Your Awesome Westchester Weekend: December 16-18
There is no shortage of holiday happenings this weekend in Westchester! We have your list of traditional menorah lightings and breakfast with Santa to some out of the box events like the Holiday Howl at the Wolf Conservation Center or the Holiday Hunt at Locust Manor. There are also so many creative things do such as a sewing class for kids, a gingerbread house contest for teens, and a fun (and interactive!) screening of “Elf” in Chappaqua. Check out the complete recap of listings below.
Friday, December 16th at 9:30am
Stroller Tours
Meet fellow parents and caregivers of babies ages 0-18 months with a stroller-friendly tour of the Katonah Museum of Art. Registration recommended. Free with museum admission. Katonah Museum of Art, 134 Jay Street, Katonah, NY 10536.
Friday, December 16th from 3:30pm-5:30pm
Teen Open Studios
Calling local teens! Attend free open studios Friday afternoons this fall at Pelham Art Center. Led by professional teaching artists, a series of 2-hour teen open studios invite students to come socialize, engage, and create! Pelham Art Center, 155 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, NY 10803.
Friday, December 16th from 5:15pm-7:30pm
Teen Lock-In: Gingerbread House Contest
Stay after the library closes to make gingerbread houses (on your own on on a team) for a friendly competition that will be judged by everyone while we have holiday classics like Elf playing on the big screen in the meeting room! First place winner(s) will recieve Starbucks gift cards! Participants must fill out and return a permission slip in order to attend this special event. Rye Reading Room, 1061 Boston Post Rd, Rye, NY 10580.
Fridays and Saturdays, December 16th and 17th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m
Holiday Lights on the Farm
Get into the holiday spirit at Muscoot Farm and see the farm illuminated at night for its Holiday Lights on the Farm. In addition to the decorations, attendees can participate in a variety of activities including cookie decorating, crafts, treats, and more. On Saturdays, the event will include a holiday market where you can purchase gifts and other treats. Registration is required and general admission is $25, which provides access up to four guests. Additional tickets may be purchased for $5 per person as an add on. Food trucks will also be available during certain nights of the event, featuring Wanna Empanada (available December 2, 9, 10, 16 and 17) and Fork in the Road (available December 9, 10, 16 and 17). Tickets are $25 per family of four and on sale now! Muscoot Farm, 51 Route 100 Katonah, New York 10536.
Saturday, December 17th from 10:00am-2:30pm
Give with Gabby Toy Drive
Participate in the Give with Gabby Toy Drive by donating a new, unwrapped toy. Plus kids can decorate an ornament and meet Santa. Boys and Girls Club of New Rochelle, 79 Seventh Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801.
December, Saturday 17th at 11am, 2pm and 5pm and Sunday, December 18th at 11am and 2pm
Holiday Howl
Get outside during the holidays at the Wolf Conservation Center! Learn about the mythology, biology and ecology of wolf families and discover why this season is such a magical time for packs in North America. Guests will enjoy watching gray wolves Alawa and Nikai tear open “wolfy” presents! Guests will also potentially behold some of the WCC’s critically endangered red wolves and Mexican gray wolves. Pre-registration is required. Wolf Conservation Center, 7 Buck Run, South Salem, NY 10590.
Saturday, December 17th from 10:00am-11:00am and Sunday, December 18th from 10:00am-11:00am
Breakfast with Santa and Stew’s Costumed Characters
Enjoy breakfast with Santa and Stew’s assortment of costumed characters. Enjoy a buffet-style breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, assorted bagels, fruit and donuts as well as coffee and hot cocoa! Limited seating available and tickets must be purchased in advance here. Stew Leonard’s, 1 Stew Leonard Dr., Yonkers, NY, 914.375.4700.
Until December 18th, various times
Breakfast with Santa
Enjoy a buffet-style breakfast with Santa on select weekends at the Barley Beach House. Breakfast is $25 per person and children under age three eat for free! All guests receive a photo with Santa. The Barley Beach House, 95 Dearborn Avenue Rye, NY 10580.
Saturday, December 17th from 10:00am-11:00am and Sunday, December 18th from 1:00pm–4:00pm
Family Science Workshop: Nebula-in-a-Bubble Holiday Ornament
Light up the darkest days of the year with a miniature, illuminated model of a stellar nebula, the nurseries where stars are born. Base your holiday ornament on a real stellar nebula, or make up your own. Recommended for kids ages 8+. Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701
Until December 18th from 12:00pm-7:00pm
City of White Plains Holiday Market
Shop locally this holiday season at the White Plains Holiday Market. Find an assortment of gifts from local vendors as well as food prepared by some of Westchester County’s finest eateries. Court Street at Renaissance Plaza, White Plains, NY.
Saturday, December 17th and Sunday, December 18th at 2:30pm
Dance For Joy’s Nutcracker for Kids!
Enjoy Nutcracker for Kids, performed by Dance For Joy featuring dancers age 4-18. This one-hour show is perfect for even the youngest theater-goer. Yorktown Stage, 268 Veterans Road Yorktown Heights, NY 10598.
Saturday, December 17th from 12:00pm-2:00pm
The Holiday Boutique at Philipsburg Manor
Visit the Philipsburg Manor Visitor Center for their annual holiday boutique. Along with shopping, they will have several holiday events throughout December. This includes Gingerbread Cookie Decorating on Saturday, December 10, 12-2pm. Enjoy festive fun (and satisfy a sweet tooth) when you create some classic cookies with our kit! Each kit includes two cookies and all the candy you need to make your gingerbread friend. Tickets: $5 (Free for Historic Hudson Valley Members). 381 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY.
Sunday, December 18th from 9:00am-10:00am
Chanukah 22
Visit Irvington’s Main Street to see its magical transformation into Chanukah Village! Organized by the Chabad of the Rivertowns and local businesses, families can enjoy entertainment, music, crafts, food, and more. Special activities include a Chanukah trackless train, a horse drawn carriage with Judah the Maccabee, a Gelt drop and a magic illusion show! The night ends with a Menorah Lighting as well as live music and traditional foods. Temple Beth Shalom, 740 North Broadway, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, 10706.
Sunday December 18th from 10:30am-11:30am
The Lost Latkes by WonderSpark Puppets
Enjoy a fun Hannukah interactive puppet show for the whole family. Join Mystery Max as you and your kids search for clues, meet crazy characters, sing songs and try to find the bad guy. After the show, enjoy a menorah lighting, crafts, holiday shopping at the Hastings Flea and special Hanukkah sweet treats. Shames JCC on the Hudson 371 South Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10533.
Until December 18th from 1:00pm-3:30pm
“Holiday Gifts” Workshop
This workshop is hand and machine sewing for kids ages 7-13. This includes the making of holiday gifts for friends and family, such as scented lavender sachets, mug cozy, oven mitt, handwarmers, keychains, hairbands and accessories, pins and magnets. Gifts will be wrapped and ready to give! All supplies are included! 154 E Boston Post Road, 2nd Floor, Mamaroneck, NY 10543.
Sunday December 18th from 12:00pm-4:00pm
Holiday Hunt in the Mansion
It’s a Holiday Hunt for sugar plums and more hidden in the holiday festooned rooms of Locust Grove’s historic mansion! Bring your kids and family to this very special scavenger hunt themed on everyone’s favorite holiday story “A Visit from St. Nicholas”. Learn how the Young family celebrated in the mansion long ago and marvel at the 18 decorated trees on display. The scavenger hunt tour lasts about 45 minutes and includes rooms on three different floors of the mansion. Holiday Hunt is suitable for kids ages 4 and older and their caregivers. Tickets required for everyone ages 4 and up! Locust Grove Estate 2683 South Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Sunday, December 18th from 2:00pm-4:00pm
Children’s Holiday Celebration
Enjoy the beautifully decorated Wainwright House with your kids. Children will enjoy making holiday crafts, pictures with Santa, cookie decorating and caroling. Complimentary event for Wainwright House members and $10 per child for non members. Wainwright House, 260 Stuyvesant Avenue, Rye, NY 10580.
Sunday, December 18th from 3:00pm-5:00pm
ELF: Interactive Movie Screening
A hilarious tale about an elf (Will Farrell) who learns of his true identity as a human, embarks on a journey to New York City to find his biological father (James Caan) and helps New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern-day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF. Join Friends of ChappPAC for an interactive showing of the film Elf. Each person receives a bag of goodies to be a part of the movie. Love a snowball fight? You will have one indoors! Think hot chocolate is awesome? You can have some of that too! It’s a great way to spend the Sunday before the holidays! All ticket prices include interactive treats! Tickets are $15 per adult and $10 per child. Chappaqua PAC, 480 Bedford Road Chappaqua, NY 10514.
Sunday, December 18th at 3:00pm and 6:00pm
The Nutcracker Performed by New York Theatre Ballet (Tarrytown)
See this hour-long production of “The Nutcracker” performed by New York Theater Ballet. This production was created for younger audiences, offering a great way to introduce kids to the show while also being sophisticated enough for adults. Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main Street, Floor 2, Tarrytown, NY.
Sunday, December 18th at 3:30pm
The Nutcracker: Short and Sweet (Peekskill)
“The Nutcracker, Short and Sweet” is a perfect introduction to this classic show for kids ages three and older. Performed by dancers from the Hudson Valley and narrated from the point of view of Clara, this one-hour production will keep the attention of the youngest audience members. Paramount Hudson Valley, 1008 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566.
Sunday, December 18th from 3:30pm-4:30pm
Balloon Chanukah
Help create an 8-foot balloon shamash. The event includes a Chaukah balloon fun and crafts, face painting, gelt, latkes and donuts, hot drinks, music, dreidels, balloon twisting, and a menorah lighting. Briarcliff Manor pavilion.
Sunday, December 18th from 4:00pm-6:00pm
Menorah Lighting at Ridge Hill
Visit Ridge Hill, along with the Chabad of Yonkers, in celebration of the first night of Hanukkah. The event includes a traditional Menorah lighting ceremony, family-friendly activities, delicious Hanukkah treats, and more! There will also be a Gelt Drop, featuring the Yonkers Fire Department! Ridge Hill, Fountain Plaza, 1 Ridge Hill Boulevard, Yonkers, NY.
Sunday, December 18th at 6:00pm
Pound Ridge Menorah Lighting
Join the Chabad of Bedford for a town menorah lighting. Scotts Corners – across from the Market.
