Katherine Dhurandhar

Latest posts by Katherine

17 Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in Westchester for Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Fri, 11/11/2022 - 7:21am

Visit Harvest Moon Farms this holiday season for Lumagica, a walk-through holiday light experience. Photo courtesy of Harvest Moon Farms

This year's must-do holiday activities in Westchester and the Hudson Valley include a wintry mix of spectacles, tree lightings, Santa sightings, and other fun. We’ve got the lowdown on top holiday attractions to keep your family’s spirits high.

Whether you’re looking for a drive-thru holiday lights display or a Christmas event outside in frosty air, we’re highlighting more than a dozen can't-miss holiday activities in Westchester and the Hudson Valley below. Many beloved traditions return this year, including Westchester's Winter Wonderland, while great new events are debuting, like Legoland New York's first Holiday Bricktacular and the newly revamped American Christmas Santa's Village.

Round out your holiday calendar by shopping at one of these local holiday craft fairs and markets, and find even more ways to celebrate the season in our curated Christmas and Holiday Guide for Westchester Families. We're busy populating our Family Activity Calendar with loads of fun throughout the holidays, so keep close tabs to stay informed.

Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience Transforms FDR State Park Into Magical Walk-Through

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Wed, 11/02/2022 - 10:51am

The Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience has transformed FDR State Park into a magical walk-through.

Wands at the ready everyone: The forested trails of FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights have transformed into the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience. If you dare enter, you'll encounter characters, creatures, and favorite scenes from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series. Utilizing a magical combination of spectacular lighting and sound effects, this walk-through experience transports visitors to the Wizarding World and even allows guests to conjure a little magic of their own.

Read on for our full review, and be sure to book your tickets to the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience soon, as it's only in town for a limited time!

Best of November: 21 Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 7:38am

Peace, Love & Lights comes to the former Woodstock site at Bethel Woods. Photo courtesy of Bethel Woods

November brings plenty of things to do as Westchester and the Hudson Valley gear up for holidays from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and full steam ahead to Christmas.

November kicks off the season of holiday celebrations with the opening of Christmas exhibitions and light shows. This year includes the return of Lumagica at Harvest Moon, the revamped and expanded American Christmas and Santa's Village, and a new Polar Express-themed train ride through the Catskills. For even more festive fun, don't miss the Diwali Celebration at the Westchester Children's Museum, the Holiday Kickoff at the Hudson River Museum, and the opening of the holiday train shows at Greenburgh Nature Center and Lasdon Park.

Find more top November fun in our Fall Fun Guide, our roundup of fabulous fall hikes, and our Holiday Fun Guide.

We’re adding more events to our family Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

Halloween Weekend in Westchester: Trick-or-Treat and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Wed, 10/26/2022 - 12:38pm

Pelham Art Center hosts a FREE Day of the Dead celebration, and costumes are welcome. Photo courtesy of the center

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley on Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Halloween weekend.

Halloween 2022 is packed with family-friendly things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. From costume parties with ponies and zoo animals to trick-or-treating with firetrucks and celebrating the Mexican Day of the Dead, kids can wear their costumes all weekend long.

Beyond our top picks below, we've profiled tons more things to do this holiday weekend in our Halloween Fun Guide for Westchester Kids, including our top picks for FREE Halloween events, not-so-scary Halloween activities for little ones, and even teen-friendly spooky haunted houses. Come Monday, October 31, you'll want to keep this list of the best local trick-or-treating neighborhoods handy. So, put the finishing touches on those costumes and get ready to hit the streets. It's time to celebrate!

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2022 in Westchester: Turkey Trots, Holiday Lights & Legoland Bricktacular

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sat, 10/22/2022 - 5:30pm

The Wonderland of Lights drive-thru holiday light experience returns to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. Photo courtesy of the event

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this Thanksgiving Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Thanksgiving is upon us and kicks off the holiday season in Westchester. With the four-day Thanksgiving weekend ahead, there are plenty of great things to do in Westchester. If you want to get some exercise with your family before the big feast, check out one of the local turkey trots scheduled for Thanksgiving day. We're anticipating several holiday events launching this weekend, including the first Holiday Bricktacular at Legoland New York, the annual Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru, and Frosty Fest. Frosty Day, returns to Amonk and features a town-wide celebration of its native son. Rye's Mistletoe Magic is another great destination to enjoy small-town holiday spirit.

Looking for more holiday options? Browse our Westchester Kids Guide to Christmas and the Holidays, which is full of our top picks for holiday events, Christmas activities, and season-long things to do, including a review of American Christmas and its Santa's Village in Mount Vernon. You can even find out where to jump-start your holiday shopping at these local holiday fairs and craft markets or book a Polar Express train ride.

Not-So-Scary Halloween Events in Westchester for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 10/16/2022 - 9:55am

Check out Trunk or Treat: Firefighter Edition in Hudson. Photo courtesy of the FASNY

Looking for the best Halloween events in Westchester for toddlers and preschoolers? Read on for our top picks.

Halloween can be the most fun holiday of the year, but it can sometimes be a bit scary for younger kids. Thankfully, Westchester and the Hudson Valley are full of Halloween events that go easy on the scary while still managing to be full-on fun.

So get your little ones dressed up in their favorite costumes and get ready for some not-so-spooky fun. Our toddler-friendly Halloween events include music parties, library trick-or-treating, and even zoo animals. As an added bonus, most of the events on this list are FREE to attend.

You can find more festive happenings for all age groups in our Westchester Halloween Guide and our Family Activity Calendar, which is continually updated with new, fun events as we learn about them.

Top Haunted Houses near Westchester for 2022 Halloween Thrills

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 10/09/2022 - 1:18pm

Head to Ulster Park, New York, to catch the spooky Headless Horseman Haunted attractions run by the Historic Haunted Hudson Valley. Photo courtesy of event

Nothing says Halloween like a spooky haunted house, and Westchester and the Hudson Valley are teeming with top-of-the-line haunted houses and scream parks, many of them boasting Hollywood-quality makeup and special effects. Whether you have teens keen on a thrilling screamfest or little ones who need a not-so-spooky haunted house experience, look no further.

Read on for our list of the best haunted houses and scream parks in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, plus other Halloween events that are tamer and better suited to the younger set. Some of these events are annual traditions that are returning in 2022 after a COVID hiatus, including Hudson Horrors at Rye Playland and the annual Nyack and Tarrytown Halloween parades.

Find our favorite FREE Halloween events and more Westchester Halloween activities in our Westchester and Hudson Valley Halloween Guide, which includes recommendations for top local corn mazes, pumpkin patches near Westchester, at-home Halloween activities, and much more. You’ll also find tons more seasonal events on our Family Activity Calendar, with new ones added frequently.

Veterans Day Weekend in Westchester: 16 Top Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 10/09/2022 - 11:31am

See dazzling displays and sparkling lights at the American Christmas Santa's Village walk-through display. Photo courtesy of American Christmas

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this Veterans Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Friday's Veterans Day holiday means local families can kick off the long weekend early with a Thursday night skate party at Roller Magic. Veterans Day 2022 also means the return of many tributes in local towns, including Veterans Day parades in Somers and Yorktown. Veterans Day weekend brings the opening of the annual Holiday Train Show at Greenburgh Nature Center, which also hosts a one-weekend-only holiday market. Families can start the Thanksgiving festivities early and get a lesson in history at the Taste of Thanksgiving celebration at Museum Village, which features a 19th-century Thanksgiving feast cooked over an open hearth all weekend long.

Don't miss our reviews of American Christmas and its Santa's Village in Mount Vernon and the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience, which are also great options for weekend fun. Get a jump-start on the holidays by shopping at these local holiday fairs and craft markets or booking a Polar Express train ride. If that's not enough, bookmark our list of the best things to do this November and our Family Activity Calendar, which is constantly updated with new things to do as we find them.