Celebrate with family and friends at Crabtree's Kittle House in Chappaqua. Photo courtesy of the restaurant
Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
This December, Westchester Ballet Company returns to Lehman Center for the Performing Arts.
Westchester Ballet Company’s World-Class “The Nutcracker” Coming to Lehman Center
Journey through illuminated tunnels at Lumina - A Magical Lights Experience at Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard. Photo by the author
Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Westchester
Outhouse Orchards Corn Maze. Photo by Matt Nighswander
GUIDE
Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids Fall Guide: Best Things to Do in 2024
Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in the Hudson Valley
All aboard a festively decorated Polar Express train ride for some holiday magic and memories. Photo by Gwendolyn Tundermann
Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains near NYC
Strike a pose with the stunning decorations in Santa's Village at American Christmas in Mount Vernon. Photo by Jody Mercier
Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley November 2024 with Kids
Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in the Hudson Valley
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
Peekskill, NY, is a lovely riverfront community that acts an the unofficial gateway to the Hudson Valley.
25 Best Things To Do in Peekskill, NY, with Kids
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
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
GUIDE
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.
  VIDEO
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
GUIDE
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
These kids' movies are classic hits!
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
GUIDE
Guide to Free Fun Things to Do with Westchester Kids
GUIDE
Guide to Playgrounds & Parks in Westchester & the Hudson Valley
Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids

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

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
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
10/11/24 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley over the long Columbus Day weekend? We've got tons of family-friendly events to add to your list.

Whether you call the holiday Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day, we're celebrating the day off on Monday, October 14, 2024, with tons of fun things to do. Special events held only on Monday include Kids' Day at Kevin McCurdy's Haunted Mansion and Pine Island's Pumpkinfest. 

Families can enjoy the festivities all weekend, including Monday, at Wappingers' Carni "Fall" and Legoland New York's Monster Party. In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, learn about some of the original inhabitants of the Westchester area at a Lenape Indigenous Peoples' Day presentation at the historic St. Paul's Church.  

More Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this Week with Kids:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Things To Do this Columbus Day Weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids

Eastchester Columbus Day Carnival and Parade

Eastchester–FREE
Friday, October 11-Monday, October 14
Eastchester goes all out Columbus Day weekend, with a four-day carnival, a holiday parade, and more. The carnival features lots of rides for all ages, games with prizes, vendors and exhibitors, and food. Time your visit around the schedule of live music, fireworks, and more.  READ MORE

Carni "Fall" Parade and Festival in Wappingers Falls

Wappingers Falls–FREE
Friday, October 11-Monday, October 14
Wappinger's Carni"fall" is a four-day Columbus Day weekend celebration with fire performers, carnival rides, live music, food trucks, games and activities, a parade, and fireworks.  READ MORE

Trick or Treat at Hilltop Hanover Farm

Yorktown Heights–FREE
Saturday, October 12
Visit the animals and explore the historic sites of Hilltop Hanover Farm as you trick-or-treat at the barn doors. Treats will be available while supplies last; costumes are encouraged! READ MORE

Soukup Farms Harvest Festival

Dover Plains
Saturday, October 12-Monday, October 14
Hit the pumpkin patch, hitch a hayride, and visit the exotic animals of the Two-by-Two traveling animal exhibit (on select dates) at the Soukup Farms Harvest Festival. There's also a climbable hay dragon, tractor exhibits, and a corn maze. Re-energize with a farm-to-table lunch. READ MORE

Pumpkin Picking Autumn Celebration at Muscoot Farm

Katonah
Saturday, October 12-Monday, October 14
Join Muscoot Farm for Columbus Day weekend. The farm celebrates the fall season with a pumpkin picking and hayride fundraiser. You can also source the perfect pumpkin from its garden. READ MORE

Oktoberfest at Bear Mountain State Park

Bear Mountain–FREE
Saturday & Sunday, October 12-13
Experience the excitement of NY’s largest free Oktoberfest at the beautiful Anthony Wayne Recreation Area! The annual Bear Mountain Oktoberfest is your go-to destination for authentic Bavarian traditions, including fantastic beer, lively music, and traditional German food. Let the kids enjoy the bouncy slide and house and revel in live music performances, face painting, and much more! READ MORE

Warwick Children's Book Festival

Warwick–FREE
Sunday, October 13
Join Albert Wisner Public Library and more than 65 authors and illustrators at Stanley-Deming Park in Warwick, NY, on Sunday, October 13. Book lovers young and young at heart are invited to celebrate children's literature. READ MORE

Yorktown Fall Festival & Car Show

Yorktown Heights–FREE
Sunday, October 13
The Yorktown Chamber of Commerce invites visitors to this day-long festival featuring more than 150 vendors, plus children's rides and crafts, live musical and dance performances, food trucks, a beer garden, a senior lunch, 200+ car classic cars, and a Nathan's hot dog eating contest. READ MORE

Sleepy Hollow Paddleboarding Witches Festival

Sleepy Hollow–FREE
Sunday, October 13
The Paddleboarding Witches Festival features a costumed paddleboarding session followed by a party with food trucks, vendors, and a live telling of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  READ MORE

Nyack Famous Street Fair

Nyack–FREE
Sunday, October 13
The Nyack Famous Street Fair is set to take place on October 13, 2024, from 10am to 5pm. This event will be held on Main Street and Broadway in Downtown Nyack. Expect over 300 exhibitors offering a variety of arts, crafts, retail items, gifts, and festival foods. There will also be live music and outdoor cafes, making it a fun event for the whole family. READ MORE

A Very Fluffy Halloween at Lilymoore Farm

Pleasant Valley
Opening weekend Saturday & Sunday, October 12-13
It’s a Halloween fest – only way cuter. Meet fluffy alpacas and llamas strutting their stuff in lion’s manes, rainbows, or even as a butterfly. It’s the perfect blend of cuteness and hilarity—who wouldn’t want a selfie with an alpaca dressed as a hippie? READ MORE

Pine Island Pumpkinfest

Pine Island
Monday, October 14
Celebrate the local harvest of pumpkins and spend the day outdoors enjoying the warm sunshine and crisp fall air. The day features pumpkin painting, face and henna painting, a children's bouncy house, touch-a-tractor, firetruck, entertainment, crafts, games, activities, refreshments, and many exciting surprises. READ MORE

The Lenape: Indigenous Peoples' Day Presentation at St. Paul's Church

Mt Vernon–FREE
Monday, October 14
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day by learning about some of the original inhabitants of Mt Vernon, the Lenape. Dr. Eugene Boesch, author and archaeologist, explores the Lenape people's history, culture, and legacy at St. Paul's Church.  READ MORE

Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day at Weed Orchards & Winery

Marlboro
Monday, October 14
At this family-friendly event, the playground will be open, tractor rides begin at noon, and the farm allows friendly, leashed dogs on the property.  READ MORE

Kids' Day at Kevin McCurdy's Haunted Mansion

Wappingers Falls
Monday, October 14
This is a special show for younger kids that won't give them nightmares. Kids' day entertainment includes magic shows and activities like trick-or-treating with friendly monsters. READ MORE

Fall Harvest Celebration at Kelder's Farm

Kerhonkson
Every weekend in October plus Monday, October 14
Celebrate the fall harvest at Kelder's Farm and enjoy scenic fall colors, apple and pumpkin picking, a corn maze, and all the farm attractions, including a giant jumping pillow, mini-golf, tube slides, farm animals, and games. Food and drinks are also available, including a taproom for adults. READ MORE

Harvest Hunt at Locust Grove Estate

Poughkeepsie
Weekends through October 20 plus Monday, October 14
Come find more than 30 decorated pumpkins and whimsical photo-ops hidden among the flowers and trees on a Locust Grove scavenger hunt/story walk. Costumes are encouraged. Bring a picnic and enjoy under the trees! READ MORE

Legoland's Brick-or-Treat Presents Monster Party

Goshen
Weekends through Sunday, October 27, plus Monday October 14
The Monster Party begins the moment you step into the park with a boo-tifully decorated entry arch. Meet Lego Monster characters like Spider Lady and Wacky Witch and make your way to the treat stations around the park. Don’t forget your costumes! READ MORE

Places featured in this article: