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

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is a can't-miss Halloween experience. Photo courtesy of Historic Hudson Valley
The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is a can't-miss Halloween experience. Photo courtesy of Historic Hudson Valley
10/2/19 - By Susan Miele

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!

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ArtsFest is a weekend-long celebration of the arts in New Rochelle and Pelham. Photo courtesy of the fest
ArtsFest is a weekend-long celebration of the arts in New Rochelle and Pelham. Photo courtesy of the fest

Things To Do All Weekend

New Rochelle Arts Fest

New Rochelle and Pelham – mostly FREE
Celebrate the art and cultural community of New Rochelle and Pelham with live dance and music, studio tours, films, and exhibits. Scavenge for painted rocks (keep what you find!), join a class, or decorate a cupcake.  READ MORE

Peekskill Rotary Fall Festival

Peekskill
The Rotary Club of Peekskill's annual fall festival features food, beer & cider trucks, craft and art vendors, a DJ, and musical acts. Children’s activities include a carved pumpkin contest, pumpkin painting, bike rodeo, obstacle courses, and mazes.  READ MORE
Find balloons, face painting, music, and more kid fun at the Pound Ridge Harvest Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival
Find balloons, face painting, music, and more kid fun at the Pound Ridge Harvest Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival

Saturday, October 5

Pound Ridge Harvest Festival

Pound Ridge
Expect fun for all ages at this annual festival, including live music, a beer garden, and food trucks. Fun for kids includes a root beer garden, face painting, a haunted house, laser tag, pumpkin decorating, games, rides, and contests. READ MORE

Chappaqua Children's Book Festival

Chappaqua
Meet children’s book authors and illustrators, and enjoy readings, signings, and assorted activities at the return of this annual festival. This year's festival is the largest yet, with 180 renowned children's book authors and illustrators participating. Mary Pope Osborne, author of the Magic Treehouse series, is headlining this year.  READ MORE

The Ultimate Willy Wonka Party

Yonkers
The original Willy Wonka film will be shown at the Alamo Drafthouse with the added perk of a Q&A with two of the cast members, who will sign special-edition posters as giveaways. Bubbles, sniffable wallpaper, a pre-show karaoke contest, and, of course, candy, add to the fun. READ MORE

Pumpkin Festival

Campbell Hall
Catch the fall spirit at the Hill Hold Museum, with pumpkin painting, a visit with Mrs. Scarecrow, a hay ride to the pumpkin patch, face painting, live animals, crafts, and games. Refreshments available for purchase. READ MORE
Warwick Applefest, one of the Hudson Valley's biggest fall celebrations, is happening on Sunday. Photo courtesy of the fest
Warwick Applefest, one of the Hudson Valley's biggest fall celebrations, is happening on Sunday. Photo courtesy of the fest

Sunday, October 6

Warwick Applefest

Warwick – FREE
This festival features more than 150 craft vendors, more than 75 food vendors, four stages of live music, and an apple pie baking and eating contest. There's also a children's carnival, and Warwick stores are within easy reach for additional browsing. READ MORE

Heritage Applefest

Garrison
The lovely grounds of Boscobel House and Gardens are the setting for this celebration of the humble apple, featuring cider-pressing, cider sampling (both hard and sweet), 1800s games, fiddle and folk music, kids' entertainment, crafts, and vendors. Join the anniversary cupcake party! READ MORE
See the world's largest display of Lego art at the New York Hall of Science. Photo by Drew Kristofik
See the world's largest display of Lego art at the New York Hall of Science. Photo by Drew Kristofik

Beyond Westchester

"The Art of the Brick" Exhibit Opening Week

Queens
The Art of the Brick, an exhibition and the world’s largest display of LEGO® art, opens at the New York Hall of Science. READ MORE

Bronx Zoo: Boo at the Zoo

Bronx
Trek the candy trail, explore an extinct animal graveyard, and take in pumpkin carving demos as the Bronx Zoo's annual Halloween tradition returns, bringing with it tons of family-friendly activities. New this year: a trick-or-truth maze, face painting, a creepy mystery wall, and a Halloween mashup. Costumes are welcome. READ MORE

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