Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

Weekday Picks for Westchester Kids: Halloween Fun, Day of the Dead, STEM, Oct. 26-30

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 10/25/2015 - 10:00am

You might notice a theme in our top picks for weekday activities for Westchester families this week: It’s Halloween! Why wait for October 31, when there are so many spirited programs that set the mood?

Regardless of the occasion, a performance by this group is always both entertaining and educational, so consider the STEM-filled Mad Science Creepy Chemistry Halloween Show. For less zany entertainment, pull up a toadstool for some Spooky Tales, or get extra mileage from that costume you invested in at the indoor Halloween Parade.

There are oodles of really cool FREE Halloween programs happening all week, as well as the first of the Day of the Dead activities we rounded up. And if you need a departure from holiday-themed activities, know that our Event Calendar has a varied assortment of other fun happening all week and beyond!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Halloween Parades, YoFi Film Fest, Chocolate Expo, Oct. 24-25

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 10/21/2015 - 4:00pm

It’s the final weekend before Halloween! Westchester cranks up the fun, so read on for some of our faves.

Two excellent parades are the Tarrytown Annual Halloween Parade and the Nyack Halloween Parade, whether you march or spectate. The former draws a large crowd and culminates in a night-time street party, while the latter is second in size only to the Greenwich Village parade in Manhattan. The younger set will enjoy the abundant offerings at Harvest Moon Festival, as well as fall fun at the Scarecrows and Pumpkins Parade.

Though it’s hard to pass up all the Halloween fun, another highlight is the YoFi Fest - Yonkers Film Festival—a four-day cinematic sensation that includes special activities just for kids all weekend.

But that’s not all! Promising fall family performances take place this weekend, as do two sweet ragamuffin parades. Be sure to consult our Halloween guide for Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and to turn the creepiness up a notch, check out our guide to Cemetery Tours. Believe it or not, there are even more options to choose from on our Event Calendar, so read on!

Weekday Picks for Westchester Kids: Pre-Halloween Fun, Back to the Future, Oct. 19-23

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 10/18/2015 - 4:00pm

As we get closer to Halloween, even more family activities throughout Westchester focus on the holiday theme. This week, kids can do some Halloween Hand Sewing and combine a sweet tooth with some creativity. Or wax nostalgic at the big-screen showing of the Back to the Future trilogy—with three films for the price of one.

There are many more fun Halloween programs on our Event Calendar, and don’t miss our roundup of uncommon Halloween events that are FREE! Read on for our top picks for the week.

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Fall Festivals, Dance, Animal Acts, Oct. 17-18

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 10/14/2015 - 4:00pm

Here we are in mid-October, when Halloween is just around the corner and fall fun peaks. In addition to all the big Halloween events recurring throughout October, there are also numerous local festivals celebrating autumn and Halloween, including the Children's Halloween Festival and Halloween Carnival and Ragamuffin Parade (see also our roundup of other ragamuffin parades happening in our area). Perhaps the granddaddy of all festivals this weekend is the two-day NY Sheep and Wool Festival, which features fiber-arts workshops and such eccentricities as llama acts.

This is also an exciting weekend for those who love dance, with the Krasnoyarsk National Dance Company of Siberia taking the stage and a unique museum Family Day program inviting the public to Celebrate Dancers Among Us. For more theatrical highlights this season, consult our hot-off-the-press guide to the best family fall performances in Westchester so you can claim the performances and seats you want.

Read on for our top weekend picks, visit our Event Calendar, and check out our October Go List for our top choices for the rest of the month!

Kid-Friendly Fall Productions in Westchester: Fun Shows for Westchester Families

Submitted by Susan Miele on Tue, 10/13/2015 - 10:00am

In between taking advantage of all the great outdoor activities the fall brings, Westchester is offering a multitude of enticing children’s shows sure to entertain not only the little ones, but their chaperoning adults alike. This fall's lineup includes returning family favorites like Click, Clack Moo, but also numerous novelties, like Black Violin and Krasnoyarsk National Dance Company of Siberia. An added twist on tradition is Olate Dogs - Winners of America's Got Talent.

Read on for our list of the best family shows and performances happening across Westchester this fall season. For even more fall fun, check our October GoList and Event Calendar for all of the other exciting activities for you and your family this season!

Weekday Picks for Westchester Kids: Lake Isle Carnival, Mariachi Fiesta, STEM, Oct. 5-9

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 10/04/2015 - 4:00pm

With the recent weather dampening some of the fun events this past weekend, it’s time to look forward to the fun that lies ahead mid-week for Westchester families.

Our top picks for this week are a motley mix of events—most of which are FREE and not dependent on the weather!--including Mariachi Fiesta and Gargoyle Masks. Before the weather turns too cold, it’s time to soak up one of the final carnivals of the season at the grand Eastchester Columbus Day Carnival.

Read on to learn more about these and other options in store for the week, then turn to our Event Calendar and October GoList for many more to choose from!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Families: Halloween, Applefest, Children’s Book Festival, Oct. 3-4

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 09/30/2015 - 12:00pm

With October comes the beginning of the Halloween season, and all the associated festivals, spectacles, parades and haunted houses throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley. We’ve populated our Event Calendar with a ton of these festivities (as well as a variety of non-Halloween events for when you crave diversity), so take a peek and plan ahead. Stay tuned, because much more is coming!

The Rivertowns, strongly associated with Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” go all out for Halloween, with month-long events that start this weekend like The Great Jack O Lantern Blaze (which is already sold out for this weekend) and The Legend Behind the 'Legend', as well as haunted happenings for older kids like Scared by the Sound.

For some non-Halloween happenings, catch Warwick Applefest, the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival or the Annual Horse Show and Country Fair, to name a few. Also consult our guide for scenic autumn drives to savor the splendor of the season.

Read on for our top weekend picks, but be sure to also check our Event Calendar and October GoList for more family fun this weekend and beyond!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Families: Yo-Yo Ma, Trucks and Helicopters, Free Museums, Sep. 26-27

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 09/23/2015 - 4:00pm

With so many fantastic family programs occurring this time of year in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, we at Mommy Poppins have been extra busy culling it all together for our readers. In addition to several fall festivals this weekend (Garlic Festival, anyone?), there’s an eclectic assortment of one-of-a-kind happenings.

The arts are alive in Westchester, with a performance by Yo-Yo Ma and the chance to hop aboard the “Culture Trolley,” which wends its way to more than 30 venues across two towns at Arts Fest. Kids can get hands-on at the Printing Press Children's Program or at Touch-A-Truck (which also includes a helicopter). Wee ones can delight in mingling with fairies and elves at Legends & Lore of the Little People.

This weekend offers a bonanza of entertaining and enriching events (not to mention apple picking), so you’ll definitely want to visit our Events Calendar to see the extensive fun beyond our top picks below. Enjoy!

Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

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