Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

Weekend Fun: Honey Festival, Hot-Air Balloons, American Roots Music

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 06/19/2019 - 12:00pm

Take a horse-drawn wagon ride at Sweet Bee's Honey Festival in Monroe. Photo courtesy of the festival

Summer has officially arrived, and there is no shortage of ways for families to celebrate this weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley!

One of our top picks for June is the return of the American Roots Music Festival, a full day and evening of performances by both established and up-and-coming artists in a bucolic outdoor setting. Enjoy nautical-themed fun at the Maritime Festival (all FREE), or take to the skies at the Empire State Hot-Air Balloon Festival. Fans of large vehicles (and other fun) might enjoy the Yorktown Grange Car Show and Antique Tractor Expo, while lovers of honeybees (and lots of fun things to do) might enjoy the Honey Bee Festival.

More of our top picks are below, and you can find many more happenings on our Event Calendar. For even more summer fun, check out our Summer Activity Guide for Westchester Kids, featuring 50+ FREE Things To Do this Summer in Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

Weekend Fun: Fairy Festival, Fol-de-Rol, Poughkeepsie Pride

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 06/06/2019 - 9:35am

Look for evidence of magical creatures at the Fairy Festival at the Orange County Arboretum. Photo courtesy of Orange County Park

If it feels like there’s a fair, festival, or carnival every week in June, that’s because there is—in fact, often two or three! Summer fun has begun for Westchester and Hudson Valley families, so brace yourself for another happening weekend.

Soak up assorted fun at the Annual Fol-de-Rol County Fair, or be a marine biologist at STEM Sails. If you haven't had enough fair fun, add the Katonah Fire Department Carnival to your list—or mingle with pixies at the Fairy Festival, and wear your favorite wings. Or wear your brightest rainbow to celebrate Pride Month at the three-day, multi-faceted Pride Weekend.

This is just a sampling of the varied events we’ve rustled up for you on our Event Calendar—check them all out! Consult our June GoList for highlights for the rest of the month, and view our hot-off-the-press roundup of summer festivals to plan through Labor Day. And if you haven't done so already, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

June GoList: Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 05/31/2019 - 10:00am

June ushers in summer, Father’s Day, and the end of school, as well as loads of outdoor fun in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. This month, be on the lookout for cultural celebrations, carnivals, campouts, and music and movies under the stars.

The beloved Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival returns for more inspiring music, environmental activism, food trucks, boating, and amazing activities for kids. On the subject of good causes, the Autism Speaks Westchester/Fairfield Walk continues to serve the community of people on the spectrum with fundraising, consciousness-raising, and camaraderie.

June is a peak time for summer fairs and festivals, among them the annual Ukrainian Heritage Festival, whose added appeal is the cultural immersion. We also love the American Roots Music Festival, a multi-“stage” outdoor performance of feel-good music in a lovely setting. If you’re looking for the Children’s Earth and Water Festival, note that it will not take place in 2019.

These are just a few of our top picks for June—there’s a ton to do! Read on for our favorites for the month and find many more options on our Event Calendar. To stay in the know, sign up for our newsletters and follow us on Facebook!

Weekend Fun: Vote Like a Girl, Illuminated Festival, Family Camping

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 05/29/2019 - 11:00am

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment at Vote Like a Girl. Photo by Tom Nycz for Historic Hudson Valley

Super-fun events abound throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley this weekend, and choosing our top picks was no easy task.

Festivals and carnivals are springing up all over, including the return of the annual Newburgh Illuminated Festival—a 13-hour extravaganza punctuated by more than 40 performances, a Colorfest, and other outdoor attractions.

Also returning are the Annual Peekskill Open Studios, featuring studio tours, gallery visits, meet-the-artist opportunities, and more, and the ICS Carnival, with expanded rides, food, and hours for 2019.

Looking to enjoy fresh air, get some exercise, and support a children’s charity? Sign up to raise funds for the Autism Speaks Walk. For even more open-air fun, dip a toe at a family camping event designed to introduce families to sleeping under the stars (with some help!). Or celebrate the centennial of women's right to vote at Vote Like a Girl.

Read on for details about the above, as well as other enticing options (many of which are FREE). For more options, peruse our Event Calendar, and plan the rest of the month with our hot-off-the-press June GoList. If you haven't done so already, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Memorial Day Parades and Fairs in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 05/17/2019 - 1:33pm

Memorial Day is more than just the unofficial start to summer. While many families may be beach-bound, bringing kids to a parade or memorial service is a good way to express gratitude for our fallen heroes and to demonstrate ways to show respect for those who've served in the military. Below is a guide to some of the many Memorial Day parades and services happening in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this year. Some even add a shot of levity to round out the day.

Looking for other ways to spend the long weekend? Consult our Event Calendar and sign up for our newsletters.

Weekend Fun: UFO Fair, Story Pirates, Cupcake Festival

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 05/15/2019 - 1:30pm

Enjoy out-of-this-world festivities when Main Street closes down and the Pine Bush UFO Fair begins! Photo courtesy of the fair

Be forewarned: there are so many fun, family-friendly events happening this weekend that the task of picking and choosing may be difficult! Dominating the lineup are spring festivals in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, with celebrations of various sorts—even the extraterrestrial.

Returning this year is Celebrate Pinkster, a festival honoring a historic African-American spring celebration, featuring drumming, dancing, cuisine, and more. Carnival season kicks off with the St. Patrick’s Annual Carnival's rides, games, and cotton candy. For out-of-this-world fun, resistance is futile at the annual UFO Fair (and, for that matter, at the tantalizing Gardiner Cupcake Festival). And, for a robust agenda of hands-on art fun using assorted media, don’t miss the annual Family Arts Bash.

Read on for our top weekend picks, and visit each listing for complete details. Consult our May GoList and our Event Calendar to plan ahead, and stay in the know by signing up for our newsletters!

Upstate NY Day Trip: 25 Things To Do with Kids in New Paltz

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 05/03/2019 - 12:00pm

Take a dip in Lake Mohonk at Mohonk Mountain House, a 150-year-old Victorian Castle resort. Photo courtesy of the resort

Similar in spirit to nearby Woodstock, New Paltz is laid-back college town in the shadow of the Shawangunk Mountains that offers plenty of outdoor and indoor attractions for all ages, especially in warmer months. Families can swim in a mountain lake, enjoy a hike amidst beautiful scenery, pick produce at local farms, visit quaint shops and restaurants, and explore a historic 17th-century community.

While New Paltz is just 90 minutes away by car from NYC and even closer to Westchester, the scenery suggests a faraway land. Adding to this appeal are the many festivals and other annual events that readers might consider timing their visit to coincide with.

Read on for 25 ways to enjoy New Paltz with kids. You'll find plenty of reasons to stay more than a day!

Weekend Fun: Matsuri, Duck Derby, Cupcake Festival

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 05/01/2019 - 12:00pm

Enjoy authentic Japanese foods and performances at the Matsuri Festival in Harrison. Photo courtesy of the event

Spring fun peaks for Westchester and Hudson Valley families this weekend, and not only because of four spring festivals on our radar. Our May GoList is bursting with seasonal fun from this weekend straight through Memorial Day, and this coming weekend just might be the most jam-packed.

Falling on the weekend this year is “May the 4th Be With You,” a.k.a., Star Wars Day, and various venues have scheduled celebratory activities. All this Jedi fun overlaps with Free Comic Book Day, and several festivals that celebrate comic books and literature will also take place, among them the two-day Undiscovered Realm Comic Con.

Other highlights include Y Healthy Kids Day, featuring the famed Rubber Duck Derby; the Hudson Valley Cupcake Festival; and the hot-ticket alert Madeline and the Big Hat.

If you’re looking for Yonkers Arts Weekend, traditionally held the first weekend in May, stay tuned for its appearance later in the month. The Hudson Valley Fair, however, will not take place this year.

Although our top picks pack a wallop, you should see the great finds that we ran out of room to include! For those, head to our Event Calendar for many more options. And with Mother’s Day around the corner, be sure to plan ahead by referring to our Mother’s Day brunch guide and our list of 35 ways to celebrate Mother’s Day that aren't brunch.