Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

May GoList: Best Things To Do with Westchester Kids

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 04/28/2019 - 12:00pm

May is a lively month in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, with events honoring Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and spring. Below we've rounded up our top picks; limiting them was no easy task!

Numerous annual traditions return, such as the UFO Fair, the zaniest of the many spring festivals we’ve rounded up, while the two cupcake festivals are the most caloric.

Of course, the main event of May is Mother’s Day, and we’ve rounded up both where to go for Mother’s Day brunch and 35 alternatives (or supplements) to the family meal. And be sure to indulge in assorted Star Wars–themed activities at any of the many events called May the 4th Be With You (get it?).

If you’re looking for the return of Valley Con, you’ll have to wait till July. In the meantime, head to Rye Playland or the Science Barge, both of which open for the season on Saturday, May 11, or soak up the sun at a Westchester County beach.

Read on for the rest of our lowdown. If you're looking for even more options (and trust us, there are many), check out our Event Calendar and sign up for our free newsletters to stay in the know!

Weekend Fun: KidVenture, Earth Day Celebrations, Spring Fests

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 04/24/2019 - 11:00am

The third annual Hudson Valley KidVenture takes place this weekend at Dutchess Community College. Photo courtesy of the Chamber Foundation

We wrap up April by shifting our attention to the many Earth Day celebrations and spring festivals taking place this weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. One of our favorite things about this weekend’s top picks? Most are FREE!

There are numerous ways to celebrate Earth Day and pay homage to Mother Nature. Some of the events on our radar invite hands-on help like clean-ups, while others emphasize fun activities like nature crafting and animal encounters. We’re keen on Greater Ossining Earth Day Festival and the Hudson Highlands Earth Day Celebration, but you’ll find other noteworthy offerings both below and on our calendar, as well.

Other fun in store this weekend are the White Plains Comic Fest, the two-day Hudson Valley KidVenture, and the last hurrah of the annual StrawFest.

We hope you heeded our earlier advice to snag tickets to the Sheep Shearing Fest and Rosie Revere, Engineer; as predicted, both are now sold out.

Read on and click through for details on these and other highlights of the coming weekend. Looking for more? Consult our Event Calendar, check out our Spring Activity Guide, and sign up for our newsletters!

Weekend Fun: Sheep to Shawl Fest, Egg Hunts, Family Fun Day

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 04/10/2019 - 12:00pm

Learn how to turn wool into cloth using 18th-century techniques at Sheep-to Shawl. Photo courtesy of Historic Hudson Valley

With Easter right around the corner, this weekend offers several related events for Westchester and Hudson Valley families. Among these are the The Great Green Eggstravaganza; ways to dine, pose, and even skate with the Easter Bunny; a culinary lesson in the Italian tradition Cassatedde for Easter; and numerous area egg hunts.

Among the spring fairs and festivals we’ve told you about is Sheep to Shawl, happening this weekend. Expect assorted woolly fun throughout the two-day event.

Looking for more FREE fun? Take advantage of the workshops and entertainment available at Family Fun Day.

Many more fun ways to spend the weekend lie ahead. Consult our Event Calendar for many more options to choose from, use our April GoList to help plan the rest of the month, and depend on our Spring Break Guide to help keep your kids occupied while school is out!

Weekend Fun: Spring Fests, Easter Bunny Train, Free Arts Day

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 04/03/2019 - 9:30am

Make art from cherry blossoms at the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival at the Pelham Arts Center. Photo courtesy of the arts center

There’s no shortage of family fun to be had this weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, with performances, spring festivals, free arts workshops, and early-Easter fun.

As noted in our newly released April GoList, a fun family performance plus pre-show workshop awaits at Lard Dog & the Band of Shy Take a ride on the Easter Bunny Train and snag a photo-op with the white fluffy guy. If your child has sensory issues, book a spot ASAP at this weekend's Bunny Cares, which we told you about in our roundup of Easter Bunny visits (other similar events have sold out).

This weekend is also a prime time to celebrate spring at the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival or at the first street fair on our radar (replete with rides and activities): Spring Fest.

Find details and more among our top picks below, then head to our Spring Activity Guide and Event Calendar for more fun options!

April GoList: Best Things To Do with Westchester Kids

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 03/31/2019 - 10:00am

Spring has arrived in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and there's an abundance of fabulous family activities springing up this month!

April marks the start of the spring festival season, which includes the annual Sheep-to-Shawl, full of woolly fun. April is also loaded with numerous Earth Day activities, such as Green Ossining’s Earth Day Festival, plus various clean-up days, crafts, and celebrations.

This is also a good month for family-friendly performances, including Rosie Revere, Engineer. Fans of comics and anime can get their fill at the White Plains Comic Fest.

If you’re looking for Y Healthy Kids Day, traditionally held in April, note that this year’s event will take place in May, and Colonial Day will be held in June.

There’s always more! Sign up for our weekly newsletters and keep tabs on our Event Calendar to stay up-to-date. And don't forget: We've got you covered for spring break!

30 Things to Do with Westchester Preschoolers This Spring

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 03/29/2019 - 12:00pm

Grab your wings and flutter over to the 3rd annual Fairy Festival at the Orange Country Arboretum. Photo courtesy of the arboretum

With winter now behind us, it’s time to get out and enjoy all the spring fun Westchester and the Hudson Valley have to offer. We've rounded up a slew of activities that are great for the pre-K set—including nature programs, performances, Earth Day activities, STEAM fun, literary celebrations, truck encounters, carnivals, festivals, and more.

But there’s so much more to tell you about! We’ve rounded up various egg hunts and identified an additional 14 Easter Bunny events to choose from, not to mention 25 spring festivals to explore and 25 things to do with Westchester kids during Spring Break (phew!). You'll find all this and more in our Spring Activity Guide for Westchester Kids.

Looking for even more family fun? Keep tabs on our Event Calendar, updated daily.

Weekend Fun: Bunny Breakfast, Dia:Beacon Free Day, Peppa Pig

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 03/27/2019 - 2:32pm

The Yorktown Heights American Legion hosts Breakfast with the Easter Bunny this weekend. Photo courtesy of the club

A highlight of the coming weekend is the chance to have Breakfast with the Easter Bunny—one of many FREE programs we’ve chosen for our top picks and one of more than a dozen Easter Bunny events we've identified). Another fun freebie is a puppet show with the Tanglewood Marionettes, while older kids can explore STEAM-focused colleges and careers at the FREE Engineering Expo.

If you’ve been unsure how to celebrate National Jump in Muddy Puddles Day, look no further, as Party with Peppa has the answer. Or take advantage of the weekend-long Maple Fest, as with the end of March comes the end of the maple-sugaring season.

After reading on for all this and more, head to our Event Calendar for additional fun options to choose from. To stay up to date with everything kid-related in our area, be sure to sign up for our newsletters and follow us on Facebook.

Weekend Fun: St. Paddy's Parade, WHUD Kids Fair, Steampunk

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 03/20/2019 - 12:00pm

The St. Patrick's Day fun continues in Yonkers with a parade on Saturday. Photo courtesy of the parade

Welcome, spring! Lots of warm-weather fun lies ahead for Westchester and Hudson Valley families.

St. Patrick’s Day might be over, but the party isn’t! Keep it going at the Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For more festive fun, try the St. Gregory the Great Annual Carnival, offering rides, games, and food, or the WHUD Kids Fair—a highlight of our March GoList—featuring STEM fun, inflatables, children’s theater, and more.

For mash-up fun, hit Steampunk Sunday, with tea duels, items from the Museum of Interesting Things, and other quirky attractions. Or for animal adventures, get to know turkey vultures.

All this and much more can be found on our Event Calendar, so head there after reading on for details and other highlights. Also check out our guide to FREE things to do in March!