Bardavon
The Bardavon 1869 Opera House is a leading performance venue that presents touring artists of the highest quality in theater, dance, music, opera, and other performance genres. The Bardavon also strives to foster the development and presentation of new works. Each season the Bardavon’s diverse offerings include Mainstage shows, educational Daytime Performances, School Residencies as well as Community Service events. This variety ensures that the Bardavon is accessible to all who seek entertaining and inspiring live performances – whether general audiences or those with special needs.
Since its construction in 1869 as the Collingwood Opera House, the Bardavon has taken a piece of each era in its long lifetime with it into the future. They have defined the Bardavon’s distinctive position in the history of a community, a nation, an art form. Transformed from a 19th Century performance hall and gathering place into a movie palace in 1923, the theatre was retrieved from demolition in 1976 to become the leading performing arts and cinema venue of the Hudson Valley region that it is today. The stage has seen the great performers from all these eras: Mark Twain, Sarah Bernhardt, John Philip Sousa, the Barrymores, Martha Graham, Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Tommy Dorsey and more recently Dizzy Gillespie, Ballet Hispanico, Patti Smith, Pinchas Zukerman, Greg Allman, James Earl Jones, Harry Belafonte and many, many more.
Another facet of our organization is to preserve and continue to restore the Bardavon’s National Register theater building, which is the oldest continuously operating theater in New York State. Click here to view our past capital Campaign for the Millennium.
Parking & Directions
There is secure and convenient parking available. Event staff will direct you. When attending events at the Bardavon, please avoid parking in private lots on Cannon Street and Market Streets. The Bardavon and UPAC management is not responsible for immobilization/towing fees or damages to patrons’ vehicles parked in restricted, public and/or private lots.
From Northern Dutchess Country
Take Route 9 SOUTH to Poughkeepsie … take a left at Church Street exit (this is an up ramp) stay in your left hand lane. Take a left turn at the 3rd light onto Market Street. To Parking: At the first light on Market Street take a right hand turn onto Cannon St. Municipal parking lots are located on Cannon Street behind the Bardavon. Municipal parking lots are clearly identified. There is $5 event parking available in the Cannon Street Municipal Parking lot and in other private parking lots in the vicinity. Do not park in permit only restricted parking lots. The Bardavon is not responsible for towing/immobilization fees or damage to patrons’ vehicles. If you need assistance, stop at the theater marquee entranceway on Market Street and event staff will direct you. For more information call administration Mon-Fri. 9-5 pm (845) 473-5288 or Box Office (845) 473-2072.
From New York City
Travel time approximately 2 – 2 1/2 hours
Option #1 (Non-Commercial Vehicles)
Take Henry Hudson Parkway North to Saw Mill River Parkway North to the Taconic Parkway North. (Commercial vehicles not permitted). Take exit Route 55 WEST. This will take you into Poughkeepsie. As two lane highway becomes four lanes, stay in the left lane. Pass a block-long parking lot and Electra Lighting, turn left at the light onto Catharine Street. Turn right at the second light onto Cannon Street. Municipal parking lots are clearly identified . Municipal parking lots are clearly identified. There is $5 event parking available in the Cannon Street Municipal Parking lot and in other private parking lots in the vicinity. Do not park in permit only restricted parking lots. The Bardavon is not responsible for towing/immobilization fees or damage to patrons’ vehicles. If you need assistance, stop at the theater marquee entranceway on Market Street and event staff will direct you. For more information call administration Mon-Fri. 9-5 pm (845) 473-5288 or Box Office (845) 473-2072.
Option #2
Take the Major Deegan to NYS Thruway (Route 87 N) and travel North to exit 18-New Paltz. Take a right at the intersection and travel on 299 EAST. Take a right at the intersection of 299 and 9W South. Look for signs for the Mid-Hudson Bridge to Poughkeepsie (Route 44-55 EAST). Travel over bridge, stay in left lane, travel up hill three lights, at third light take left onto Market Street. Municipal parking lots are clearly identified. There is $5 event parking available in the Cannon Street Municipal Parking lot and in other private parking lots in the vicinity. Do not park in permit only restricted parking lots. The Bardavon is not responsible for towing/immobilization fees or damage to patrons’ vehicles. If you need assistance, stop at the theater marquee entranceway on Market Street and event staff will direct you. For more information call administration Mon-Fri. 9-5 pm (845) 473-5288 or Box Office (845) 473-2072.
From Orange County
Take the New York State Thruway north to Exit 18. Pay toll. At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Route 299. You will see signs for the Mid-Hudson Bridge. Cross bridge, staying in the left lane (if both lanes are open). As you near end the right lane is the exit for Route 9 and you don’t want that. At the 3rd light, make a left onto Market Street. Bardavon is two blocks on right. Municipal parking lots are clearly identified. There is $5 event parking available in the Cannon Street Municipal Parking lot and in other private parking lots in the vicinity. Do not park in permit only restricted parking lots. The Bardavon is not responsible for towing/immobilization fees or damage to patrons’ vehicles. If you need assistance, stop at the theater marquee entranceway on Market Street and event staff will direct you. For more information call administration Mon-Fri. 9-5 pm (845) 473-5288 or Box Office (845) 473-2072.
From Southern Dutchess County
Take Route 9 NORTH to Poughkeepsie…..After the Academy Street exit, get into the left lane, take the 44/55 Church Street exit … at third light, make a left onto Market Street. Bardavon is two blocks on right. Municipal parking lots are clearly identified. There is $5 event parking available in the Cannon Street Municipal Parking lot and in other private parking lots in the vicinity. Do not park in permit only restricted parking lots. The Bardavon is not responsible for towing/immobilization fees or damage to patrons’ vehicles. If you need assistance, stop at the theater marquee entranceway on Market Street and event staff will direct you. For more information call administration Mon-Fri. 9-5 pm (845) 473-5288 or Box Office (845) 473-2072.
From Taconic North
Take the Taconic until the Poughkeepsie Exit Route 55, the second ramp. Take Route 55 WEST which merges with Route 44 when you enter Poughkeepsie. Take a left onto Catherine Street, which will intersect the Poughkeepsie Main Mall, at the second light make a right onto Cannon Street. Park in the municipal parking lot on the right. The Bardavon is around the corner on Market Street. Municipal parking lots are clearly identified. There is $5 event parking available in the Cannon Street Municipal Parking lot and in other private parking lots in the vicinity. Do not park in permit only restricted parking lots. The Bardavon is not responsible for towing/immobilization fees or damage to patrons’ vehicles. If you need assistance, stop at the theater marquee entranceway on Market Street and event staff will direct you. For more information call administration Mon-Fri. 9-5 pm (845) 473-5288 or Box Office (845) 473-2072.
From Ulster County
Take 9W NORTH OR SOUTH to Mid Hudson Bridge. Go over the bridge and stay on 44/55. Get in left lane and at 3rd light, make left onto Market Street. Bardavon is two blocks on right. Municipal parking lots are clearly identified . Municipal parking lots are clearly identified. There is $5 event parking available in the Cannon Street Municipal Parking lot and in other private parking lots in the vicinity. Do not park in permit only restricted parking lots. The Bardavon is not responsible for towing/immobilization fees or damage to patrons’ vehicles. If you need assistance, stop at the theater marquee entranceway on Market Street and event staff will direct you. For more information call administration Mon-Fri. 9-5 pm (845) 473-5288 or Box Office (845) 473-2072.