Nestled between the Adirondack High Peaks and the shores of Lake Champlain, Keeseville is a small hamlet with big charm. Whether you’re drawn by its outdoor adventures or farm-to-table flavors, this corner of the North Country offers a perfect weekend getaway. And if you visit during the Keeseville Community Arts Festival (July 18-19), you’ll find the town at its most colorful—filled with visiting artists capturing its beauty en plein air, live music, and community festivities.
Friday
4 p.m. | Get Your Bearings
Start your trip with a scenic drive into Keeseville, passing rolling farmland and the dramatic Ausable Chasm from the north, or the towering cliffs of Poke-o-Moonshine mountain from the south. Drop your bags at a local inn or vacation rental, then take a short walk along the Ausable River in the center of town to soak in the historic architecture and iconic bridges.
5 p.m. | Art, Local Drinks, and Conversation
Kick off the weekend at the Keeseville Community Arts Festival’s Friday night reception, where you can mingle with plein air painters from across the northeast, who have spent the week painting the town’s landscapes. These fresh-off-the-easel masterpieces are all for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting community revitalization in Keeseville. A $15 suggested donation to nonprofit AdkAction at the door also gets you a limited edition “Keeseville” glass and a complimentary wine or beer served by Ausable Brewing Company at the reception.
7 p.m. | Catch a Play
Now amply fortified by cheese and charcuterie, head across the street from the Plein Air Show and Sale to the Ausable Valley Grange for a local production of Proof by David Auburn, a play performed by Artistry Community Theatre. Seating is limited but tickets for the (R-rated) production can be purchased in advance at artistrytheatre.org
Saturday
9 a.m. | Coffee and Farm Fresh Shopping
Bring a cooler to explore Keeseville’s local farms, you won’t want to leave empty handed. Start your day sipping a cortado at Clover Mead Café’s shaded picnic tables, where you can watch the North Country Creamery cows shuffle past you to the milking barn, then pick up rich, creamy yogurts and artisan cheeses from the self-serve farm store. Just up the road at Mace Chasm Farm, buy organic, grass-fed meats and house-made sausages. Stop by Mossbrook Roots Flower Farm and Adirondack View Lavender Farm for fragrant blooms and to enjoy the serene views.
10 a.m. | Plein Air Brunch & Festival Fun
Return to town just in time for the festival’s main event at the Stone Mill and Keeseville Waterfront Park on Ausable Street. Stroll through the Local Artists Fair along the Ausable River for free kids’ art activities–including tie dye for the whole family, record a station ID for the new local radio station, and enjoy artisan demonstrations. Stop by the Free Ice Cream Sundae Bar provided by Stewart’s Shops to create your own ice cream masterpiece! Visit the Riverside Inn and Pottery Studio for an impressive raku firing. If you missed the plein air show and sale opening on Friday, you can still catch a delicious plein air brunch at the old Stone Mill, and take advantage of your last chance to buy an artwork, as the plein air artists will be packing up unsold works by 3pm.
1 p.m. | Lunch on Front Street
Walk over Keeseville’s historic pedestrian “swing bridge” or stone arch bridge to get lunch on Front Street, where you can choose between a variety of grilled cheeses or fresh smoked curbside BBQ at the Village Roast Café or get a table at Taco Temptation for an agua fresca and authentic Mexican fare.
3 p.m. | Enjoy a Tasting at Highlands Vineyard
Just a short drive from downtown, Highlands Vineyard offers breathtaking views over Lake Champlain. Sip a glass of estate-grown wine while gazing at the silhouettes of Vermont’s Green Mountains in the distance.
4 p.m. | Lake Champlain Beach Break
Cool off with a visit to Port Douglas Beach, a quiet, scenic spot on Lake Champlain. Wade into the water, skim rocks across the lake’s surface, or simply relax with a book in the shade.
6 p.m. | Live Music at Ausable Brewing Co.
No trip to Keeseville is complete without a stop at Ausable Brewing Company, where small-batch craft beers, food trucks, and an easygoing crowd set the perfect tone for the evening. Grab a picnic table, order a cold pour and a pizza, and enjoy live music. 
Sunday
8 a.m. | Coffee on Front Street
Start your day at Keeseville’s cozy coffee shop, Village Roast Café, where the morning crowd gathers for fresh pastries and coffee. Take a seat by the window and watch the town wake up.
9 a.m. | The Great Outdoors: Chasm or Fire Tower Hike
Beat the crowds and take an early morning hike at Ausable Chasm, a sandstone gorge that has attracted tourists since 1873. Descend into the cool box canyon on walkways, or choose from rafting, tubing, and adventure packages at the welcome center.
Or, lace up your hiking boots and make the short drive to Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain. The 2.4-mile trail leads you through a beautiful forest and up a rocky ascent to a fire tower with panoramic views of the Champlain Valley, the Adirondack High Peaks, and the hamlet of Keeseville below.
Keeseville is located 20 minutes south of Plattsburgh, 50 minutes from Lake Placid, and 1.5 hours from Burlington. For a full schedule of events for the Keeseville Community Arts Festival, visit AdkAction.org/Art
