Sleepy Hollow Music Festival

The Sleepy Hollow Music Festival returns to Kingsland Point Park on October 3, kicking off the Halloween season early with a family-friendly, single-day event that runs from noon until 8 p.m. Gates open at noon, music starts at 1 p.m., and the lineup features regional indie bands, folk acts, and singer-songwriters performing on two stages with the Hudson River and Tappan Zee Bridge as backdrop. General admission tickets run around $45, children 12 and under enter free, and parking is available in the park lot on a first-come basis, though it typically fills by 2 p.m. on festival day. The Metro-North station in Tarrytown is a 15-minute walk south, making car-free attendance feasible for visitors coming from downstate.

Kingsland Point Park sits directly on the Hudson River in Sleepy Hollow, the legendary village Washington Irving immortalized in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” published in 1820. The park’s 12 acres include a public beach, playground, and open lawn areas where festival-goers spread blankets and camp chairs for the afternoon. Food vendors offer everything from wood-fired pizza and tacos to apple cider donuts and pumpkin-spiced treats that lean into the early autumn vibe. October weather in the Hudson Valley is typically in the 60s and sunny, ideal for outdoor music, though river breezes can cool down by evening, so bring layers and a blanket for sitting. The festival attracts families with young children, couples, and groups of friends looking for a low-key seasonal outing with live music and water views.

Between sets, walk down to the park’s beach area where kids can skip rocks on the Hudson while parents take in views across to the western shore. The festival is dog-friendly on leash, and you’ll find water stations and restrooms near the main stage. If crowds feel heavy, explore the quieter northern edge of the park where benches overlook the river and the historic Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse, built in 1883 on a rocky outcrop just offshore. Plan to stay through the final set at 8 p.m. when the sunset over the Hudson creates a natural backdrop for the closing act.

Extend the music festival into a full Sleepy Hollow weekend by booking a Hudson River-view rental on Lake.com in Sleepy Hollow or nearby Tarrytown, ideally within walking distance of Kingsland Point Park. After the festival wraps, head to Bridge View Tavern (established 2009) on Beekman Avenue for craft beer and pub fare, or make a reservation at Sunset Cove (2014) for waterfront dining with marina views. Pair the festival with a Saturday visit to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (where Washington Irving is buried) or the Old Dutch Church, built in 1685, for a weekend that balances live music, local history, and Hudson River access in the heart of the valley’s most storied village.