Your Awesome Westchester Weekend: August 5-7
This weekend is packed with so many awesome things to do in and around Westchester! From a messy fundraiser (yes, you and your kids can literally get muddy for a good cause) to the annual sunflower festival to tons of interactive art events, you’re going to want to do more than one of these awesome Westchester weekend events. Be sure to tag and share on social media @westchesterfamilymagazine if you enjoy any of these adventures.
Friday, August 5th from 10:00am-10:30am
Mommy and Me: Animal Kingdom at Westmoreland Sanctuary
Enjoy a special bonding experience with your child at Westmoreland Sanctuary where you and your child can meet a new animal friend. Through this drop-in (with a parent) program, your kids will get to pet animals for 45-minutes. This is followed by 45 minutes of self-directed play. There will also be coloring books and animal crackers. $10 per session. 260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mount Kisco, NY 10549.
Friday, August 5th from 10:00am-4:00pm
Public Sewing Day with Amanda Browder at the KMA
Visit the Katonah Arts Museum for a Public Sewing Day with Brooklyn-based textile artist Amanda Browder. This is a part of Amanda’s participatory public art project called “Metropolis Sunrise.” During the event, she will guide community volunteers with the the sorting, arranging, pinning, and sewing of fabric parts. This will all come together for a large colorful textile sculpture. Katonah Museum of Art, 134 Jay Street, Katonah, New York 10536.
Friday, August 5th-Sunday, August 16th, two weekends; various times
4th Annual Sunflower Festival at Barton Orchards
Soak in the beauty of sunflowers as a part of Barton Orchards’ Sunflower Festival. This ticketed event gives you and your family access to see over 10,000 sunflowers of all different sizes and shapes. All attendees will also enjoy a hay ride to the field and one flower as well as access to the fun park. Tickets also include access to their petting zoo, wooden ship playground, and slip n’ slide.
The event also includes craft vendors, live music, wine, beer, hard cider and apple cider donuts. Guests should bring their own small gardening shears as they have a limited amount. They also have a limited amount of early bird tickets, which will sell out. Early bird tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for kids (ages 4-12) and much be purchased in advance. Parking is free. Barton Orchards, 63 Apple Tree Lane, Poughquag, NY 12570.
Saturday, August 6th from 9:00am-12:00pm
Family Fun at the Ossining Farmers Market
Kids of all ages can participate in a variety of activities to learn about eating healthy eating while you shop. This includes worksheets, coloring pages, and sidewalk chalk. Down to Earth Ossining Farmers Market, corner of Main and Spring Streets, Ossining, NY.
Saturday, August 6th from 10:30am-3:00pm
Community Day at the FASNY Museum of Firefighting
Have a firefighter fan? Then, you’ve got to check out the FASNY Museum of Firefighting and their upcoming community day. Enjoy their new exhibits, demonstrations, games, prizes, and activities for free! Reservations are not required; simply visit the museum and enjoy! Some programming on community day includes: a demo by the Owego Hose Team; a barbershop quartet; an agility demo by Molly, the museum dog; a history hunt; and tours and talks. 117 Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson, NY 12534.
Saturday, August 6th from 11:00am-3:00pm
The Muddy Puddles Project “Mess Fest”
You and your kids will love making a mess this weekend for a good cause. The Muddy Puddles Project “Mess Fest, the official charity of Peppa Pig, is all about having families forget the stresses of life. Hosted by the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation for childhood cancer research, the event honors Ty Louis Campbell, a boy from Pawling, NY who lost his battle with brain cancer in 2012. Sadly, Ty was only five years old. The popular event/ fundraiser is a great way to give back and support this cause. The event includes a visit from Peppa Pig, along with zip lines, splatter paint, pie tosses, slip ‘n’ slides, food fights, muddy puddle jumping, a “slopstacle course” and much more. Tickets are $45 per person. Kiwi Country Day Camp, 825 Union Valley Road, Mahopac, NY 10512.
Saturday, August 6th at 11:00am
Free Live Music + Sculpture: Ballad of Cyclic Change at The Rye Arts Center
Enjoy this fun outdoor event where your kids can play and learn more about upcycled musical instruments. The display features instruments made from upcycled materials that will be played by NYC-based musician and composer, Jacob Elkin, along with an interpretive dance. After the music, the public is invited to interact with the sculptures and create their own compositions. The Rye Arts Center, 51 Milton Rd, Rye, NY
Saturday, August 6th from 11:15am-11:45am
Music & Movement at the Mount Kisco Public Library
Enjoy music and movement for children ages 2-5 years old. Meet new friends, enjoy books, and have fun moving and grooving. Mount Kisco Public Library, 100 East Main Street, Mount Kisco, NY 10549.
Saturday, August 6th from 11:00am-4:00pm
Family Fun Day & Sand Art Competition at Glen Island Park
Have an awesome day with your family at the beach as a part of the Family Fun Day and Sand Art Competition. The event includes live music, games, and of course the chance to make some amazing sand art creations. Glen Island Park, Weyman Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10805.
Saturday, August 6th at 5:00 pm
Live Music: The Four26 at The Bedford Playhouse
Rock out to live music with your kids as a part of the Summer on the Bedford Playhouse Lawn. This weekend, The Four26 takes the stage featuring a mix of folk, rock, and more. The Bedford Playhouse, 633 Old Post Road, Bedford Village, NY.
Saturday, August 6th at 8:00pm
Angelique Kidjo at Caramoor
Watch a stunning performance from Angelique Kidjo at Caramoor. The music includes a mix of R&B, funk, and jazz as well as sounds from Kidjo’s childhood home of Benin and West African traditions. They offer seating garden Listening tickets for $20 per adult and free for children under 18. 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah, NY 10536.
Sunday, August 7th from 12:00pm-6:00pm
Heritage of India Festival at Kensico Dam Plaza
Celebrate Indian culture, music, and food at the Heritage of India Festival. The event is rain or shine and guests should bring blankets or folding chairs. Kensico Dam Plaza, 1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla, NY 10595.
Sunday, August 7th from 1:00pm-2:30pm
Make a Sunprint at the Pelham Art Center
Kids can create a beautiful craft this weekend using natural elements such as sun, water, and magic paper. Designed for kids ages 8, participants will use plants, florals, leaves, and other objects to create their own cyanotypes as they experiment with the process and create unique sunlight exposed prints. Participants are encouraged to bring objects or pressed plants from home to use in their creations. The event costs $40 per person. Pelham Art Center, 155 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, NY 10803.
Sunday, August 7th from 12:00pm-2:00pm
Bicycle Sundays
Enjoy biking, scooting, walking, or running — without cars — along this 13.1 miles (round-trip) trail. This covers Exit 22 at the Westchester County Center to Exit 4 at Scarsdale Road in Yonkers. Admission is free and free parking is available in the East Lot at the Westchester County Center.
Happy exploring!