Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

September GoList: The Best Things to Do With Kids in Westchester

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 08/30/2019 - 12:14pm

Though September signals the closing of beaches and pools and the end of summer, there are so many scheduled events this month in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, it's hard to feel down about it! With fall festivals, film festivals, and non-festivals, the events this month are plentiful.

Though Halloween might seem a ways off, trust us: You don’t want to delay snagging your tickets to The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, which go on sale to the general public September 3 (a moment’s delay, and you’ll wind up with a date closer to Thanksgiving). And the New York Renaissance Faire, which runs through early October, is worthy of a reminder after being featured in our August GoList, as is CORNucopia, which bridges August and September.

Beyond these, there are many reasons to keep tabs on our Event Calendar this month, where you’ll find activities that celebrate Labor Day, the return to school, Grandparents Day, and the start of autumn, among other occasions. Stay in the know with our newsletters and check back frequently for updates.

Weekend Fun: Summer Hoot, Dutchess County Fair, NY Air Show

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 08/21/2019 - 2:00pm

See live music and much more at the three-day Summer Hoot at the Ashokan Center. Photo courtesy of the event

From carnival rides to aircraft exhibits, roving robots to square dancing, there’s a broad assortment of family fun in store this weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

The headline event is the Dutchess County Fair, returning for the 174th time with amusement rides, carnival games, livestock competitions, a petting zoo, and loads more. Whether your idea of quality entertainment is live music or racing pigs, this fair has it all.

The Summer Hoot is a hoot indeed, with three days of old-school appeal in the form of square dancing, blacksmithing demos, performances, children’s theater, and more for all ages. Those interested in history and the military might enjoy General Washington on the Hudson: The Battle of Stony Point, while fans of feats can be dazzled by aerial maneuvers, parachute jumps, and more at the New York Air Show.

But these are just the beginning! Read on for more of our top picks for the coming weekend. For more summer fun in and around Westchester, look no further than our Event Calendar, where you'll find many more great ways to enjoy the rest of August with your family—many of which are FREE.

Weekend Fun: RibFest, Renaissance Faire, Pow-Wow

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 08/14/2019 - 12:45pm

Meet some feathered friends this weekend at the Hudson Valley Ribfest. Photo courtesy of the event

There's something fun and rewarding to do for every taste and every age this weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

It's a great time to visit the New York Renaissance Faire, which has plenty of perks for kids—including FREE admission and a costume parade and contest.

Celebrate Jewish heritage at the Jewish Music & Arts Heritage Festival, where entertainment, food, amusements for the kiddies, and shopping await. Sports fans can get their fill of memorabilia and more at the Baseball Card Show. All ages can celebrate the rich and vibrant culture of Native Americans at the annual Nimham Pow Wow and feast at the Hudson Valley RibFest, which offers more than just the opportunity to chow down.

Read on for more details and many more options ahead. Additionally, our August GoList highlights our top picks for the month, and don't forget: our Event Calendar includes suggestions for every day of the week and is frequently updated, so check back often!

Pop-Up Outdoor Roller Rink Skates into Yonkers in August

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 08/09/2019 - 1:00pm

A new pop-up roller rink is coming to the Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers on August 17. Photo courtesy of the organizers

For three weeks in late summer, a new outdoor roller rink is popping up at the Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your first spin.

Weekend Fun: Country Fair, Beacon Corn Festival, Movie on the Beach

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 08/07/2019 - 9:00am

Enjoy good-ol'-fashioned fair fun at the Otisville Country Fair this weekend. Photo courtesy of the event

Here’s hoping you’re staying in town this weekend, ’cause there’s plenty for families to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley!

The South Salem Fire Department's Carnival is in town, featuring rides, games, and food, as is the Otisville Country Fair, which offers distinctive twists like a chainsaw competition and a cast-iron frying-pan toss. Join a citizen-scientist project at the Great Hudson Estuary Fish Count, or join Hudson River–philes at the Beacon Corn Festival. Ready to abandon yourself to summer? Take in a nighttime movie on the beach and don’t worry about the sand in your shoes.

Read on for more details on our top weekend picks—many of which are FREE. Planning the rest of the summer? Check out our August GoList for our top picks for the month. And remember to check out the extensive weekday and weekend events listed in our Event Calendar!

Weekend Fun: Muddy Puddles Fest, Family Campout, Powwow

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 07/31/2019 - 12:00pm

Muddy Puddles Mess fest. Photo courtesy of the event

This is a great weekend to stay local, with so many standout events happening in Westchester and the Hudson Valley! Several made the cut in our newly released August GoList.

Kids need no excuse to get messy, but there are three reasons to approve of the Muddy Puddles Mess Fest: It supports a good cause; the mess isn’t at your house; and oh, the gobs and gobs of fun! Looking for more ways to get your hands dirty? Grab a bucket and head to the annual Sand Castle Competition.

The annual Bear Mountain Native American Heritage Celebration and Powwow offers teepees, musical instruments, and other cultural encounters, while the Overnight Family Campout provides a comfortable way to sleep in the great outdoors with other families. FREE fun is in store at the multi-faceted Hudson Valley Expo, among other highlights on our list.

Read on for more details on these and the rest of our top weekend picks. And remember to check out the many weekday and weekend events captured in our Event Calendar—there's no shortage of fun things to do to make the most of the summer!

August GoList: The Best Things to Do in Westchester with Kids

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 07/28/2019 - 9:30am

Summer is half over, but don't despair: There’s still plenty of summer fun for Westchester kids happening in August, and we’ve rounded up some of the things we're looking forward to most this month.

At the New York Renaissance Faire, Elizabethan England is recreated with a decided sense of humor and frivolity, along with rides, games, food, roving monarchs, and gads of entertainment. There are lots of other summer fairs and festivals to enjoy, including the sprawling and multi-faceted Dutchess County Fair.

Have earthy fun at the Muddy Puddles Mess Fest, or look to the sky at the New York Air Show. The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Family Shows provides outdoor theater intended for an all-ages audience, plus pre-show theater workshops for kids.

Read on for our top picks for the month, and consult our Event Calendar and Summer Activity Guide for many more options.

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Weekend Fun: County Fairs, Insane Inflatable, Lighted Boat Parade

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 07/24/2019 - 1:50pm

Catch the final weekend of the Orange County Fair in Middletown. Photo courtesy of the fair

A bounty of festivals and other summer fun continues this weekend for Westchester and Hudson Valley families.

Held in a rural setting, the second annual Hudson Valley Brassroots Festival offers two days of brass-band music, plus food, farm tours, and a kids’ processional.

The Putnam County Fair has all the trappings of carnival amusement, live animals, and other fun stuff. If your family likes action, you won’t want to miss the Insane Inflatable 5K—not your toddler’s bouncy house, for sure, though there are kid-directed options.

Other top picks: For daytime fun, the Stony Kill Butterfly Festival; for evening fun, watch the nautical procession along the harbor at the festive Lighted Boat Parade.

Read on for more details and more great options—then consult our Event Calendar for our daily selection of activities. Also check out our Summer Fun Guide, with ideas for every aspect of the season!