Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Film Festival, Toys and Trains, African Dance, Jan. 23-24

1/20/16 - By Susan Miele

Important Note: Because of the snowstorm, many of these programs may have been canceled or postponed. Please check with the location before you head out! 

Winter weather in Westchester can bring out the homebody in all of us. But for when you need to get out of the house and embrace the fun that awaits, Mommy Poppins keeps our Event Calendar well-populated with family activities. Below are our top picks for this weekend.

In addition to two cooking classes and several nature programs—among them, the chance to learn about our Backyard Birds—the gamut of activities includes the return of the annual Toy and Train Show and the NY International Children's Film Festival: Best of the Fest. Take a spin at the African Dance Class, or see if you’re the next Bobby Fischer at Take on the Teen Chess Master (as he takes on a remarkable number of opponents at the same time).

So bundle up and have fun! In the event of a significant snowfall, do check with any venue you plan to visit to confirm their plans are unaltered. Be sure to sign up for our FREE newsletters to get all our latest news, roundups and in-depth reviews delivered straight to your inbox. Tell a friend!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Saturday, January 23

African Dance Class - New Rochelle
The first of a series of classes which culminate in a performance, mid-February. Your family will learn not only traditional African dances but also their significance and social context. FREE

NY International Children's Film Festival: Best of the Fest - Yonkers
This one-day film festival is geared just for kids. The assorted animated short films from the NY International Children's Film Festival—with irresistible titles like Bunny New Girl and Cookie-Tin Banjo—are all rated G.

Take on the Teen Chess Master - Irvington Public Library
Did you know that Westchester boasts a teen chessmaster? Watch (or compete!) as he takes on up to 15 challengers—simultaneously. FREE

Backyard Birds - South Salem
Calling all ornithologists! Get to know the feathered friends of Westchester, distinguish their tweets and make a feeder for them to feast from. FREE

Italian Cooking Class - Tuckahoe
Do your kids love pizza? Here's your chance to learn to make it yourself.

Ecology Club for Families with Special Needs – Rye
Children with special needs and their families can hike and take part in animal programs, science and sensory activities. FREE

See all Saturday events.

Sunday, January 24

Toy and Train Show - White Plains
The annual toy and train show returns with collectibles, antiques, appraisals and more. Kids 12 and under enter FREE.

Crunch, Craft, Granola! - Scarsdale
Spice up your snacking as you learn to make your own healthy granola.

See all Sunday events.

Beyond Westchester

Pretend you’re in the Olympics at Winter Jam, when Central Park is transformed to a FREE winter sports festival. Just like the ski slopes, part of the park will be pumped with snow so families can enjoy snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding and more. Equipment will be provided, or you can bring your own.

Beam Center's Inventgenuity Festival, a two-day annual maker fest, features a wide range of collaborative and individual low- and high-tech projects for kids. All are overseen by professional educators, artists and partner organizations. Just be sure to register in advance. Admission is FREE, but nominal materials fees for workshops apply.

Photo credit: MommyPoppins.com