Fall in love with Westchester County Parks
No matter the season, there is something for everyone in the 50-plus facilities and over 18,000 acres that are owned and operated by the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation (PRC). Visitors can look forward to an abundance of PRC’s sensational fall events.
On Oct. 5, Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center in Yorktown Heights will hold its first-ever 5K and Kids’ Fun Run. The 5K is open to all ages, and the Fun Run is for ages 6 and under. Participants will journey past the crop fields, bolt through the trails and dash over the roaring hills in this scenic race. They’ll then picnic on the farm and stroll around the complex during Hilltop’s Health & Wellness Day.
Alfred B. DelBello Muscoot Farm, PRC’s 777-acre, early-1900s interpretive farm in Katonah, is a hotbed of autumn and holiday action. Muscoot’s Annual Pumpkin Picking Fundraiser—on Oct. 12, 13 and 14—lets you choose your perfect sample. The beloved event includes hayrides, free kids’ activities, cider and doughnuts for sale, and, of course, visits with the farm’s many delightful animals. Youngsters can trick-or-treat at the farm on Oct. 20, and Dec. 6 marks the start of the bright and colorful Holiday Lights on the Farm. Guests can visit with the animals inside their festively decorated barns and take part in holiday-themed activities. Muscoot’s farmers market is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every Sunday until Nov. 17.
The Trailside Nature Museum at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River gets into full Halloween swing with its highly popular Spooktakular Octoberfest on Oct. 26. Attendees are encouraged to go dressed in costumes while they enjoy hayrides, trick-or-treating, a petting zoo, pony rides, crafts, a haunted house, food and music.
Everyone’s favorite holiday season kicks-off with Westchester’s Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Holiday Light Extravaganza at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. The 1.2-mile adventure sparkles with thousands of colorful lights, beloved holiday characters and breathtaking displays. This year features enchanting characters, a 50-foot dove, glittering angels of peace and the 175-foot Transporter Tunnel (a glowing string tunnel with a central stargate running along the middle). Rudolph’s Runway is filled with vibrant light tubes and leads to the North Pole! It’s open most nights from Nov. 23 through Dec. 31.
The Annual Holidays on the Hill Train Show at Lasdon Park & Arboretum in Katonah celebrates the magic of the season with iconic and immersive exhibits that will delight audiences of all ages. Visitors will be surrounded by holiday cheer as they stroll by colorful characters and enchantingly festive scenes. It runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 31.
Sprinkled throughout the season at a variety of our locations, PRC hosts fall-themed participatory programs such as Boo-tee-ful Halloween Wreath for Kids, The Making of a Scarecrow, Hit the Road, Jack (-o-Lantern), Shrubs with Four-Season Interest, Veterans Day for Children, Winter Duck Migration Observation, Winter Wildflower Arrangements and Winter Bird Feeders.
With all PRC facilities and over 18,000 acres of open space accessible throughout the year, families, friends and individuals can golf, partake in activities at Blue Mountain Reservation’s Sportsman Center, and go camping and fishing. The paved South County Trailway, North County Trailway and Bronx River Pathway, as well as all PRC parks and preserves, are perfect for walking, hiking and biking any time of year. The Westchester County Center in White Plains, the county’s best-known and largest multi-purpose event and entertainment arena, constantly hosts music concerts, local basketball tournaments, meetings, seminars, sporting events and trade shows.
There are always ways to have fun at PRC properties. To learn more, visit parks.westchestergov.com.
