughran House / Ulster County Historical Society Revolutionary War Lectures

Various venues in Kingston, NY, including the Friends of Historic Kingston gallery and local libraries

Annual lecture series and special programs focusing on Kingston's pivotal role in the American Revolution, including topics such as the British campaign on the Hudson, the strategic importance of the burning of Kingston, the drafting of the New York State Constitution, and the military career of Governor George Clinton. Presented by local historians and guest scholars at venues in and around Kingston.

Free or small donationLectures often scheduled in October to coincide with the anniversary of the burning of Kingston. Contact the Ulster County Historical Society or Friends of Historic Kingston for current programming.