Cannabis Growers Showcases in New York — A Living Tracker for 2026

## What This Page Is This is a living tracker of Cannabis Growers Showcase (CGS) events in the Hudson Valley and Catskills, the state-sanctioned, farmers-market-style events where New York's licensed cannabis cultivators sell flower and pre-rolls direct to adult consumers. It reflects the current state of the program **as of 2026** and is updated quarterly. For the authoritative live calendar, which can change on short notice, check the Office of Cannabis Management at [cannabis.ny.gov](https://cannabis.ny.gov) and the individual farm and dispensary listings. ## The Short Answer - **CGS events are legal.** They are authorized and regulated by the OCM. - **They are not the same as "cannabis markets" or "sesh events."** If it is not on the OCM's public CGS list, it is not a CGS, and if it is not legal, you should not buy. - **They are farmer-facing.** The point is to get product from licensed cultivators (who are often small, upstate, legacy-farming operations) to adult consumers with a retail partner in the middle. - **They are 21+ only**, ID verified at the door. - **The Hudson Valley and Catskills host several each season**, typically clustered April–October with some winter indoor events. ## What a CGS Actually Is Cannabis Growers Showcase events were created by the OCM in 2023 as an interim channel for licensed New York cultivators when the retail-dispensary rollout was moving slower than the growing season. At a CGS: - **Licensed cultivators** (the farmers) set up tables with their flower and pre-rolls. - **A licensed retail dispensary** runs the actual point of sale, the transaction is legally a dispensary sale, fulfilled at a farmer's table. Every sale is logged against the dispensary's license. - **Adult consumers 21+** walk the event, sample terpene profiles (you smell; you don't consume on site), and buy from whichever cultivators look interesting. - **Venues vary**, barns, farm properties, licensed event venues. The OCM approves each location. - **On-site consumption is not permitted**, these are retail sales, not consumption events. If you've ever been to an upstate farmer's market for produce or a craft-beer showcase, the format is familiar. The twist is that the product is cannabis, the oversight is the OCM, and every shift between farmer and consumer goes through a licensed dispensary cash register. ## Why They Matter A few reasons the format has persisted even as the retail dispensary network has matured: - **Small and legacy cultivators sell well at CGS.** A farmer who grows three pounds a year at a high level can move that product in a weekend. The dispensary wholesale market is harder for small operators. - **Direct farmer contact.** You can ask the person who grew it about the cultivar, the farm, the curing, the season. That conversation doesn't happen at most retail counters. - **Regional cannabis-agritourism is notable.** Hudson Valley Hemp Co., Hepworth Farms, Hudson Cannabis, Harney Brothers, and several smaller operations are building around this. - **Events are community.** Live music, food trucks, cider and non-alcoholic beverages, sometimes yoga or art programming. The OCM rules prohibit on-site cannabis consumption and free product giveaways; everything else is on the table. ## How to Tell a CGS From Something That Isn't The regulated-vs-unregulated distinction matters for you, the consumer, because only the regulated channel has: - **Laboratory-tested product** with published Certificates of Analysis - **License-number traceability** back to a licensed cultivator - **OCM enforcement** if something goes wrong - **Legal protection** for the transaction Signals that a "cannabis market" or "festival" is **not** a CGS: - **Not on the OCM's CGS event list.** This is definitive. If it's not on the list, it's not a CGS. - **Products aren't in regulated packaging.** CGS product has plain packaging, license numbers, batch IDs, and the NY universal-symbol mark. See our [label-reading guide](/blog/how-to-read-cannabis-product-label-new-york). - **Vendors can't show a cultivator license number.** They should have it on hand. - **On-site consumption is advertised.** CGS events are retail-only, not consumption lounges. - **Claims of "medical use" or "micro-dose gummies."** Edibles are capped at 10 mg THC/serving in NY, and medical claims are prohibited. See also our guide to [licensed vs unlicensed dispensaries](/blog/licensed-vs-unlicensed-dispensary-new-york), the same framing applies to events. ## The Hudson Valley and Catskills Schedule (As of 2026) **This section is updated quarterly.** Between updates, always verify current events directly through [cannabis.ny.gov](https://cannabis.ny.gov), the CGS calendar shifts regularly and the OCM's list is the authoritative source. Historically, CGS events in the Hudson Valley / Catskills have clustered around: ### Spring Kickoff (April–May) Usually one to two events in the region pegged to the season opener, typically at a licensed cultivator's farm property in Ulster or Sullivan County. April events often coincide with 4/20 weekend programming (see our [4/20 events roundup](/blog/420-events-catskills-2026)). ### Summer (June–August) The peak CGS season. Multiple weekend events per month across Ulster, Greene, Sullivan, Delaware, and Dutchess counties. Venues have included Hepworth Farms in Milton, Hudson Cannabis in Hudson, cultivator farm properties in Sullivan County, and several licensed event venues that partner with retailer-cultivator pairings. ### Harvest (September–October) The cultural peak. Harvest-timed CGS events pair naturally with upstate farm tourism, apple orchards, cideries, farm dinners. Hudson Valley CGS programming has historically leaned into the harvest-weekend format, and 2025 saw record attendance. 2026 programming is expected to continue this pattern. ### Winter (November–March) Fewer events, and most are indoor, barns, licensed event venues, dispensary-adjacent spaces. Worth tracking through the off-season because the field is less crowded and the events are often more cultivator-focused. ## How to Plan for a CGS 1. **Check the OCM's event list at [cannabis.ny.gov](https://cannabis.ny.gov)** a week out. Verify the event, venue, and participating cultivator-retailer pair. 2. **Bring ID**, 21+, every time. Confirm ID requirements on the event page (some events require online registration). 3. **Know how you're getting home.** CGS events are retail-only, no on-site consumption. If you're staying overnight, [book a cabin](/blog/cannabis-friendly-cabin-stays-catskills-guide). If you're driving home, buy and go. 4. **Cash or debit.** Credit-card networks still don't process cannabis in 2026. 5. **Come hungry for conversation.** The point of a CGS over a retail shop is the farmer contact. Ask about the cultivar, the soil, the cure. 6. **Start low, go slow** on any new products, even from a farmer you trust, NY-regulated flower tests higher than most out-of-state consumers expect. ## A Note for Catskills Weekends A CGS event can easily anchor a Catskills weekend. Common patterns: - **Saturday CGS + Sunday trail weekend.** Buy Saturday, stay in [Phoenicia](/blog/phoenicia-catskills-trailhead-town-guide) or [Margaretville](/catskills), hike Sunday, home Sunday evening. - **CGS + Bethel Woods.** A Sullivan County CGS pairs naturally with a Bethel Woods concert or the broader [music heritage weekend](/blog/catskills-music-festival-heritage-guide). - **CGS + cidery / farm dinner.** Harvest-season CGS events in the Hudson Valley often cluster near Seminary Hill (Callicoon), Angry Orchard (Walden), and the established farm-dinner circuit. Different legal frame for each venue, but the geographic overlap is real. See the [complete Catskills cannabis guide](/blog/complete-guide-cannabis-catskills-hudson-valley-2026) for the broader map. ## How We Update This Page The CGS calendar changes. OCM approvals go out on rolling timelines, cultivator-retailer pairings shift, and venues swap. Our update cadence: - **Quarterly content refresh.** January, April, July, October. - **Between updates, verify live details at [cannabis.ny.gov](https://cannabis.ny.gov).** - **Next scheduled refresh: July 2026.** If you run a CGS event in the region and want it reflected here, get in touch via the site's contact page, we'll verify against OCM records and update. ## Compliance, Quickly - **21+ only.** ID verified at every CGS event door. - **OCM-listed events only.** If it's not on the state's list, it's not a CGS. Verify at [cannabis.ny.gov](https://cannabis.ny.gov). - **No on-site consumption.** CGS events are retail-only. - **No driving impaired.** If you sample a terpene profile and nothing else, you're fine to drive. If you buy and consume off-site, factor in timing, edibles can take two hours to peak. - **Start low, go slow** on new products. Always. ## Where to Go Next - [Is weed legal in New York in 2026?](/blog/is-weed-legal-new-york-2026) - [Licensed vs unlicensed dispensaries in NY](/blog/licensed-vs-unlicensed-dispensary-new-york) - [How to read a cannabis product label in New York](/blog/how-to-read-cannabis-product-label-new-york) - [4/20 events in the Catskills 2026](/blog/420-events-catskills-2026) - [The complete guide to cannabis in the Catskills and Hudson Valley](/blog/complete-guide-cannabis-catskills-hudson-valley-2026) - [Cannabis consumption lounges in NY, status tracker](/blog/cannabis-consumption-lounges-new-york-status-tracker) **This is consumer information, not legal or medical advice. CGS program rules are set by the New York State Office of Cannabis Management and evolve; always verify current requirements at [cannabis.ny.gov](https://cannabis.ny.gov).**