What To Do With the Kids July & August 2017

What To Do With the Kids July & August 2017

July

Historical Military Vehicle Show, Lasdon Park – Sat-Sun, 7/1-2: 10am-4pm & 3:30pm on Sun: Experience live cannon fire at the Revolutionary War camp or explore artifacts from the Spanish American War. Walk through a timeline of various conflicts in our nations history each with its own exhibit and display of period vehicles. Vehicles will be exhibited from WWI to Desert Storm. (2610 Amawalk Rd., Katonah; www.lasdonpark.org)

Muscoot Farm Hike – Sat, 7/1: 10am-12pm: Join a guided intermediate hike through the Muscoot Farm outback. (Route 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

Pirate Quest, Philipsburg Manor – Sat-Sun, 7/1-8/27: 9:30-10:30am: Philipsburg Manor’s new mobile game sets the scene for kids to hunt through the site’s grounds to load precious cargo onto their digital pirate ships. Kids looking for adventure can pick up a tattoo and keep watch for pirates and sword fights. But only those who finish the game will capture the treasure! (381 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow; www.hudsonvalley.org)

Pound Ridge Independence Day 5K Road Race, Kids Race & Fireworks – Sat, 7/1: 9am-11pm: Run over rolling hills and through the streets of Pound Ridge from the Pound Ridge Elementary School to Town Park where there will be music and refreshments at the end of the race. Register online or on race day beginning at 7:30am. Children’s races begin immediately after the 5K. There will be picnicking, music and fireworks at the park from 6-10 pm. Open to non-residenst. (Pound Ridge Elementary School, 7 Pound Ridge Rd., Pound Ridge; www.townofpoundridge.com)

Most Civilized Fireworks Alert! Pops, Patriots & Fireworks, Caramoor – Sat, 7/1: 8pm: Broadway star Ryan Silverman (Phantom, Chicago, Side Show) sings from South Pacific, Kiss Me Kate and Man of La Mancha – for the Pops. The Westchester Symphonic Winds, conducted by Kurt Ebersole, performs John Philip Sousa and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture – for the Patriots. And then there are the fireworks on Friends Field after the show. (Photo by Gabe Palacio) (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Fireworks! Kensico Music Fest & Fireworks: Mon, 7/3: 6-10pm: Pre-concert entertainment begins at 6 pm followed by a concert of “American favorites” 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)

Fireworks! Playland
 Park – Mon-Tues, 7/3-4: 9:15pm: Fireworks displays, computer-fired and choreographed to a musical soundtrack, Plus fireworks every Friday evening 7/7-9/1: 9:15 p.m. (100 Playland Parkway, Rye; www.ryeplayland.org)

Fireworks Walkway Over the Hudson – Tues, 7/4: 6:30-9:30pm: 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)

Local! John Jay Homestead Independence Day Fair – Tues, 7/4: 11am-4pm: Colonial games, crafts, a spirited reading of the Declaration of Independence, live music, house tours, educational discovery centers with beekeeping and blacksmith demonstrations, food and drink and sundry activities for the kids. Past fairs have included pony rides and hay rides. (400 Jay St./Rt. 22, Katonah; www.friendsofjohnjay.org)

Local! Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce Summer Concerts – Wed, 7/5-8/2: 7pm: The CMCC presents 5 concerts at The Gazebo on Recreation Field. Here’s the line-up: Don Dupont Big Band (big band swing) 7/5; FDR Drive (Motown/R&B) 7/12; Country Fresh (modern country hoe-down) Wed, 7/19; Tramps Like Us (Springsteen Tribute) Wed, 7/26; Chappaqua Orchestra (Classical) Wed, 8/2. (Recreation Field, Chappaqua: 200 S. Greeley Ave. Chappaqua-millwoodchamber)

Dancing at Dusk, Hoedown in the USA, Caramoor – Wed, 7/5: 5pm: Wrap up the July 4th holiday square and line dancing with Pat Cannon’s Foot & Fiddle Dance Company. They’ll perform and teach the kids about the traditions and diverse cultures that contributed to the American repertoire of country dancing. Activities include crafts, a performance and a meet and greet with the artists. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Local! Griffin Anthony Summer Concerts, Katonah Memorial Park –Fri, 7/7: 6:30pm: Local resident and BMI recording artist plays Heartland Funk. (North St., Katonah)

13th Pleasantville Music Festival – Sat, 7/8: 11:30am-10pm: “New York’s backyard jam” returns with top folk and Americana festival acts including: headliners Blues Traveler, Suzanne Vega and Ripe. Plus 12 more bands bringing the rock, folk-rock, country-rock, pop-rock, bluegrass and funk sounds. Including: Poussette Dart Band, Caleb Flood + The Culture, James Maddock, The Alpaca Gnomes, Sir Cadian Rhythm and the Shovel Ready String Band. Free parking and round-trip bus service from Pace University. (Parkway Field, Village Ln. Pleasantville; www.pleasantvillemusicfestival.com)

Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival, Fri-Sun, 7/7-9: check times: Watch the flight of the hot-air balloons take off over Barton Orchards in Poughquag – just 50 minutes from downtown Armonk. Or take a tethered balloon (or helicopter) ride yourself. There’s music, games, hayrides, tube slides, a haunted house, a corn maze, good eats and pick your own grapes and berries, corn and stone fruit and fireworks on Friday & Saturday night. (Barton Orchards, 63 Apple Tree Lane, Poughquag; http://www.balloonfesthv.com)

Morning Farm Chores, Muscoot Farm – Sat, 7/8: 8-10am: Be a farmer for two hours with theses hands on activities for kids 8 & up. (Route 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

Local! The Swingaroos, Summer Concerts at Wampus Brook Park – Sat, 7/8: 8pm.: The Small Town Theatre Company presents the NYC blues and swing group The Swingaroos performing 30s/40s inspired originals and forgotten goodies from Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw at the Wampus Brook Park Gazebo. (Maple Ave., Armonk: www.smalltowntheatre.com)

Local! The Secret Life of Pets, Movie Night at the Bedford Village Memorial Park – Fri, 7/14: 8:30pm: Watch this 2016 animated comedy, that won the 2017 Kids’ Choice Award and was nominated for the Producers Guild of America’s Best Animated Motion Picture Award, under the stars. (Greenwich Rd., Bedford)

Jazz Festival with McCoy Tyner Trio, Caramoor – Sat, 7/15: all day: This kid friendly Jazz fest features 16 acts in multiple venues on the Caramoor grounds. The McCoy Tyner Trio headlines the evening show at the Venetian Theatre. The daytime artists, beginning at 4pm, include the Cuban rhythms of the Pedritro Martinez Group, guitarist Mary Halvorson and a centennial celebration of jazz great Thelonious Monk. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Oddball, Jacob Burns – Sat-Sun, 7/15-16: 12pm & Thurs, 7/20: 3pm: In this Aussie flick recommended for kids 7 & up, an eccentric chicken farmer living off the coast on Middle Island hatches a plan to save a colony of fairy penguins from predatory foxes. The key to the plan is his mischievous and fluffy sheepdog Oddball. (364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville; www.burnsfilmcenter.org)

Dancing at Dusk, Celebrating Mexico, Caramoor – Wed, 7/19: 5pm: Hailed by the New York Times as “terrific”, The Calpulli Mexican Dance Company celebrates Mexican culture with an evening of traditional dances. From a 100-year-old wedding dance of Veracruz to the popular “La Bamba”. Activities include crafts, a performance and a meet and greet with the artists. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Local! The Mulligans Summer Concert, Bedford Hills Memorial Park – Fri, 7/21: 8:30pm: Classic rock hits from the Stones, Springsteen, U2, Talking Heads and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. (60 Haines Rd., Bedford Hills)

Local! Charlie Lagond, Summer Concerts at Wampus Brook Park – Sat, 7/22: 8pm. The Small Town Theatre Company presents jazz great Charlie Lagond who has performed with Chet Baker, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Chuck Mangione, The Temptations and Kid Creole & The Coconuts. (Maple Ave., Armonk: www.smalltowntheatre.com)

Dancing at Dusk, Traditional Russia, Caramoor – Wed, 7/26: 5pm: The folk artists of Ensemble Barynya present an evening of dance, song, and virtuoso performances on the  Balalaika and Garmoshka and other Russian traditions. Activities include crafts, a performance and a meet and greet with the artists. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Local! Pirate School! with David Engel, Katonah Memorial Park – Fri, 7/28: 7pm: Big Apple Circus veteran, David Engel performs his long running show based on the bumbling buccaneer Billy Bones: The (Generally) Good Pirate. (The top of North St., Katonah)

46th Putnam County 4H Fair, Carmel – Fri-Sun, 7/28-30: 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, chicken BBQ, animals, plant sale, food and music. (Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park, 201 Gipsy Trail Rd., Carmel; www.counties.cce.cornel.edu)

Local! You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Theatre in the Sanctuary at Westmoreland Sanctuary – Late July: At Westmoreland’s annual Theatre in the Sanctuary productions the audience moves with the actors through the woods as the action of the play progresses across the Sanctuary’s natural sets. Join the cast now! Rehearsals begin June 23. (Westmoreland Sanctuary, 260 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Mt. Kisco; www.westmorelandsanctuary.org)

August

Local! Chappaqua Chamber of Commerce Movies in Millwood Park – Fri, 8/4, 11, 18 & 25: 7:30pm: Food trucks, pre-show entertainment, popcorn & kids flicks under the stars. Check back for this year’s movie titles. (200 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua; chappaqua-millwoodchamber)

Local! Broadway Review, Summer Concerts at Wampus Brook Park – Sat, 8/5: 8pm. Musical theatre vets from Broadway, Off-Broadway and Regional Theatres sing your favorite show tunes in this Broadway Review from Armonk’s Small Town Theatre Company. (Maple Ave., Armonk: www.smalltowntheatre.com)

Renaissance Faire, Tuxedo Park – Sat-Sun & Labor Day, 8/5-10/1: 10am-7pm: A romp through Elizabethan England complete with 16th Century games, rides, arts, crafts, food, music and dance in Tuxedo Park. There’s mime, magic, music, comedy and storytellers, pirates, fairies, pole dancing, piping, acrobats, aerialists, a fire circus, birds of prey, sword fighting, knife throwing and the big one … jousting. Check for theme weekends & special events. (600 Rt. 17A, Tuxedo Park; www.renfair.com)

Muscoot Farm Hike – Sat, 8/5: 10am-12pm: Join a guided intermediate hike through the Muscoot Farm outback. (Route 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

Sand Castle Contest, Glen Island Beach – Sat, 8/5: 11am-4pm: Get your team of sand architects, engineers and contractors together and start building. Or just stop by to get some sand between your toes and watch all the Type A Beach Personalities construct their watchtowers, moats and flanking towers. Plus deejay music and beach games. (Glen Island Park, Weyman Ave., New Rochelle; www.parks-westchestergov.com)

Local! The Princess Bride, Bedford Hills Memorial Park – Thurs, 8/10: 8pm: Movies under the stars with this 1987 romantic comedy listed on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years—100 Passions list of the 100 greatest film love stories of all time. (60 Haines Rd., Bedford Hills)

East Coast National Baseball Card Show, County Center – Thurs-Sun, 8/17-20: check times: 300 tables, new Hobby Box series, Sports Card Singles and thousands of autographed baseballs, memorabilia, modern and vintage sports cards, on-site authentication, and live signings from 100 of your favorite sports stars. (198 Central Ave., White Plains; www.countycenter.biz)

Local! New Rochelle Opera, Summer Concerts at Wampus Brook Park – Sat, 8/19: 8pm. Armonk’s Small Town Theatre Company presents opera classics at the gazebo at Wampus Brook Park from the New Rochelle Opera. (28 Maple Ave., Armonk; www.smalltowntheatre.com)

Dutchess County Fair, Rhinebeck – Tues-Sun, 8/22-27: check times: 144 acres of bucolic fairgrounds play host to half a million patrons and thousands of farm animals, agricultural exhibits, horticultural displays and carnival rides. Grandstand concerts feature The Marshall Tucker Band, 3 Doors Down (“Kryptonite”), 2016 Country Music Award-winners Brothers Osborne and Grammy-winner Old Crow Medicine Show. Plus, racing pigs, diving dogs, horse show, petting zoo, pony rides, jugglers, crafts vendors, food and country fair competitions like goat milking, chicken clucking, and horse shoeing. (6626 Route 9, Rhinebeck; www.dutchessfair.com)

Living History: Military Reenactment Day at Boscobel – Sun, 8/27: Military re-enactors set up encampments from the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. They demonstrate camp life with inspections, formations, musket firings, artillery demonstrations, and drills. See General George Washington inspect his troops, President Abraham Lincoln address his army, and more on the Boscobel grounds overlooking the Hudson River and West Point. (Boscobel, 1601 Route 9D (Bear Mountain Highway) in Garrison; www.boscobel.org)

Sheffield Island Haunted Lighthouse, TBD: Ghosts, ghouls and goblins greet visitors to the historic Sheffield Island Lighthouse decorated to provide thrills and chills for kids of all ages (only two rooms are kept dark). (Norwalk Seaport Association Dock, 4 N. Water Streets, Norwalk, CT.; www.seaport.org)

September

Lime Rock Park Historic Festival, Lakeville, CT – Fri-Mon: 9/1-4: check times: The east coast’s premier vintage racing and concours event presents three days of on-track racing. Including more than 250 cars and drivers, parading and racing everything from pre-WWI racers to the best competition machines from the 1920s to the 1970s. (60 White Hollow Rd., Lakeville CT: www.limerock.com)

CORNucopia at Philipsburg Manor – Sat-Mon, 9/2-4: 10am-5pm: This novel corn festival offers an inspired bounty of corn-centric delicacies (corn bread, salsa, chips, chili, ice cream and popcorn) demonstrations (corn grinding & cooking) games and crafts (Konk-a-Crow, Ring-a Cob) corn-shucking races and a mini maize-maze. Plus house tours, bluegrass and folk music and English country dancing in the barn. (381 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow; www.hudsonvalley.org)

Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival, Fri-Sun: 9/8-10: check times: Three days of entertainment, carnival rides and games and OYSTERS, OYSTERS, OYSTERS. Featuring a 65 foot Ferris Wheel, an Arts & Crafts Show with 100 vendors, New England Seaport Village, Kids’ Cove with games, rides & activities under a circus tent, International Food Court, headline musical acts, harbor tour cruises, and vessel tours. Plus a Celebrity Oyster Slurp-off. (Norwalk Veterans Park, 42 Seaview Ave., Norwalk; www.seaport.org)

Local! Community Family Camp Out, Katonah Memorial Park – Sat-Sun, 9/9-10: 3pm-10: 30am: Bedford Recreation provides tent set-up assistance, campfire, grills for cooking, picnic tables, S’mores, hot chocolate, coffee and tea, ghost stories, breakfast bagels, donuts, and beverages, clean rest rooms, supervision, and a Sunday morning swim at the Katonah pool. Campsite registration begins 5/1. Contact the recreation office at 666.7004)

All Summer Long

Sleeping with Wolves, Wolf Conservation Center – Friday & Select Saturdays 6/2 -10/21: 6pm- 8:30am. Camp out overnight with 20+ wolves that call the WCC in South Salem home! It’s cheaper than a trip to Yellowstone – and you’ll leave a much smaller carbon footprint. The evening includes a pizza party with Ambassador wolves Atka, Alawa, Nikai and Xephyr, movies under the stars, tents for all campers, fireside snacks and a light breakfast. Pre-registration is required at www.nywolf.com)

Cool! Marine Life Study Cruises, Maritime Aquarium Norwalk – Sat, 4/29-Sat, 9/30: 1-3:30pm. Study the biodiversity of Long Island Sound’s interdependent marine life. Participants utilize such sampling techniques as a plankton tow, bio-dredge, 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)

New Coral Reef Exhibit, Maritime Aquarium, Sun-Sat: 10am-5pm: The Maritime Aquarium recently debuted their new Coral Reef Exhibit featuring more than 40 species of reef fish native to the Indo-Pacific in their new 3000 gallon tank. Also new is a Sketch & Release video wall where kids can digitally color sharks, sea turtles and other marine animals onto their giant screen. (10 Water St., Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)

Sheffield Island Lighthouse Cruises, Norwalk Harbor – 5/27-9/25: 11am, 2 & 3:30pm: Board the 45-foot C.J. Toth catamaran for a cruise to Sheffield Island on the Long Island Sound for a lighthouse tour, a hike through Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge and a picnic and beach front activities. Sails run on weekends & holidays in June and September and daily in July & August. (Norwalk Seaport Association Dock, 4 North Water St., Norwalk, Ct.; www.seaport.org)

Pride of the Hudson River Cruise, Newburg – 5/17-10/29: 1 & 4pm: 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)

Rye Playland – Sat 5/20 – Mon 9/4: check times: There’s 42 carnival rides, entertainment in Kiddyland and the Music Tower Stage every day at Rye Playland – except Mondays! Plus a beach nearby. There are kiddy rides like the Kiddy Coaster, Carousel and Whip and family rides like the Gondola Wheel, Family Flyer and Bumper Cars. Plus thrill rides like the Sky Flyer, Dragon Coaster and the Playland Plunge. And fireworks every Friday at 9:15pm from 7/1-9/1. Gotta go once!  www.ryeplayland.org)

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Sat-Sun, 6/10-10/22: 10am-5pm: This “living” museum of antique aviation, 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. Museum hours are 10am-5pm. Air shows 2-4pm. (9 Norton Rd, Red Hook; www.oldrhinebeck.org)

Spirit of the Sound Lighthouse Cruise West – Sat, 6/10, 7/1, 8/5 & 9/2: 9am-4pm: The Norwalk Aquarium’s Spirit of the Sound catamaran’s 6 hour Western Long Island Lighthouse Cruise makes passes at Greens Ledge, Sheffield Island, Stamford Harbor, Great Captain Island, Execution Rocks, Stepping Stones, Sands Point and Eaton Neck. (10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)

Local! Armonk’s Third Thursdays, Chili Cookoff, Antique Cars, Street Circus – Thurs, 6/15, 7/20 & 8/17: 5-9pm: The Armonk Chamber of Commerce presents music, activities and special promotions from retailers and restaurants in downtown Armonk the third Thursday in June, July and August. Upcoming street fests will feature a Chili Cook-off from local restaurants on June 15; A Classic/Antique Car Show on July 20 and a “Street Circus” with performers throughout town on August 17. www.armonkchamberofcommerce.com)

Spirit of the Sound Lighthouse Cruise Central – Sat, 6/17, 7/15, 8/19 & 9/16: 9am-4pm: The Norwalk Aquarium’s Spirit of the Sound catamaran’s 4 ½ hour Central Long Island Sound cruise visits five century old beacons. Including Peck Ledge, Greens Ledge and Sheffield Island lighthouses in Norwalk, Penfield Reef Lighthouse in Fairfield and Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light in New Haven. (10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Ride, Daily 6/17-8/27, Weekends 9/1-10/22: Take a 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 with blue heron and egrets. 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)

Public Sails on the Schooner Soundwaters – Thurs-Sun, 6/22-8/6 & Fri-Sun, 9/1-10/1: 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 offered on Friday and Saturday nights and Fireworks Sails on 6/30 & 7/1. (Bocuzzi Park at Southfield, 166 Southfield Ave., Stamford CT; www.soundwaters.org) 

More What To Do: In & Around Town

Sign up for the What To Do Email Newsletter … carefully curated for townies, foodies, culture-vultures & locavores