As August begins to wind down, there’s a familiar feeling in the air. Summer is still in full swing, but before we know it, school buses will be back on the roads, classrooms will be buzzing with excitement, and students will be catching up with friends after a well-earned break. Whether you’re squeezing in one last family vacation, enjoying a lazy day at the lake, or simply making the most of the sunshine, now is the perfect time to soak up these final weeks of summer.

Here are some events happening in our community and beyond:

Mark your calendars for one of the Lake Huntington Lake Association’s biggest events of the summer! The 2026 Peace, Love and Lake Huntington Gala will take place on Saturday, August 22 at 6 p.m. at the Club at the Villa Roma, 557 County Road 164 in Callicoon, NY. This fun, 1970s-inspired evening will feature a full dinner, dessert, live entertainment, raffles, dancing with a live DJ, team trivia, a collaborative community art project, and the popular “We Asked the Lake” community game show. Guests are encouraged to embrace the theme by dressing in their grooviest tie-dye, flower power, and peace-sign attire. Tickets cost $90 per person and must be purchased in advance. Best of all, proceeds from the evening will support the Lake Huntington Lake Association’s ongoing lake conservation efforts. Whether you’re coming for the fun, the friends or to support the lake we all love, it’s sure to be a memorable evening.

The Town of Cochecton in New York is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with a special summer-long series, titled “Cochecton celebrates America’s 250th: Five events, one community, 250 years of history.” The final event will take place on Sunday, August 30, in the Hamlet of Cochecton at the Cochecton Men’s Club Community Hall and Ball Field, 2 Newman Road. The program will explore the history of the hamlet and encourage attendees to bring their own stories, photographs and memories to share. Organizers have even hinted that the legendary “Uncle Bob” could make a special appearance. All programs are free and open to the public. 

Delaware Valley Opera will present Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” this August at its historic Lake Huntington theater. Performances will be held on Saturday, August 22 at 7 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday, August 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and are available at MyRiverTickets.com. The Delaware Valley Opera is located at 6692 State Rte. 52 in Lake Huntington, NY. 

A “Dirty Dancing” weekend will take place in Lake Huntington, NY over Labor Day weekend, celebrating the history, music and lasting popularity of the iconic film. The festivities begin Friday, September 4 at 5 p.m. with the dedication of a Borscht Belt historical marker at Sullivan West High School, 6604 Rte. 52, followed by a big-screen showing of “Dirty Dancing” at 7:30 p.m. at the Delaware Valley Opera’s Nutshell Music Hall, 6692 Rte. 52. The celebration continues Sunday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m. with a “Dirty Dancing” tribute band performing the film’s memorable hits. Movie tickets cost $10, and tribute band tickets are available online or for $25 at the door. 

If you have a local business that you would like to have spotlighted in an upcoming column, get in touch. Email jenn@jennpowelldesigns.com with any news, events and happenings. You can also find me online at www.rustic-road.com.