The Pine Island Pumpkinfest, where you can decorate a pumpkin for Halloween, is a Columbus Day tradition. Photo courtesy of the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce

Columbus Day Weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do

Pick from a number of apple varieties at Hudson Valley orchards. Photo by Leslie Seaton via Flickr

Apple Picking in the Hudson Valley: Best Apple Farms and Apple Festivals

Enjoy bouncy houses, a petting zoo, and plenty of kid-friendly activities at the Town of Walden's annual Harvest Festival. Photo courtesy of the event

Best Harvest Fairs and Pumpkin Festivals in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Fall 2024

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Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids

Marvel at thousands of hand-carved jack-o-lanterns at Bethel's Peace, Love and Pumpkins. Photo courtesy of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

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

Get your costume ready for Cross County Center’s Halloween Spooktacular. Photo courtesy of the shopping center

27 Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley October 2024 with Kids

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

Scary Haunted Houses in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Pierson's Farm in Middletown offers a pumpkin patch and plenty more fall fun.

Best Pumpkin Patches in the Hudson Valley for Families

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze returns to Van Cortlandt Manor for its 20th anniversary season.

Get Your Tickets Now for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze Hudson Valley

Take in the splendor of the season with a fall getaway to Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz. Photo courtesy of Mononk Mountain House

22 Fall Weekend Getaways near NYC for Families

Outhouse Orchards Corn Maze. Photo by Matt Nighswander

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Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids Fall Guide: Best Things to Do in 2024

Take in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow on a spooky fall day trip in the Hudson Valley. Photo by Darren McGee/NYS Dept. of Economic Development

Haunt the Hudson: Spooky Day Trips near NYC for Ghostly Adventures and Paranormal Thrills

Castle Fun Center in Chester has a giant inflatable park, a rock wall, laser tag, and more. Photo by Katherine Dhurandhar

15 Family Fun Centers in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Grab a colorful treat at Harley's Sweet Shop in Woodstock. Photo courtesy of the shop

25 Best Things To Do in Woodstock, NY, with Kids

Kids can climb the walls at the Cliffs in Valhalla. Photo courtesy of the Cliffs

29 Things To Do on a Rainy Day Indoors in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

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Guide to Indoor Fun for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids

Romp through the woods in the beautiful Catskills. Photo by Deborah Dadlani

40 Best Things To Do in the Catskills with Kids

Touch the soft rabbits at the Greenburgh Nature Center's petting zoo in Scarsdale. Photo courtesy of the center

Best Animal Petting Zoos near Westchester and the Hudson Valley Where Kids Can Meet Animals

Explore what makes things fly with the Westchester Children's Museum's Wind Tunnel Design Challenge. Photo courtesy of the museum

Visiting the Westchester Children's Museum in Rye: New and Ongoing Exhibits

Friends young and old enjoy the attractions and Legoland New York, the first major theme park in the Northeast in 40 years.

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Legoland New York: A Guide to Visiting the Hudson Valley Theme Park with Kids

GUIDE

Classes Guide for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids

The Play Place in Elmsford is one of Westchester's top indoor play spaces.

Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Westchester

Tig & Peach offers drop-in, no reservations required, open play 7 days a week.

7 Indoor Playgrounds in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for a Wild Romp

Aspiring artists love the 3-hour workshops at MADE Art Studio in Mamaroneck,

Free and Affordable Summer Camps in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Tour the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, an annual rite of fall. Courtesy Historic Hudson Valley

100 Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley Before Kids Grow Up

Summer camps are a great way to make new friends and develop new skills

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Summer Camps Guide for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids

These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.

75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day

Kids love a birthday party filled with games and pizza at Chuck E. Cheese. Photo courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese

Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in Westchester

Head to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum from 5-8 pm on the third Saturday of the month to explore the museum for free, Photo by the author

Free Museums and Museum Days in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Kids can run, swing, slide, and even make music at Sally’s Dream Playground in Montgomery. Photo by Katherine Dhurandhar

Top Playgrounds in Westchester and the Hudson Valley Worth Driving To

The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader

100 Things To Do in New York State with Kids Before They Grow Up

Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander

67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home

Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting. Photo by Sara Marentette

Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects

75 Best Movies for Kids: Top Family Movie Night Ideas

Westchester kids will love a visit during FREE hours at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum. Photo by KD

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Guide to Free Fun Things to Do with Westchester Kids

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Guide to Playgrounds & Parks in Westchester & the Hudson Valley

GUIDE

Boredom Busters for Kids

Family-Friendly Fun for Oktoberfest in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Enjoy live music and traditional German food and beer at Oktoberfest celebrations throughout the Hudson Valley. Photo via Canva

9/20/24 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

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 way to celebrate this traditional Bavarian festival beyond just a pub crawl.

We have rounded up more than a dozen Oktoberfest celebrations in Westchester and the Hudson Valley that also offer great activities for kids. From pumpkin painting and bounce houses to ax throwing and stein races—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.