Katherine Dhurandhar

Katherine Dhurandhar is a Community Publisher for Mommy Poppins, representing the Westchester and Hudson Valley region of New York, and a freelance copyeditor for Westchester Publishing Company. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling with her husband and son.

Latest posts by Katherine

Scary Haunted Houses in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Chills and Thrills 2025

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 10/05/2025 - 5:52am

Head to Ulster Park to catch the spooky Headless Horseman Haunted Houses. Photo courtesy of event

Westchester and the Hudson Valley are teeming with top-of-the-line haunted houses and scream parks, many boasting Hollywood-quality makeup and special effects. If you have teens keen on a thrilling screamfest this Halloween, look no further.

Read on for our list of the top haunted houses and scream parks in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. Some of these are returning favorites that have been recognized as the top haunted houses in the country, such as Pure Terror Scream Park in Monroe. Others can even boast of being held in historic haunted locations, like the Dark Forest at Burn Brae Mansion in Glen Spey.

Find more great Halloween activities in our Westchester and Hudson Valley Halloween Guide.

Top Free Halloween Events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley 2025

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Fri, 10/03/2025 - 10:10am

The Tarrytown Halloween Parade draws scores of ghosts and goblins! Photo courtesy of the event

Two of our favorite things collide in October: Halloween and FREE events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. With all the money spent on costumes, ticketed events, and parties, having no-cost events to add fun without adding expense is a perfect way to enhance the season.

From pumpkin painting to trunk or treats, there’s enough variety here to justify getting costume mileage on many occasions throughout the month.

Be sure to check out our Guide to Halloween Fun for Westchester & Hudson Valley Families for other ways to enjoy the spooky season.

Halloween and 20 More Top Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids October 2025, from Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 09/28/2025 - 11:45am

Join the Monster Party at Legoland's Brick-or-Treat this month. Photo courtesy of Legoland

Halloween is the name of the game in October, which means Westchester and the Hudson Valley are alive with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and of course trick-or-treating—there are so many opportunities to wear Halloween costumes!

From Oktoberfests to spooktacular celebrations, the region has standout events all month long, including the Sleepy Hollow Paddleboarding Witches Festival and the Tarrytown Halloween Parade. And don't miss taking a scenic train ride to a pumpkin patch on the Catskill Mountain Railroad's Pumpkin Express.

Families can also enjoy spectacular pumpkin light shows throughout the month at the Westchester favorite Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze or at the site of the Woodstock Festival at Peace, Love & Pumpkins at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this month—we're adding more events to the Westchester Events Calendar every day.

Best 2025 Oktoberfest Kid-Friendly Celebrations in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Fri, 09/26/2025 - 12:08pm

Ridge Hill's Oktoberfest event features plenty of kid-pleasing fun. Photo courtesy of Ridge Hill

It's that time of year, and Oktoberfest celebrations are popping up all over Westchester and the Hudson Valley. While family-friendly isn't what usually comes to mind when you think of Oktoberfest, there are lots of ways to celebrate this traditional Bavarian festival beyond just a pub crawl.

We have rounded up our favorite Oktoberfest celebrations in Westchester and the Hudson Valley that also offer great activities for kids. From pumpkin painting and bounce houses to Bavarian dancing—and, of course, a great selection of beer, pretzels, and bratwurst—these Oktoberfests are fun for the whole family.

So don your best lederhosen and start the celebrations. Find more great autumn activities in our Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids Fall Guide.

Best Halloween Events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley 2025 for Kids and Families

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 09/21/2025 - 7:17am

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze in Van Cortlandt Manor is a must-do Halloween event in the tri-state area. Photo courtesy of the Historic Hudson Valley

Spooky season is here, and there’s no shortage of great Halloween events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown are prime Halloween destinations due to their pride in being the home of Washington Irving and the setting of his famed "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Throughout the region, haunted attractions abound for the older set, like haunted houses, which often have not-so-scary days for younger kids. Little ones can also delight in friendly fun like Monster Mash-inspired brick-or-treating at Legoland New York or a visit with costumed alpacas.

Meanwhile, the whole family can enjoy Westchester's most celebrated Halloween event, the Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze.

Read on for our list of the best Halloween events in Westchester and nearby, and turn to our Halloween Fun Guide to get the most out of this fun season.

Best Sleepy Hollow Attractions for a Spooky Family Day Trip

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 09/07/2025 - 7:34am

Twilight Village takes over Philipsburg Manor on select nights during the spooky season. Photo by author

When it comes to spooky season, I can't think of a cooler place to celebrate than the village of Sleepy Hollow! Even before Washington Irving made the name famous in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the area was known for its haunted past, with the story of the headless horseman being the most popular piece of local lore. Today, Sleepy Hollow, New York, embraces its spooky history, with the entire town getting decked out for Halloween and local historical sites hosting festive events to celebrate the season and their unique histories.

In addition to being the Hudson Valley's Halloween headquarters, Sleepy Hollow is also a picturesque location to visit year-round. Situated on the banks of the Hudson River with a beautiful lighthouse and views of the Mario Cuomo Bridge, the cute, walkable downtown boasts a variety of shops and restaurants as well as a number of parks and historical sites that are within walking distance or just a short drive away. We've picked out our favorite things to do with kids in Sleepy Hollow during Halloween and beyond, including special annual events, local family-friendly restaurants, and places to stay nearby.

For more Halloween fun, check out our list of spooky day trips near NYC for ghostly adventures and our Hudson Valley Kids' Halloween Guide for more local haunts.

Best Harvest Festivals & Pumpkin Festivals in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Fall Fun in 2025

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 08/31/2025 - 10:12am

The pie eating contest is just the start of the fun at the Armonk Cider and Donut Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival

Fall is a magical time in Westchester and the Hudson Valley as the days become crisp and cool and the colorful autumn foliage paints the landscapes. And what better way to celebrate the season than at a local fall festival?

We've picked out our favorite family-friendly fall festivals in the area, many of which offer fun seasonal activities for kids, from pumpkin painting to carnival rides. With the abundance of farms in the area, fall is the perfect time to sample the local harvest, from freshly picked apples to cider and doughnuts, and many of these festivals are held on the farms themselves. So whether you want to pick apples, get lost in a corn maze, or enjoy live music while sipping local craft beverages, these festivals are sure to give you the fall vibes you're looking for.

For even more ways to celebrate the season, bookmark our Guide to Fall Fun in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, our favorite fall day trips, and our Guide to Farms and You-Picks in Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

21 Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids September 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Fri, 08/29/2025 - 7:46am

Book your tickets now if you want to see the annual spectacle that is The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor. Photo by the author

Labor Day kicks off September activities, launching Westchester and the Hudson Valley's season of apple picking, fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes.

The start of fall festivities includes the Armonk Cider & Donut Festival and the Port Jervis Fall Foliage Festival. To get in the Halloween spirit early, check out the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze in Croton-on-Hudson, which features more than 7,000 hand-carved and lit-up pumpkins. And don't miss the return of the dazzling Flip Circus at the Jefferson Valley Mall.

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this month—we're adding more events to the Westchester Events Calendar every day.

Katherine Dhurandhar

Latest posts by Katherine

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