7 things we’re excited about
- Friends of Clermont
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
There's a lot happening at Clermont this July!
1
Independence Day
Friday, July 4
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
What was life at Clermont like during the Revolutionary War? See reenactors portray daily colonial life. There's something for everyone: take a tour of the historic mansion, make a historic craft, try out a colonial game, listen to songs and stories of Thomas Hooker Hanford, hear Frederick Douglass' famous speech "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?", and enjoy delicious food from At First Bite and ice cream from Fortunes. The day will end with a reading of the Declaration of Independence.
There is a $15 per vehicle fee. Cash only.
2
Harmonies on the Hudson: The Hammerhead Horns
Thursday, July 10
6 - 7:30 p.m.
With their Roots, Ragtime and Barrelhouse Blues, The Hammerhead Horns are a five-piece band from the New York Capital District thrilling audiences from the Hudson Valley to the Adirondacks.
The Hammerhead Horns will have you dancing and singing on your feet to energetic percussion, plunger-driven brass and blues-soaked vocal renditions of music by Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters, and more.
All concerts (weather permitting) are adjacent to the main visitor parking lot. It is recommended that attendees bring their own seating. Picnics are encouraged!
Check out the full concert series lineup.
This concert is generously sponsored by:
3
Author Talk with Mary Mistler
Sunday, July 13
2 - 3:30 p.m.
Join author Mary Mistler for a talk and signing for her book Ladies of the Valley: Women of the Great Estates of the Hudson Valley.
This book tells the story of the women who lived on and ran the estates that line the eastern shore of the Hudson — including Clermont's own Margaret Beekman Livingston. Learn how the deep connection to their family lands had a lasting impact on the history, society, and even the geography of the Hudson Valley.
Want to get your copy before the talk? Visit our online gift shop.
4
Animals of Clermont: a guided tour
Saturday, July 19
2 - 3:30 p.m.
From Chancellor Livingston's prize Merino sheep to Alice Livingston's countless canine companions, The Animals of Clermont guided tour charts the timeline of Americans' evolving relationships with the animals we call our own.
This tour takes place both inside the mansion and outside on the park grounds. Be prepared for outdoor walking. Though this tour focuses on animals, please leave your pets at home.
5
Meet our Gardener: Mary Hughes
Thursday, July 24
10 - 11 a.m.
Clermont’s walled, wilderness, and cutting gardens have been transformed, thanks to Mary Hughes and her team. Their care, creativity, and hard work brought new life to these historic spaces. We invite you to meet Mary in person. Join us for a special garden tour. She’ll share insights into her process and the ongoing restoration.
This is a free event, but registration is encouraged in case we need to cancel due to inclement weather.
6
Harmonies on the Hudson: Yankee Brass Band
Thursday, July 24
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Join us for the third installment of our free Harmonies on the Hudson concert series! Since 1987, the Yankee Brass Band has entertained audiences in New England and beyond with historically informed performances of nineteenth-century American brass band music. Using antique brass and percussion instruments from the period, painstakingly restored by their owners, the Yankee Brass Band presents the music of the “Golden Age of Bands” played in much the same manner as in the mid-to-late nineteenth century.
All concerts (weather permitting) are adjacent to the main visitor parking lot. It is recommended that attendees bring their own seating. Picnics are encouraged!
Check out the full concert series lineup.
This concert is generously sponsored by:
7
Kids' Summer Programs
Saturdays, July 12 - August 9
11 a.m. - noon
Looking for creative and educational programs now that school's out? Look no further than Clermont!
Join us on Saturdays from July 12 - August 9 for the Crafty Kids Summer Extravaganza. Each week, we will work on a different craft related to Clermont, our history, and our local ecosystem.
