What To Do: With the Kids October

admin Posted OnSeptember 24, 2015

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What To Do: With the Kids October: October kicks off the the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival and end with Beauty and the Beast at the Stamford Palace. In between there’s fall festivals, a dinosaur train show, Sesame Street and more.

OCTOBER

Apple Picking: There’s still more apples on the trees at Stuarts Farm, Wilkens Farm, Outhouse Orchards and the Harvest Moon. Check out our guide to Apple Picking Westchester.

Local! Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival: Over 4,000 visitors attended theChappaqua Children’s Book Festival last year. The kids’ book fest showcases over 80 popular children’s book authors – most of whom are onsite, doing signings and book readings for the kids. Including NYT’s best sellers Victoria Kann (Pinkalicious), Nick Bruel (Bad Kitty), Wendy Mass (The Candymakers), Michael Buckley (The Sisters Grimm and NERDS), Sally Cook (How To Speak Baseball) and Gary Golio (Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow); National Book Award winner Mary Ann Hoberman (A House is a House For Me), Caldecott Medalist Ed Young, Bruce Degan (The Magic School Bus), Jean Marzollo (I SPY) and Jacqueline Weitzman (You Can’t Take a Balloon Into the Metropolitan Museum). Plus, food from Le Jardin du Roi, Skinny Buddha, Village Social and Hall of Scoops, costumed characters (Bad Kitty and Biscuit) and kids activities featuring Hudson Valley Llamas, Gaga from Kiwi Country Day Camp and science experiments with Regeneron. Sat, 10/3: 10am-4pm. (Bell Middle School, 50 Senter Place, Chappaqua; www.ccbfestival.org)

Local! The Great Chappaqua Bake Sale manages the snacks at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Fair offering baked goods and raffle prizes donated by families, restaurants, bakeries and merchants in the Chappaqua area. The bake sale has raised over $76,000 for No Kid Hungry in the past five years. Both events run in conjunction on Sat, 10/3: 10am-4pm. (Robert Bell Middle School, 50 Senter St., Chappaqua; like them on Facebook.)

Dino Train Show – Lasdon Park: This year’s model train exhibit takes on a Jurassic theme with more than 100 feet of track built around a variety of storybook and movie favorite dinosaurs in a land threatened by an erupting volcano. Plus, a screening of Rexy the Dinosaur in 3D, a Dino Scavenger Hunt, a hay maze, wagon rides and a dinosaur topiary garden. They’ll be grilling up some Bronto Burgers and Dino Dogs too. Sat-Sun & Columbus Day, 10/3-11/1: 11am-3: 30pm. (Lasdon Park, 2610 Amawalk Rd. Rt. 35, Katonah; www.lasdonpark.org)

Hot Ticket Alert! Annual Stone Barns Harvest Fest: Their 12th annual celebration and fundraiser is a hot ticket so order early. Live music, hands-on farming activities, food crafting, farmer’s market, hayrides, farm Olympics and more. Sat, 10/3: 10am-3pm. (630 Bedford Rd., Pocantico Hills; www.stonebarnscenter.org)

Local! Byram Hills High School Homecoming: The Byram Hills Bobcat Booster’s have put together a wild weekend of JV and V games, a pep rally with fireworks and a parade down Main Street in Armonk. On Fri, 10/2 the high school hosts Community Night from 4-9pm with a Pep Rally, Cheer and Dance team shows and fireworks from 7:15-9pm. Concessions and spirit wear activities will coincide with a host of games: Field Hockey: 3:30pm, Girls Tennis: 4:15pm, Volleyball: 4:30pm and Girls Soccer: 5pm. The Homecoming Parade will travel down Main St. on noon on Sat, 10/3 followed by the varsity football game against Beacon at 3pm. Be there or be square. Go Bobcats!

By Ted Gilman

Greenwich Audubon Fall Festival and Hawk Watch: Live animal shows, birds of prey, guided hikes, nature themed games, environmental exhibits, and eco-friendly vendors help celebrate the annual hawk migration passing over the site’s “Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch.” Plus, a honey harvest, food from Café Bon, Annie Bananie’s Ice Cream, Wave Hill Bread and hawks, hawks, hawks. Sat-Sun: 10/3-4: 11am-5pm. (613 Riversville Rd., Greenwich; www.greenwich.audubon.org)

Local: 5^th Annual Gedney Pond Fishing Derby: You know what to do. Get out your rod and reel and fish. The Gedney Pond Fishing Derby is back and kids ages 6 and older fish for free. One caveat: Anyone over 16 years old must possess a NYS fishing license. Which you can get by clicking here. Or you can get some fake ID which will cost you $50 here. Hmm. See how that works out for you. Sunday, 10/4: 8:30-11am. (Gedney Park, Chappaqua; www.mynewwcastle.org)

Sesame Street Live: Make a New Friend – Westchester County Center: Elmo, Grover, Sesame Street Live at the Westchester county center Abby Cadabby, and their Sesame Street friends welcome Chamki, Grover’s friend from India, to Sesame Street. Together, they explore the fun of friendship and celebrate cultural similarities, from singing and dancing, to kayaking, hot yoga and sharing cookies! Adults will appreciate the high-tech stagecraft, and music they’ll recognize and enjoy sharing with children, such as “Count Me In”, and fun new parodies of “Hot and Cold”, and “Moves Like Jagger”. Fri, 10/9: 10:30am, Sat, 10/10: 10:30am & 2pm, and Sun, 10/11: 11 & 2pm. (198 Central Ave., White Plains; www.countycenter.biz)

Bonfire Night at Boscobel: BYOB, blankets & chairs. Boscobel provides the bonfires, marshmallows and roasting sticks. Bratwurst, burgers and more are available from Phil’s Grills. Museum Educator Lisa DiMarzo offers stargazing assistance and Tenbrooks Molly provides the rockabilly sounds. Glow sticks and other luminescent items on sale. Sun 10/11: 6-9pm (no school the next day.) (Boscobel, 1601 Rt. 9D, Garrison; www.boscobel.org)

Columbus Day Pumpkin Picking at Muscoot Farm: Take a hayride to the pumpkin patch or walk to the vegetable garden to pick your pumpkin. Visit the farmer’s market, farm animals, (check out the pygmy goats and miniature donkeys) 12 historic buildings, (love the ice house and blacksmith shop) and 7 miles of hiking trails from easy to moderately strenuous. Sun-Mon: 10/11-12. (Muscoot Farm, Rt. 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

Make a Scarecrow Contest – Stamford Museum & Nature Center: Bring your family for the SM&NC’s 6th annual scarecrow making program and create a scarecrow for their Harvest Festival Weekend contest. Families can create a life-size scarecrow that will be exhibited and entered in our scarecrow contest at Harvest Festival on (Oct. 17 & 18) then can be picked up in time to grace your own lawn for Halloween. Some materials are provided, but families are encouraged to bring clothing or accessories to help with their creation. Sun, 10/4 & 11: 2-4pm. (Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford; www.stamfordmuseum.org)

Local! The Pound Ridge Harvest Festival ROCKS: Featuring traditional German fare: bratwurst, fire-grilled corn, apple cider, pretzels and specialties Events-Poundridgerocks from Albano’s, North Star, Plum Plums and Asia Hamachi, a country BBQ from Scott’s Corner Market a craft beer garden pouring cold Magic Hat a root beer garden for the kids and contests, games and kids activities for kids. Their featured act this year is the Grammy Award-wiining alt-rock band Soul Asylum, whose 1993 triple-platiunum album Grave Diggers Union featured their hit song “Runaway Train” that got the Grammy nod for the year’s best single. They played at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. More music from the Fox Lane Rock Ensemble. Take that Armonk, Bedford & Chappaqua! Pound Ridge ROCKS! Sat, 10/17: 2-6pm. (179 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge; www.poundridgeharvestfestival.com)

Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix – Ridgefield Playhouse: From Ringling john jay Barn Dance with Johnny Peers and the muttville comix Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus and appearances on David Letterman, Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix is a slapstick comedy act featuring a dozen dogs as the comix and Johnny as the straight man. Sat, 10/17:11am & 2pm. (80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Harvest Festival Weekend – Stamford Museum & Nature Center: Enjoy apple cider demonstrations, a scarecrow contest, pumpkin carving, and more. Wear a costume for the daily costume parade. Other activities include an apple slingshot, farm animal demonstrations, live music, face-painting, storytelling, children’s crafts and hayrides. The Museum Galleries will be open with the Redress: Upcycled with Nancy Judd exhibition. Plus, food trucks: Cowabunga, Hot off the Grille, LobsterCraft, Melt Mobile, Pierogies on Wheels, The Spud Stud, Spuds Your Way, and Taco Loco. Sat-Sun, 10/17-18: 11am-3pm. (Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford; www.stamfordmuseum.org)

Autumn Celebration at Muscoot Farm: Celebrate the fall with an afternoon of music, games, hayrides, crafts, a Model A Ford show, blacksmithing demonstrations and a Farmers Market. Sun, 10/18: 12-3pm. (Muscoot Farm, Rt. 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

The Big Apple Circus – The Grand Tour: Set in the 1920s, this new show features acts from around the world. Ships, trains, automobiles, and airplanes will serve as the backdrop for breathtaking acts of wonder, accompanied by the seven-piece Big Apple Circus Band. Acts will include clowns, jugglers, acrobats, and aerialists, from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America, as well as domestic and rescue animal acts. Wed-Sun, 10/21-1/10/16: check times. (Lincoln Center, Damrosch Park, 62nd Street, NY; www.bigapplecircus.org)

Music for Aardvarks – Emelin Theatre: “With its topical song subjects and Kids_Music_for_Aardvarks_0 dizzying range of musical styles, Aardvarks has become something of a cult phenomenon among New York City hipsters. And the one-man operation, along with the 10 CDs of music it is based on, is gaining converts across the country.” Time “Songs for children that won’t make the adults fwow up.” The New York Times. Sat, 10/24: 11am & 1:30pm. (Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Ln., Mamaroneck; www.emelin.org)

Local! Westmoreland Sanctuary Orienteering Challenge: The ultimate in Treasure Hunts that’s perfect for families or groups. Westmoreland Sanctuary and Hudson Valley Orienteering all-levels orienteering challenge offers three courses for kids from beginner through intermediate and three for adults that get a little tougher. All the courses run through Westmoreland’s scenic woodlands. Maps, instruction, training and refreshments are provided. Compass rentals available. Start times begin at 10am and the last start time is 1pm. The courses usually run from 1 to 1 1/2 hours to complete. Sat, 10/24: 10am-1pm. (Westmoreland Sanctuary, 260 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Mt. Kisco; www.westmorelandsanctuary.org)

Run the Farm: Muscoot Farm: 6th annual run the farm races include a tough (but scenic) 5 mile course through the woods; a 1.1 mile race for kids (7-12), and a .6 mile race for kids under 6. Runners receive farm bucks to use at the Farmer’s Market. Races start at 8:30, 8:45 & 9:30am. Please arrive 30 minutes before race start time. Sun, 10/25: 8-9am. (Rt. 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast –Stamford Palace: The hit Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast comes to Stamford with its lavish sets, costumes and production numbers including “Be Our Guest”. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film about Belle a small town girl and a young price trapped in the body of a beast by a spell from an enchantress, this show has played to over 35 million people worldwide. Fri, 10/30: 7:30pm & Sat, 10/31: 11am. (Stamford Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford; www.palacestamford.org)