Hard to believe that August is here! Let’s soak up every last bit that summer has to offer before it is time for back to school!

Here are some events happening in our community and beyond:

Please support our local youth. The Sullivan County 4-H Livestock Market & Product Auction returns to the Grahamsville Little World's Fair on Sunday, August 16, offering the community an opportunity to support the hard work and dedication of local 4-H youth. The preview begins at 12:00 p.m., with auction bidding starting at 1:00 p.m. Attendees will have the chance to bid on a wide variety of high-quality livestock and locally produced items, including hay, eggs, beef, swine, poultry, flowers, baked goods, syrup, honey, herbs, and more. Those unable to attend in person may submit proxy bids by August 12. For additional information, call 845-292-6180, ext. 109. Every purchase directly supports the accomplishments and future projects of Sullivan County 4-H members while celebrating the agricultural traditions of our community.

Mark your calendars for one of the Lake Huntington Lake Association's biggest events of the summer! The 2026 “Peace, Love & Lake Huntington” Gala will take place on Saturday, August 22, at 6 p.m. at The Club at the Villa Roma in Callicoon. 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 are $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 is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with a special summer-long series, Cochecton Celebrates America’s 250th: Five Events, One Community, 250 Years of History. The fourth event, scheduled for Sunday, August 9, will spotlight the history of Lake Huntington and feature the highly anticipated opening of the 1976 Time Capsule. This special community event offers a rare opportunity to look back at local history through items preserved nearly 50 years ago. Organizers expect the time capsule opening to be one of the highlights of the entire celebration series.

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. 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” may make a special appearance. All programs are free and open to the public.

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