We all have an idea of how we want to spend our summer and early fall, but it can be difficult to narrow down the choices with so many options surrounding us.

Luckily, the Shawangunk Journal compiled a list of fun activities throughout the summer to help you explore the creative side of Ulster County, without digging too deep into your pockets. This is only a teaser of what’s to come. Be sure to check out the paper’s Events page for more events published every week.

Ellenville & Wawarsing

Shadowland Stages has an exciting lineup of live-theater performances coming in the next few months. Shadowland’s next performance is titled “The Crossword Play,” and follows an expert crossword puzzle maker in a crossword puzzle-making workshop, where she walks viewers through one of her most recent projects aimed at rekindling a lost love. This performance will run at Shadowland from June 24 through July 10, located at 14 Market Street in Ellenville. Next comes a show co-written by Tom Hanks, titled “Safe Home.” The story follows a wealthy, genius inventor named Bert Allenberry, who dives into other peoples’ lives and places, in a time-bending odyssey. This show will run from July 15 to August 7, at 157 Canal Street. To buy tickets, and check out the rest of the theater’s lineup, visit: shadowlandstages.org.

The annual Ellenville Blueberry Festival returns to offer a free day of family fun on Saturday, August 13. Come check out a variety of vendors and other attractions, rain or shine, on Canal Street and Liberty Square in Ellenville from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact the Ellenville-Wawarsing Chamber of Commerce by calling 845-647-4620 or sending an email to info@ewcoc.com.

Natalia Moena and Poppy Cannon of COFFE are looking to host a summer music festival, although nothing is set in stone. Evan Trent, also associated with COFFE, discussed the idea of showing movies by projecting them against a wall or a big outdoor screen. One of the best sites Trent scouted was the Market on Market lot on Center Street. The tentative first dates are July 30, August 13, and August 27. Keep your attention on Ellenville Facebook pages for more information as the plan develops.

Ellenville Market on Market is a bi-monthly gathering of farmers and artisans on Market Street, which runs through September. The last market saw lots of popular, local names like Majestic Farms, the Montauk Catch Club, Baba Food Truck, Dear Botanics and even the Shawangunk Journal. The event hosted two “how-to'' sessions: one from the Ulster County Career Center, which helped with job searches and resume building, and another with Slutsky Lumber, based in Ellenville, where visitors learned how to make planter boxes. More events like these will be available at future Markets. For more information, visit Ellenville Market on Market on Facebook or send an email to: ellenville.marketonmarket@gmail.com.

You can watch a free firework display at the Joseph Y. Resnick Airport on July 4, starting at 9:30 p.m. Preceding the explosions will be a parade through downtown Ellenville, moving through Canal and Center streets, that begins at 12 p.m. that same day. For more information, follow the Ellenville/Wawarsing 4th of July Committee on Facebook.

Accord & Kerhonkson

The three-piece Hudson Valley Bluegrass Express music group will be coming to Westwind Orchard (located at 215 Lower Whitfield Road, in Accord) on Sunday, July 24, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. You can also catch the band at the Ellenville Blueberry Festival (August 13), from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and back at Westwind Orchard on September 3, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The band consists of lead vocalist and fiddle player Doctor Romo, banjo player Mike Aiese, and guitarist Matthew Lamborn. The group mixes a variety of genres, such as country, folk, Cajun, and rock tunes, all played with “bluegrassy” roots. For more information, visit: hudsonvalleybluegrassexpress.com.

Arrowood Farms (located at 236 Lower Whitfield Road, in Accord) has a whole summer of live concerts in store for its customers. Some of the upcoming acts include Wyld Blu (June 25), the Hurley Mountain Highway Band (August 13), and Soul City (August 19). Grab a pint of Arrowood’s special brews and enjoy an evening of music and merriment. For more information and tickets for upcoming concerts, visit: arrowoodfarms.com.

Kelder’s Farm (5755 Route 209, Kerhonkson) is always a family-fun favorite, with the expansive farmlands, unique playground, and farm-fresh produce. The farm is also hosting a number of events, like “Summer Days,” held on July 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the “Blueberry Picking Celebration” on July 9 starting at 10 a.m. For more information on the farm’s summer lineup, visit: keldersfarm.com.

Marbletown

Lydia’s Cafe (7 Old U.S. Highway 209, Stone Ridge) invites various musicians to entertain people while they eat every Saturday, from 7 to 10 p.m., at the “Live at Lydia’s” concert series. Legendary drummer Jimmy Madison, who has played with icons such as James Brown, will be the next to grace the Lydia’s stage, performing a jazz show with two other renowned musicians, Tim Regusis (piano) and Tarik Shah (bass) on June 25. Bob’s Your Uncle, a three-piece R&B, soul/motown group, will play on July 2. Next up, on July 16, will be composer, drummer, and music educator Roland Vazquez and his Roland Vazquez Sextet. For more information on the upcoming concerts at Lydia’s Cafe, visit: lydias-cafe.com.

Marbletown Multi-Arts (MaMA) is a creative and spiritual community hub, as well as a performance venue located at 3588 Main Street in Stone Ridge. This Sunday, June 26, MaMA is hosting a night of music and poetry, featuring Haleh Liza Gafori, Shane Shanahan, and Steve Gorn, at 7 p.m. For more information on this event, and the virtual “Sunday Gatherings” (where like-minded people discuss life) visit: cometomama.org.

The D&H Canal Historical Society is excited to welcome guests all summer, following the grand opening of its D&H Canal Museum and Mid-Hudson Visitor Center (both located at 1315 Route 213, High Falls). Check out the interactive map in the Visitor Center, filled with full-day activity suggestions in a 25-mile radius. Also browse the artifacts, timeline, and various interactive models in the museum, detailing the history of the D&H Canal. For more information visit canalmuseum.org or call 845-687-2000.

The High Falls Civic Association will host High Falls Fair Day on Saturday, July 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can enjoy live music, food, adult beverages, a dunk tank and numerous vendors in the heart of High Falls. For more information, visit: highfallscivicassociation.org.

Sundays are a great time of the week to hit the High Falls Flea Market, which is hosted in a small gravel lot directly next to the High Falls Post Office (known locally as Grady Park). Vendors offer an ever-changing variety of collectibles, art, crafts, antiques and unique treasures for you to explore. The Flea Market is also a fundraiser for the D&H Canal Museum and Historical Society. For the time being, the market has halted on Saturdays and will only take place on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Stone Ridge Orchard will be hosting Blues on the Farm, featuring "Cider, Blues & BBQ" on July 23, noon to 7 p.m. Aside from some tasty brews, there will also be plenty of live music, food trucks, local vendors and more. For tickets, visit stoneridgeorchard.com.

Rosendale

The Rosendale Theater (408 Main Street, Rosendale) is always a great source of afternoon and evening entertainment (especially on rainy days). One of its various upcoming film screenings (on June 25) is a screening of Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom, at 7:30 p.m., and the 1931 version of Dracula, at 10 p.m. For tickets to the above show and to look for upcoming screenings at the Rosendale Theater, visit: rosendaletheatre.org.

World renown artist Lady Pink, will be donating rose-themed murals to the Town of Rosendale between June 26 and July 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Volunteers and professional artists from all over will be painting over a dozen walls, live, from the Rosendale Flooring Co. building on Route 32 to Rosendale Wine & Spirits (along Main Street). Other to-be-decorated buildings include the Santa Fe Burger Bar, Fann’s Plaza, and the Big Cheese. Notable contributing artists include Jules Muck, Jenna Morello, Jean Tansey, Annie O’Neill, John Breiner, Matt O’Connor, and the internationally acclaimed Lady Pink herself. For more information, call Lady Pink at 917-502-8612 or send an email to info@ladypinknyc.com.

After a two-year hiatus, the Rosendale Street Festival will return on July 16 and 17. The Rosendale Street Festival is a family-friendly, non-profit, grassroots organization that was started in 1978 to showcase local talent and to celebrate the birthday of Rosendale icon, “Uncle Willy.” Today the Street Fest continues this tradition and has evolved into a two-day event that closes Main Street, boasts seven stages, over 80 bands, over 100 of the best vendors in the Hudson Valley. Folks can expect parades, kid’s crafts, and film festivals -- look out for the Mid-Hudson Misfits Roller Derby team as well. For more information as the date approaches, visit: rosendalestreetfestival.org.

Crawford

Stop by the Crawford Gazebo (65 Main Street, Pine Bush) on Fridays at 7 p.m. for free, weekly concerts from an array of talented musicians with the “Crawford Summer Concert Series.” Organizers ask attendees to bring their own blankets and snacks, or grab some take-out dinner from the nearby eateries. Some of the upcoming performers include the jazz-guitar duo Tom & Tommy Brendel (July 8), The Soul Purpose Band (July 15) with its New Orleans funk, along with a Latin fusion and jazz group called The Christine & Elliot Spero Duo (July 22). For more information on the upcoming concerts, visit “Town of Crawford Summer Concert Series” on Facebook.

The Pine Bush UFO & Paranormal Museum is a fairly new and exciting excursion in Pine Bush, located at 86 Main Street. Visitors can embark on a self-guided tour, experiencing the museum at their own pace, for up to an hour, learning about the mysterious history of Pine Bush and the Hudson Valley. Folks will follow the numbered, interactive, and automated exhibits on a journey through UFO and paranormal galleries. When all is done, you're also invited to enter the “Alien Abduction Photo-op” to complete your mysterious experience. For more information on the museum and its events, visit: pinebushmuseum.com.

An array of local vendors will be selling their wares on Main Street in Pine Bush on July 1, starting at 4 p.m., for the “First Fridays” event. This is an ongoing celebration that the town hosts on the first Friday of every month. For more information visit the Town of Crawford Facebook page as the date approaches. You can also visit the town website for more information here: townofcrawford.org.

Mamakating

For the Wurtsboro Summer Series, the Village of Wurtsboro is hosting “Music in the Park” on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Check out the variety of musical performers at the Veterans Memorial Park (located at the intersection of Third and Sullivan streets in Wurtsboro) including Pony Express (June 23) and Steady Pulse (June 30). Bring a blanket, chair, and get ready to enjoy some food from Charity’s Champion if you’re feeling hungry. You can find more information here: villageofwurtsboro.com.

New Paltz

Get ready for a week of family summer fun with sweets, savory eats, adrenaline-pumping rides, farm animals, and all the staples of a traditional country fair at the 2022 Ulster County Fair. Returning this year are a couple of fair favorites: the Robinson Racing Pigs, truck pull competitions, a petting zoo, and all the carnival rides you would expect from such a grand event. There will be plenty of local food vendors to fill your bellies with everything from fried dough to kettle corn. Folks can expect live musical entertainment on the main stage each evening as well. You can find more information at UlsterCountyFair.com, or on the event’s Instagram (@fairulstercounty) and Facebook (@ulstercountyfair) pages.

The Rail Trail Cafe (310 River Road Extension, in New Paltz) is hosting tons of live music over the upcoming weekends. This Friday, June 24, Levanta will grace the rustic stage at 5:30 p.m., followed by Jim Posposil the next day at 1 p.m., and Becoming Human at 5:30 p.m. that same Saturday. For more information on the cafe’s concerts, visit: railtrailcaferosendale.com.