Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

Things To Do in Westchester this Weekend: Blaze, Book Festival, Applefest

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 10/02/2019 - 8:10am

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is a can't-miss Halloween experience. Photo courtesy of Historic Hudson Valley

Fall fun continues this weekend for Westchester and Hudson Valley families with apple picking, pumpkin picking, fall festivals, and the like—and now many of the large-scale Halloween activities are added to the mix. Among the scary attractions for older kids is Hudson Horrors, a walk-through haunted-house experience.

One of the big headliners this weekend is the return of the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival, where young bibliophiles get the chance to meet authors and illustrators, collect autographs, hear book readings, and celebrate beloved literature. Also returning this year are the apple-licious Warwick Applefest, featuring assorted attractions and delicacies, and the Ultimate Willy Wonka Party, attended by two of the film's cast members. Horse lovers will get a kick out of the Peekskill Rotary Annual Horse Show and Country Fair.

This is just the beginning! Read on for our top weekend picks, visit our Event Calendar for more, and refer to our October Go List for our top choices for the rest of the month!

October GoList: The Best Things To Do with Westchester Kids

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 09/29/2019 - 8:00am

October is loaded with Halloween and fall fun, and there's no shortage of either in Westchester and the Hudson Valley! We've mentioned the best places to go apple and pumpkin picking, and we've rounded up fantastic fall festivals to check out, but there's even more fun to be had. Historic Hudson Valley shines this month with Halloween events including the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze and other seasonal attractions happening all month long. Many of these are super-hot tickets, so book yours soon to avoid missing out.

There’s also the popular Eastchester Columbus Day Carnival and Parade, family performances like Moon Mouse, and festivals that don’t fall under the “autumn” category, like the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival.

With so many tremendous events this time of year, we barely scratch the surface here, so be sure to check our Event Calendar for many more options. You can find many more Halloween highlights in our Ultimate Halloween Guide for Westchester Kids. And don't miss our roundup of best fall events for toddlers and preschoolers, many of which take place this month. Now grab your calendar and read on for the best events happening this month in Westchester and the Hudson Valley!

Things To Do in Westchester this Weekend: Kites, Playland, Fall Fests

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 09/25/2019 - 12:00pm

Go fly a kite at Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh on Saturday, September 28. Photo courtesy of Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site

There's plenty of fall fun happening this weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

As mentioned last week, Rye Playland has an extended season this year, and this is the final weekend to swing by the amusement park for fall fun. Speaking of which, fall festivals are also continuing; among them, the Walden Annual Harvest Fest, where the old-fashioned fun includes a frog-jumping contest.

A ticketed event that's out of the ordinary is the performance of Hiplet Ballerinas, a mish-mosh of urban and classical styles of dance and music. And do-gooders can make a difference in the lives of local families in need with an event in Rye Brook that puts the fun in fundraiser.

Read on for our top weekend picks, but be sure to also check our Event Calendar to view many more options to choose from. Also sign up for our FREE weekly newsletters for more family fun this weekend and beyond. Stay tuned, because Halloween season is coming!

Things To Do in Westchester this Weekend: Jay Day, Playland Fall Fun

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 09/18/2019 - 11:00am

Enjoy tons of kids' activities at Jay Day in Rye on Sunday. Photo courtesy of the Jay Heritage Center

This first weekend of fall is packed with fantastic family events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. In addition to several fall festivals, there’s an eclectic assortment of one-of-a-kind happenings, some of which appeared on our September GoList.

Have you heard the news? Though Playland usually closes for the season the weekend after Labor Day, it's opening this weekend and next with some fall-fest attractions, to boot.

Celebrate American heritage (and books and animals) at the multi-faceted Jay Day, or celebrate people of various abilities at the Wheelchair Games. Get up close with a helicopter and other fun vehicles at the annual Touch-a-Truck event, or take advantage of FREE admission to a host of museums in Westchester and throughout the Tri-State area.

This weekend offers a bonanza of entertaining and enriching events (not to mention apple picking), so you’ll definitely want to visit our Event Calendar to see the extensive fun beyond our top picks below. And be sure to check out our Fall Fun Guide for Westchester Kids for more seasonal happenings. Enjoy as much as you can take in—and if you haven't done so already, sign up for our newsletters to avoid missing any of the fun!

New Halloween Show "The Sleepy Hollow Experience" Rides Into the Rivertowns

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 09/13/2019 - 12:15pm

The Sleepy Hollow Experience brings Washington Irving's famous ghost story to life.

Sleepy Hollow is the place to be during Halloween season, with a slew of large-scale holiday attractions throughout the surrounding area. From walk-through fright fests to cemetery tours and more, the village made famous by Washington Irving’s Headless Horseman piles on the spook. This year, a new attraction is coming to town: The Sleepy Hollow Experience, an immersive theatrical production presented by the producers of the renowned Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze.

Shows are selling out quickly, with limited tickets available. Read on for the skinny on The Sleepy Hollow Experience, and be sure to sign up for our FREE newsletters and follow us on Facebook to stay in the know about Halloween and other happenings throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley!

Things To Do in Westchester this Weekend: Riverfest, Fairy Walk, Larchmont Day

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 09/11/2019 - 8:00am

Riverfest, one of Westchester's biggest events, returns to the Yonkers waterfront on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Yonkers BID

There are so many things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley on this second weekend of September—and a lot of our top picks are FREE!

Several neighborhoods are celebrating town pride: the Mount Kisco SeptemberFest will be happening all weekend long, and Saturday's celebrations include Larchmont Day, featuring big trucks, pony rides, a bouncy castle, and activity stations; and the annual Yonkers Riverfest, a waterfront street party with performers, kayaking, a kids' carnival area, and other attractions. Choose one of the fall festivals we've told you about, several of which are happening this weekend, or don your best wings and head out for a Fairy Walk.

Read on for details on these and other great events happening this weekend. Our Event Calendar offers many more fun happenings this weekend and beyond in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. If you haven't done so already, sign up for our newsletters!

Weekend Fun: Playland Closing Day, Play2Learn Festival, Grange Fair

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 09/04/2019 - 9:00am

Squeeze in one last visit to Rye Playland before it closes for the season on Sunday! Photo by the author

This weekend offers tons of fun things to do with kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley!

All ages will love the return of the Yorktown Grange Fair, featuring family performances, fun contests, and lots more. The Play2Learn Festival celebrates the importance of childhood play with more than 40 options for fun (all FREE!), while short films from around the world will be shown at the New York International Children’s Film Festival. American history hits home with a local perspective and assorted colonial fun at the Revolutionary War & Burning of Bedford Re-enactment.

More of our top picks for weekend fun are below, and many more events are on our Event Calendar and Fall Fun Guide. If you haven't done so already, sign up for our newsletters!

Fall Day Trips for Westchester Families: Foliage, Festivals, Charming Towns

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 09/01/2019 - 2:46pm

For the best apple picking this season visit Cedar Heights Orchards. Photo courtesy of the orchard

While the transition from summer to fall has its share of sadness, we’re here to tell you not to pout just yet! With so much to do in fall and generally more comfortable temps, we encourage you to turn your weekend attention to the numerous destinations in our area that make for lovely fall day trips from Westchester.

Below we’ve listed more than a dozen worthy drives (or train rides) that will transport you to fall fun. Many of these follow along the Hudson River, as savoring the gorgeous fall foliage for which the area is well known creates a showcase backdrop. We’ve also paired these destinations with family events, like fall festivals, so you might time your visit to coincide. And stay tuned for all the Halloween fun that’s heading our way!