What To Do With the Kids June 2019
What To Do With the Kids June 2019: School’s out soon and June is kid’s month from St. Mary’s Strawberry Festival to the Armonk Lion’s Club Fol de Rol!
June
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)
Local! Church of St. Mary’s 82nd Annual Strawberry Festival, Sat, 6/1: 11am-4pm: The Strawberry Festival at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin features games and crafts for kids and teens, live music, bounce castles, BBQ and strawberries, strawberries, strawberries. Including, strawberry smoothies, and St. Mary’s famous strawberry shortcake. Plus, craft vendors and treasures from the attic. (Church of St, Mary the Virgin, 191 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua; churchofstmary’s)
Sheffield Island Lighthouse Cruises, Norwalk Harbor, Sat-Sun: 6/1-30: 11am, 12:30 & 2pm: 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)
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, Sat-Sun, 6/1-23: 1:15pm: & Tues-Sun, 6/25-30: 1:15pm: 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)
Sleeping with Wolves, Wolf Conservation Center, Friday & Select Saturdays 6/1-10/19: 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)
Pride of the Hudson River Cruise, Newburg, Sat, 6/1- Sun, 6/30: 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)
Bicycle Sundays on the Bronx River Parkway, Sun, 6/2-30: 10am-2pm: Bicycle Sundays return on May 6. The Westchester Parks Foundation closes off a six and a half mile stretch of the Bronx River Parkway for the exclusive use of bicyclists, joggers, scooters and strollers. Park your car at the County Center lot and bike to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers. Round trip 13.1 miles. www.friendsofwestchesterparks.com)
Local! Katonah Fire Department Carnival, Wed-Sat, 6/5-8: check times. The 2019 Katonah Fire Department Carnival kicks off with a parade on Wednesday at 7pm featuring 21 fire companies. Followed by four nights (and one day) of carnival rides, games, cotton candy and food trucks. (Katonah Fire Department, 65 Bedford Rd., Katonah; www.katonahfd.org)
Local! 45th Armonk Lions Club Fol de Rol, Wampus Brook Park, Thurs-Sun, 6/6-9: check times. Ride the Ripcord, Tornado and Tilt-a-Whirl. Visit the fun house. You know the school year is almost over when the Armonk Lions Club Fol-de-Rol comes to town. Just buy the wristband, for unlimited rides, and let the kids run wild. With carnival games, music, face painting, a dog show and racing pigs! There’s even a Crafts Fair for adults whose Ripcord days have passed them by. Buy a raffle ticket to support various local projects. (28 Maple Ave., Armonk; www.armonklions.org)
Local! Morning Farm Chores, Muscoot Farm, Sat, 6/8 & 7/13: 8am-9am: Children ages 8 & up along with their grown-ups get to learn the morning routine at Muscoot and help feed cows, collect hen eggs, and more! The program lasts about an hour and a half. Step right up, there’s a chore for everyone! You will get a chance to work up close and personal with our animals–chickens, cows, sheep, pygmy goats and more. (51 NY 100, Katonah; www.muscootfarm.org)
Jr. Chef Experience, Westchester Magazine Wine & Food Festival, The Westchester, Sun, 6/9: 10am-12pm: Kids learn basic cooking techniques and practice cupcake decorating and pizza making from working chefs at this hands-on event. Plus Chef demos from Chopped! Jr. Champions. How cool is that? (Play at The Westchester, Level 4; ( www.westchestermagazine.com)
Hot Ticket Alert! Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival, Sat-Sun, 6/15-16: 11am-9pm.This world-class outdoor music returns in 2019 after a one year hiatus. There’s a host of river activities including sloop and schooner rides, food, art, crafts, jugglers & clowns. Plus 68 musical acts including Mavis Staples, Ani DiFranco, Railroad Earth, The Wailers, Del McCourey Band, The Lone Bellow and more. (Croton Point Park, 1A Croton Point Ave., Croton-on-Hudson; www.clearwaterfestival.org)
Summer Hours begin! Boundless Adventures, Purchase College, Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm & Sat-Sun, 9am-8pm: 6/15-9/2: This the go to place for thrill-seekers, adventurers, tree-climbers, zip-liners and outdoor enthusiasts opens seven days for summer. The park’s nine aerial obstacle courses incorporate zip lines and climbing with a host of ladders, bridges, rolling elements and even aerial skate boarding into the ultimate tree-top monkey bar experience for kids and adults. (Read more.) Summer also brings special events such as glow in the dark nights and musical climbs. (735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase; www.boundlessadventures.net)
The Muppets Take Manhattan, Jacob Burns Film Center, Sat, 6/15: 12pm & Thurs, 6/20: 1pm: Kermit, Miss Piggy, and their Muppet pals decide to take their show to the Big Apple, but they soon find out that becoming Broadway stars is harder than it looks. While they await their big break, catchy music, deadpan gags, and wacky cameos (Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers, and others) keep the whole family entertained! (364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville; www.burnsfilmcenter.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)
Dancing at Dusk, Cady Finalayson & Vita Tanga, Caramoor’s Friend’s Field, Wed, 6/19: 5pm: Cady Finlayson & Vita Tanga blend traditional Celtic fiddle tunes with American folk and world music influences. Jigs, reels, and much more will make for a spirited evening of fun for the whole family! (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
Local! Chili Cook-off, Armonk Chamber’s Third Thursdays & Sale Days, Thurs, 6/20: 5:30-8:30pm: There’s in-store sales at retailers throughout Armonk all-day as the Armonk Chamber of Commerce’s Third Thursday Celebrations kick off with this annual Chili Cook Off. Top Armonk chef’s compete for the grand prize in Armonk Square from 5:30-7:30pm.There will be music from 6:30- 8:30 from the Bedford School of Rock House Band. These Chamber celebrations continue each month through August and include a classic car show and an all-new Kids on the Town festival. (www.armonkchamberofcommerce.com)
Stamford Afternoon Sails on the Schooner Soundwaters, Fri-6/21 & Sun, 6/23, 30: 3pm: 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 July 4th. (Bocuzzi Park at Southfield, 166 Southfield Ave., Stamford CT; www.soundwaters.org)
Kids day only TKTS just $15! American Roots Music Festival, ft. Milk Carton Kids, Caramoor’s Multiple Venues, Sat, 6/22: All Day: Americana festival darlings, The Milk Carton Kids headline Caramoor’s 9th annual American Roots Music Festival. Beginning at noon, ten folk, country, bluegrass, gospel, blues & folk fusion acts perform at multiple venues on the Caramoor grounds. Including a square dance set from Porch Stomp Revue. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)
No more teachers, no more books! Ice Cream Social & Summer Games, Greeley House, Tues, 6/25: 12:30-2pm: Celebrate the end of the school year with Victorian games and ice cream. Make your own Victorian ice cream. Bring your own lunch. Kids go free! (100 King St., Chappaqua; www.newcastlehs.org)
Too cool for school! Music in Bedford Village Memorial Park, School of Rock Bedford, Thurs, 6/27: 7pm: Check out the top student musicians in the area as they perform classics from The Beatles to The Smiths, Radiohead, Springsteen & The Bobby Fuller Four. Bedford School of Rock performs 25 gigs a year, entertaining thousands at festivals, community events and rock venues including the Bedford Tri-Festa, Westport Music Festival, John Jay Barn Dance, Daryl’s House in Pawling, Knitting Factory Brooklyn, and the Bedford Playhouse!
21st Annual Lewisboro Fireworks Spectacular, Fri, 6/29: 6pm: Picnicing begins at 6pm with entertainment at 7pm and fireworks at 9:30pm for residents. (Onatru Farm, 99 Elmwood Rd, South Salem; www.lewisbororecreation.org)
Open to all! Pound Ridge Recreation 5K Road Race, Kids Race & Fireworks, Sat, 6/30: 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. Fireworks from 6-10pm. Open to non-residents. (Pound Ridge Elementary School, 7 Pound Ridge Rd., Pound Ridge; www.townofpoundridge.com)
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