Memorial Day Weekend in Westchester
It may not feel like it yet, but summer is just around the corner. And to kick it off right, we encourage your family to make the most of Memorial Day weekend. As New York gradually comes back to life, there are plenty of fun, family-friendly Memorial Day events happening in and around Westchester. Whether you want to stay put and enjoy local activities, or you want to get out of town, check out these ideas and start planning your long weekend.
Memorial Day Parades
Memorial Day is a time to honor the sacrifices that US soldiers made to protect our country, and there are several Westchester parades celebrating American vets, including, on Monday, the Harrison Memorial Day Parade and the White Plains Memorial Day Parade, which ends with a ceremony at the Rural Cemetery. And on Sunday, the Hastings Memorial Day Parade hits the Hastings-on Hudson town center.
Get Outside and Enjoy the Weather
The gorgeous gardens of Wave Hill in Riverdale make a perfect warm-weather weekend outing. Stroll through 28 acres of deceptively complex gardens and woodland or check out the “My Green Heaven” family art project or the family garden walk. You can dine at their locally sourced café or pack a picnic to enjoy with the view of the Hudson. Also, a couple of Westchester beaches are opening this weekend, including Croton Point Beach and Glenn Island Beach in New Rochelle. (The rest of the local beaches open in late June so take advantage of this opportunity!)
If It Rains…
If the weather happens to be less than perfect, consider taking the kids to see Into the Woods at the The Play Group Theatre in White Plains. This thoughtful play, which runs from Wednesday, May 25 through Monday, May 30, is about a childless baker and his wife who set out to lift their family curse by journeying into the woods, where they encounter Jack (with his beanstalk), Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. Or check out the annual four-day Zerbini Family Circus at Museum Village in Monroe, which features jugglers, clowns, high-wire acts and lots of cotton candy.
Take a Trip Upstate
Take a drive or a train upstate to visit the incredible Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming in Cold Spring, which educates visitors about our local ecosystem. On the farm tour, you’ll learn about healthy growing practices, and also meet some of the cute newborn additions to the farm family. Afterwards, linger in Cold Spring for lunch, shopping and a breathtaking view of the Hudson River and West Point. Or head to the bi-annual Woodstock-New Paltz Arts and Crafts Fair where hundreds of craftspeop_le from all over the country sell their unique wares. The three-day fair also includes live entertainment, craft beer and regional wine, a supervised children’s area, apothecary products and craft demonstrations.
How does your family want to celebrate the unofficial start to summer? There are many directions to take this holiday weekend, so start planning soon to maximize your family fun.
