Upcoming Events And Activities
Hidden Gardens Events 2026
GARDEN LECTURE
Saturday, June 27 at 9:30
Sigrid Gray of Take Root Design will present – On the Edge: Mills Park Community Experiment. This is the story of the renovation of a small green in the village of Kinderhook, NY into a meadow park; inviting curiosity and effort by many, stiff resistance by some, and learning by all. Refreshments will be served.
Hidden Gardens Tour & Market on the Green
Hidden Gardens Tour
10:00am-4:00pm
This very popular annual Academy fundraising event celebrates its 21st year bringing an opportunity for the community to visit five artful private landscapes in Columbia County villages: Spencertown, Chatham and East Chatham. Hidden Gardens ticket holders will have access to the restored grounds and gardens at Steepletop, the historic home of Edna St Vincent Millay in Austerlitz.
9:00am-2:30pm
This year the Market on the Green will focus on things to plant, nurture and grow including native perennials, shrubs and trees suited to this region. There will also be herbs, cut and dried flowers and of course, the popular Academy White Elephant booth filled with bargain- priced items for the garden and home.
BOOK LOVERS!
You can already feel it — just around the corner:
The Spencertown Academy Art Center’s 21st annual
FESTIVAL OF BOOKS!
Labor Day weekend, September 4 – 7
Countless gently used books of all genres. Music across all tastes on vinyl, CDs and DVDs. Plus signed first editions and collectables, antiques and other literary treasures. For your home library. The perfect gifts. Or both!
The 2026 Festival of Books is dedicated to our late friend, Kathy Zdeb, whose love of books and superb writing skills made her a mainstay of the team that has spread the good news about our event.
The giant book sale opens Friday, September 4, with a Members Only Preview Sale; doors are open to all on Saturday through Monday. Author talks on Saturday and Sunday will feature James Bradley, Casey Scieszka, Jessica Berger Gross, Nicholas Boggs, Joshua Jelly-Shapiro, Melina Hammer, Gerri Willis and Michelle Young.
Early Saturday, children can meet the book character Pete the Cat, listen to his wonderful story and make related crafts.
Book Donations begin on July 12!
Your books and audio donations are the first step in making this landmark festival a successful fundraiser. We’ll be accepting them from July 12 through August 16. Leave your boxes or bags in the Book Bin 24/7 in the Academy’s back parking lot. Need help? Volunteers are on hand to unload your donations on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00am – 2:00pm. Please remember: no textbooks, outdated travel books, encyclopedias, magazines, uncorrected proofs or galleys, library books or VHS tapes. And please, no damaged books! See you soon!
Spring/Summer 2026 Newsletter Now Available
Our newsletter has been updated with a new name and masthead, check it out to see what's coming up and read the interesting backstory to some of our programming and events. See the latest as well as past newsletters.
11th Annual Members' Art Show
May 30 - June 28
Opening Reception: Sunday, May 31: 3-5pm
This popular Gallery show will feature work by over 100 Academy artists in various media: paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and gouache, drawings in graphite, pen-and-ink,
alcohol inks, charcoal, colored pencil and pastel, photography, mixed media sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, fiber art, encaustic and assemblage. Come see what our creative community has been up to and cast your vote for the Audience Favorite award!
Learn more
Seedling Swap & Sale
Saturday, June 6: 10am - 2pm
Join us for Spencertown Academy’s first Seedling Swap & Sale a welcoming celebration of gardening, generosity, and growing together. Local gardeners and plant enthusiasts of all experience levels are invited to share seedlings, swap favorites, or purchase plants to take home for the season ahead — vegetables, herbs, flowers, and more… all plants are welcome!
Learn more.
Art Workshop: Art Hacks with Betsy Jacks
Sunday June 14: 1-4pm
Have you thought about creating a painting that you would love, but it was too daunting? Or maybe you tried and the results were disappointing? In this hands-on workshop, Betsy demonstrates how to bypass the frustrating parts of making representational art, such as getting the underlying drawing the way you want it. She will demonstrate how to use simple methods she has developed to guarantee a successful drawing, making the process easy and fun.
Learn more
Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like It
Friday, June 18: 6:30pm
Shakespeare in the Park with the Rooted Voyageurs is back! Join us in the idyllic Forest of Arden, where an unexpected exile ransforms into adventure and blossoming love. Filled with disguises, wit, and warmth, the beauty of nature and the power of words reign supreme in Shakespeare's raucously classic tale. This bare-boned production will take place at the Spencertown Town Park.
Learn more
Dusty Wright Four: FREE Concert
Friday, July 3, 7:00pmAs part of the Town of Austerlitz 250th Anniversary of the USA celebration, Spencertown Academy presents a free concert by the Dusty Wright Four under a big tent located in a field a quarter mile south of the Village Green next to 5100 South Street in Spencertown, NY (GPS may say Chatham) on Friday, July 3 at 7:00pm. The band will play an array of Americana, traditional, folk, and country rock, along with some patriotic tunes.
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Willa Cather: An American Voice
Sunday, June 28: 3pm
Willa Cather (1873–1947) was one of the most singular American novelists of the twentieth century. The author of twelve novels—including several enduring masterpieces, My Ántonia, The Professor’s House, and Death Comes for the Archbishop—she broke new ground as an artist by illuminating ordinary lives and struggles, lending dignity and significance to her characters’ inner worlds.
Join Los Angeles–based actors Linda Bisesti and Matt Reidy for a lively reading of selections from Willa Cather’s fiction, criticism, and letters.
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Announcing our 2026 Young Writers' Contest!
Spencertown Academy is excited to once again open its annual Young Writers' Contest to high school students (including homeschoolers) in Columbia County, NY and Berkshire County, MA, grades 9-12.
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Mary Gauthier with Special Guest Jaimee Harris
Sunday July 12, 7:30pm
Roots & Shoots Concerts Series presents Grammy-nominated folk singer-songwriter and author Mary Gauthier with special guest Jaimee Harris, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of “Mercy Now”. Note: This performance will take place at St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church on the Village Green in Spencertown.
Learn more.
All Write, Columbia
November 5-8, 2026
All Write, Columbia Nonfiction Writers Conference is a four day intensive focused on the craft and the business of writing nonfiction. The conference is open to all levels of nonfiction writers, from beginners who are just starting to write nonfiction to more advanced writers with a memoir manuscript. Open to writers who are at least 18 years old. Just 20 writers will be accepted.
Learn more.
Revels: Valentines Day 2026
Thanks to all who joined in the festivities for our 37th Annual Revels celebration, Delicious and convivial dinners at members’ homes, decadent and abundant desserts, music from the Lisha Delfino Jazz Trio, festive decor, photo booth (even Revels "tattoos"), but most of all your generous, spirited participation made for a memorable evening. A special thank you to our dinner hosts and bakers who went above and beyond!
See event photos
Gee's Bend Quilt Show
July 12- August 3, 2025
Over 4 weeks we welcomed close to 3,000 visitors who came from far and wide, to view this exhibition representing joy, hard work, history and artistry. We thank everyone who passed through our doors, purchased the Quilters' wares, sponsors and donors and our scores of volunteers. Learn more. 
Annual Appeal
Help to support our mission of Building Community Through the Arts, 50 years and going strong. Make your tax deductible gift today.
Watch and Listen to PAST Programming
Dexter Palmer & Rishi Reddi
Discuss their works of historical fiction with Daphne Kalotay. Watch the video on our YouTube channel.
Peter Sis
Discusses his book Nicky and Vera- A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued, with Carl Atkins.
Watch the video.
Rick Rogers
Learn how to make Almas Pite, a delicious Hungarian apple pie.
In conversation with Madaline Sparks. Watch the interview.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
Become a Member
We're dedicated to programs in a welcoming space for our Columbia County community and neighbors. Learn more.
