What To Do with the Kids July 2019

Posted OnJune 26, 2019

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Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival

What To Do with the Kids July 2019: Here’s our July Top 20 plus 8 more things to do with the kids all summer long!

Toy Story 4, Bedford Playhouse, Thurs-Thurs, 6/20-7/11: check times: When Bonnie takes the toys on her family’s road trip, Woody ends up on an unexpected detour and reunites with his long-lost friend Bo Peep. Woody and Bo are worlds apart when it comes to life as a toy, and they soon realize that’s the least of their worries. (633 Old Post Rd., Bedford; www.bedfordplayhouse.org)

Free! Bedford Recreation, Thurs, Jun 27, & July 11-August 1: 7pm: Bedford Recreation’s summer music in the park series kicks off on June 27 with the Bedford School of Rock House Band at Bedford Village Memorial Park. (They do a smoking’ version of The Clash’s “I Fought the Law”; It’s over to Katonah Memorial Park on July 11 for the Mulligans who serve up hits from the Stones, Springsteen, U2, Talking Heads, Counting Crows, The Chili Peppers and some very funky Funk; Twist of Fate brings the steel drums and Caribbean sounds, including Reggae to Bedford Memorial Park on July 18; The White Wedding Band rocks the 80s with hits from Madonna, Prince, Michael, Cindy Lauper, Bon Jovi on July 25 at Bedford Hills Memorial Park; and The Sun Kings perform Beatles hits and B-sides at Katonah Memorial Park on August 1. Read more.

Spider Man Far From Home, Bedford Playhouse, Tues-Thurs, 7/2-11: check times: This sequel to Spider Man Homecoming, the successful Spider man reboot from director Jon Watts and starring Tom Holland, follows the events of Avengers: Endgame. Also starring are Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Samuel L. Jackson, and Zendaya. First audience reactions are all buzz-buss for Far From Home. (633 Old Post Rd., Bedford; www.bedfordplayhouse.org)

The Greek Blues, Dancing at Dusk, Kostas Psarros & Friends, Caramoor’s Friends Field, Wed, 7/10: 5pm: Bouzouki player Kostas Psarros presents Rebetika (The Greek Blues), music from the ’60s and ’70s and traditional Greek folk music. Featuring extraordinary rhythms, a line-up of fascinating instruments with vibrant vocalists, and a dance instructor leading traditional group dances for young and not so young. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Local! Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce Summer Concerts, Wed, 7/10-8/7: 7pm: The Chappaqua Millwood Chamber of Commerce presents 5 concerts at Events_bhef_gala_tramps_like_us The Gazebo on Recreation Field. Including: 7/10: Tramps Like Us (lauded by the NY Times & Rolling Stone, TLU is fronted by Chappaqua resident Mark Salore); 7/17: Rebecca Haviland & Whiskey Heart (Grammy winner and her roots rock band in the genre of The Wallflowers and Ryan Adams); 7/24; Arena Rock Tribute; 7/31; FDR Drive (Top 40 & Classic Hits); 8/7: The Haks (R&B, Motown, Southern Rock) (Recreation Field, Chappaqua: 200 S. Greeley Ave. Chappaqua-millwoodchamber)

Way Cool Event! Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival, Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Fri-Sun, 7/12-14: check times: Watch the flight of the hot-air balloons take off over the Dutchess County FArigrounds. Or take a tethered balloon or helicopter ride yourself. There’s music from Stax of Soul and the Ronald Reagans’ Big 80s Show. Plus, craft beer and wine tastings, magic shows, puppet shows, birds of prey and evening Balloon Glows with the 50 piece band, aerophone. (Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6636 Route 9, Rhinebeck; www.dcrcoc.org/balloonfestival)

Hot ticket Alert! Pleasantville Music Festival, Sat, 7/13: 12pm: A full day of awesome comes to Parkway Field in Pleasantville as 18 bands play for 9 hours on 3 stages. There’s plenty of food trucks and fun activities to keep the kids happy at this family friendly event that will be headlined by multi-platinum hit-makers Everclear, Grammy winners Soul Asylum, Grammy and Academy Award-winner Aimee Mann. Plus Dean Friedman, Matthew Sweet and more. There’s free parking and roundtrip shuttle service from nearby Pace University. (861 Bedford Road
Pleasantville; www.pleasantvillemusicfestival.com)

Spirit of the Sound Sentral Long island Lighthouse Cruise, Sat, 7/13: 10am: The Norwalk Aquarium’s Spirit of the Sound catamaran’s Lighthouse’s Cruises visits century old beacons from Sands Point to New Haven Ct. The Central Sound cruise takes in five lighthouses on it’s 5 hour tour. The Western Sound cruise visits 7 historic lighthouses on it’s seven hour tour. (10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)

Dancing at Dusk, Lei Pacifika, Caramoor’s Friends Field, Wed, 7/17: 5pm: Take the kids on a trip to the South Pacific through demonstrations of traditional dances in colorful costumes from Tahiti and Hawaii. Come celebrate ancient and modern hulas with Tabu’s exuberant music of the ukulele, Tahitian auhuroa, apartima, and fast-paced drums of the Otea. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Local! Armonk Sales Days, Classic Car Show, Music in Wampus Brook Park, Thurs, 7/18: 5-9pm: Shop Armonk for special in-store promotions and truck shows all day. Then the Armonk Chamber of Commerce’s Car Show begins at 5pm with a parade of classic and performance cars around town and a staging at St. Stephen’s Church at 50 Bedford Rd. There’s live music in Armonk Square from Willful Misconduct from 5-7:30pm. Then, from 7:30-9:30pm, Brian La Blanc brings his multi-tribute band 1 Stop Pony, to the Wampus Brook Park Gazebo for a mix of tunes from Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Billy Joel and Neil Diamond.(www.armonkchamberofcommerce.com)

The Parent Trap, Jacob Burns Film Center, Sat, 7/20: 12pm & Thurs, 7/25: 2pm: When Annie and Hallie meet at summer camp, they realize they are identical twins! One was raised by their mother and one by their father. They quickly hatch a plan to swap places, giving each girl a chance to get to know their other parent, and before long they are scheming to reunite the whole family. This classic comedy features Lindsay Lohan in her breakout role, along with Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid. (364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville; www.burnsfilmcenter.org)

Sheffields Island Pirates Weekend, Sat-Sun, 7/20-21: Get a glimpse of pirate life when you take a round-trip ferry ride to the Seaport Association’s Pirates Weekend. Once on the island, you will be greeted by pirates who will entertain with sword fighting demonstrations, sea chanteys, storytelling and other activities. (Norwalk Seaport Association Dock, 4 North Water St., Norwalk, Ct.; www.seaport.org)

Hot ticket alert! Jazz Festival, ft. Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, Caramoor mulitple venues, Sat, 7/20: all day: Celebrating its 5th year in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, Caramoor’s Jazz Festival presents jazz performed by phenomenal talent amid lush gardens and distinctive venues on their 90 acres of grounds. Treat yourself and stay for a whole day of music leading up to the evening headliner — ten-time Grammy Award winner Eddie Palmieri, one of the finest pianists of the past 60 years. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Dancing at Dusk, Hector Del Curto Tango Trio, Caramoor Friends Field, Wed, 7/24: 5pm: Take a journey of music and movement to Argentina! Explore the century-old history of tango, led by Grammy-winning Argentine bandoneon virtuoso Héctor Del Curto with a performance by his trio, special guest, 11-year-old clarinet whiz Santiago Del Curto, and Argentine tango dancers. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

48^th Putnam County 4H Fair, Carmel, Fri-Sun, 7/26-28: check times: Produced by the Cornell University Cooperative Extension, this fair offers 3 days of family entertainment including a horse show, games, fishing clinic, country living auction, a country pig roast and a chicken BBQ, animals, plant sale, food and music. (Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park, 201 Gipsy Trail Rd., Carmel; www.counties.cce.cornel.edu)

All Summer Long

Public Sails on the Schooner Soundwaters, Fri-Sun, 6/29-8/4, Sat, 8/25 & Sat-Sun, 8/31-9/1: check times: Board the 80’ Tall Schooner Soundwaters, the ship that Pete Seeger made famous, for a two-hour afternoon journey on the Long Island Sound. The Schooner Soundwaters, seats 40 and sails from Boccuzzi Park in Stamford. Sunset sails are also offered on Friday and Saturday nights and Fireworks Sails on Wed, 7/4 & Sat, 7/7. (Bocuzzi Park at Southfield, 166 Southfield Ave., Stamford CT; www.soundwaters.org)

Apollo 11: First Steps in IMAX, Maritime Aquarium Norwalk: Sun-Sat, 6/1-9/2: check times: With never-before-seen 70mm footage and a trove of newly discovered audio recordings, experience the first lunar landing in astonishing seat-gripping detail: the final preparations, countdown, liftoff, moon landing and return of one of mankind’s greatest achievements. At the Norwalk Aquarium’s six-story IMAX Theater. 10 N. Water Street, Norwalk; www.maritimeaquaurium.org)

Cool! Marine Life Study Cruises, Maritime Aquarium Norwalk, most days Jul-Aug: 1:15pm – check dates: Study the biodiversity of Long Island Sound’s interdependent marine life. Participants utilize such sampling techniques as a plankton tow, biodredge, mud grab and otter trawl that may bring up fish, crabs, lobsters, sea stars and more. A video microscope and touch tank on board enhance observations. Check dates. (10 N. Water St., Norwalk; www.maritimeaquarium.org)

Rye Playland, Summer Schedule Begins Daily except Mondays 5/31-9/2: check times: This Westchester icon is a bucket lister for any family with young children – and beyond. There’s 42 carnival rides, from the Kiddy Coaster and Bumper Cars to serious thrill rides such as the ky Flyer, Dragon Coaster and the Playland Plunge. There’s daytime entertainment for kids (Funky Fairy Tales, comedy and music) and, new this year, Laser Light Shows on the Msic Tower Stage in the evening and Friday night fireworks all summer. There’s also a beach and pool, mini-golf and arcade games, Playland Ice and the new immersive Westchester Children’s Museum. Gotta go once! www.ryeplayland.org)

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Air Shows & Bi-Plane Rides, Sat-Sun, 6/15-10/20: 10am-5pm: Air shows and bi-plane rides return to this “living” museum of antique aviation on June 15. ORA offers one of the largest collections of early aero-planes (1909 to 1939) in the world plus weekend airshows and bi-plane rides (shown here). The museum displays aircraft from the Pioneer Era, World War I and the Lindbergh Barnstorming era. Air shows 2-4pm. (9 Norton Rd, Red Hook; www.oldrhinebeck.org)

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Ride, Daily, 6/15-8/25: Summer hours kick in on 6/15 for this 2 ½ hour narrated train and riverboat ride through what the Nature Conservancy calls “one of the last great places on earth,” the Connecticut River Valley. The train passes farms, waterfalls, and wetland habitats. The riverboat cruise on the Connecticut River passes the historic Gillette Castle, Goodspeed Opera House and Haddam Swing Bridge. Check out their special Dinner Train, Riverboat Lunch and Sunset Excursions. (1 Railroad Ave., Essex, CT;www.essexsteamtrain.com)

Pride of the Hudson River Cruise, Newburg, Sat, 6/1- Wed, 10/30: check dates & times: The Pride of the Hudson River cruise sails 25 days in June. See the majestic beauty of the Hudson River on this 2-hour narrated river adventure from Newburgh to West Point taking in the sights of Washington’s Headquarters, World’s End, Mt. Beacon, Bannerman Island, Constitution Island, Breakneck Mountain, and the town of Cold Spring. (Blu Pointe Landing, 100 Front St., Newburgh; www.prideofthehudson.com)

Planetarium Shows, Hudson River Museum Planetarium, Sat-Sun, Year Round: HRM presents three planetarium shows each week from a portfolio of fifteen multi-media presentations. Each week they present age appropriate offerings for kids pre-K to grade 12 and adult. Including Tyco To The Moon, about a dog who visits the moon and a trip to the moon and beyond with our astronauts, Moons: Worlds of Mystery. (511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers; www.hrm.org)

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21st Annual Lewisboro Fireworks Spectacular, Fri, 6/29: 6pm: Picnicing begins at 6pm with entertainment at 7pm and fireworks at 9:30pm for residents. Plus food trucks. (Onatru Farm, 99 Elmwood Rd, South Salem; www.lewisbororecreation.org)

Open to non-residents! Pound Ridge Recreation 5K Road Race, Kids Race & Fireworks, Sat, 6/30: Race @ 9am: Run over rolling hills and through the streets of Pound Ridge from the Pound Ridge Elementary School to Town Park. Register online or on race day beginning at 8am. Children’s races begin immediately after the 5K. Evening activities and fireworks from 6-10pm. Pick up parking slips at Town Hall: $30. (Pound Ridge Elementary School, 7 Pound Ridge Rd., Pound Ridge; www.townofpoundridge.com)

Open to non-residents! Somers Block Party & Fireworks, Sat, 6/30: 2pm till fireworks end: Pull up, park and party at this all-day block party featuring an Irish Dance Troupe, and dance, rock and doo-wop music from four bands. Plus kids rides, Zippy the Clown, face painting, food trucks, a Ford Mustang Raffle. Parking is $30 by car. Buy online. (Sebastian Capital Urban Campus, 1 Pepsi Way, Somers; www.somersblcokparty.com)

Salazar Magic, Bedford Hills Memorial Park, Tues, 7/2: 7pm: The Bedford Hills Neighborhood Association in cooperation with the Bedford Recreation Department is pleased to present IllusionistAnthony Salazar. Witness amazing illusions choreographed to high-energy music; a carefully blended combination of magic, comedy, mind-reading, and audience participation. His exciting show is geared for the family audience and will leave you breathless! (Sammarco Soccer Field (Rain location: Bedford Hills Community House)

Fireworks! Kensico Music Fest & Fireworks, Wed, 7/3: 6-9:45pm: Pre-concert entertainment begins at 6 pm followed by a concert of “patriotic music” at 8pm. A fireworks display in front of the dam follows at 9:15 pm. Admission and parking are free. Carpooling is suggested. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. (Kensico Dam Plaza, 1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla; www.westchestergov.com)

New! Norwalk Fireworks Cruise, Wed, 7/3: 7pm: Enjoy a unique water view of municipal holiday displays – and avoid the traffic jams afterward – when you cruise out on a Fireworks Cruise with The Maritime Aquarium! Passengers must be 42 inches tall to board the Martime Aquarium’s R/V Spirit of the Sound. All cruises leave from the Aquarium Dock located next to the IMAX® theater! (10 N. Water St., Norwalk; www.martimeaquarium.org)

Fireworks! Pride of the Hudson Fireworks Cruise, Thurs, 7/4: 8pm:View the Fourth of July fireworks on the Hudson River on the Pride of the Hudson fireworks cruise. POH offers a spacious sundeck and a climate controlled main salon and food and refreshments at their cash bar. The cruise leaves from Blu Pointe Landing in Newburgh. (Blu Pointe Landing, Front St., Newburgh; www.prideofthehudson.com)

New! Rowayton Fireworks Cruise, Thurs, 7/4: 7pm: Enjoy a unique water view of the Rowayton fireworks displays – and avoid the traffic jams afterward – when you cruise out on a Fireworks Cruise with The Maritime Aquarium! Passengers must be 42 inches tall to board the Martime Aquarium’s R/V Spirit of the Sound. All cruises leave from the Aquarium Dock located next to the IMAX® theater! (10 N. Water St., Norwalk; www.martimeaquarium.org)

Fireworks! Playland  Park, Thurs-Fri, 7/4-5: 9:30pm: Fireworks displays, computer-fired and choreographed to a musical soundtrack. Come early for the rides, mini-golf and more. (100 Playland Parkway, Rye; www.ryeplayland.org)

Family! Pops, Patriots & Fireworks, Caramoor Venetian Theatre, Thurs, 7/4: 8pm: The Westchester Symphonic Winds perform a selection of works that pay tribute to America’s independence; Caramoor Schwab Vocal Rising Star alums Madison Leonard and Shea Owens perform a medley of Rodgers and Hammerstein songs and the concert concludes with a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Then the best fireworks display around! (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Fireworks! Walkway Over the Hudson, Thurs, 7/4: 7-10pm: Grab a rail on the Walkway Over the Hudson, a 19th century railroad bridge transformed into the world’s longest linear park, for their Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular. Reserve a pre-fireworks table at Crave Restaurant & Lounge, Poughkeepsie’s finest or at one of the Culinary Institute of America’s eateries just five miles away. (61 Parker Ave., Poughkeepsie; www.walkway.org)

Fireworks Sail on the Schooner Soundwaters, Thurs, 7/4: 7pm: Pack a dinner and a chilled summer quaff and watch the sun set and the fireworks over the Long Island Sound on this special fireworks sail on the Schooner Soundwaters from Bocuzzi Park in Stamford. Limited supplies so order tickets now! (166 Southfield Ave., Stamford, CT; www.soundwaters.org)

Fireworks! Jones Beach Central Mall, Thurs, 7/4: 9:30pm: (or Fireworks Cruise from Captree State Park) Thurs, 7/4: 6:30 & 7pm: Join 100,000 other patriotic Americans at Jones Beach’s Central Mall for this 30 minute “Grucci style” fireworks display, simulcast to patriotic songs from WALK 97.5 FM. Arrive by 6pm to avoid traffic and get a parking space. Or take a cruise on the Laura Lee Red or Laura Lee Blue leaving Captree State Park at 6:30 & 7pm. (3500 Ocean Parkway, Babylon; www.jonesbeach.com)