Arts & Culture

Sights & Sounds of the Past & Present

Westchester County blends internationally acclaimed arts and cultural outlets with local charm for an always entertaining experience.

Museums
Many Westchester museums showcase the county’s rich local history. Such museums include the Peekskill Museum, which is housed inside the Victorian-style Herrick House, and the Ossining Historical Society Museum, with Native American and military artifacts.
First-class art museums cover a broad range of works from Westchester and beyond. The Yonkers-based Hudson River Museum, considered the largest cultural institution in the county, features six galleries, a beautiful 19th-century mansion and a planetarium, while modern, contemporary and African art is exhibited at the the Neuberger Museum of Art located on the Purchase College campus.
There are also dozens of exhibitions annually, as well as lectures, symposia, films, workshops and concerts. The Westchester Children’s Museum provides an opportunity for young learners to enhance their knowledge about the arts, nature and multiculturalism.

Historic Sites
Walk the well-trodden paths of Westchester’s earliest luminaries, and tour some of the more than 150 Westchester County locations on the National Register of Historic Places. Stop in the legendary village of Sleepy Hollow to visit Philipsburg Manor, where a historic house, water mill and trading site date back more than 300 years to when Frederick Philipse of Yonkers was granted a royal charter for the land. Just eight miles southeast sits the Jacob Purdy House. It was built prior to 1730 and used as General George Washington’s headquarters in 1778. Leland Castle, a 19th-century Gothic revival structure, was once the residence of Simeon Leland, a New York City hotel proprietor. It is now located on the campus of the College of New Rochelle. Kykuit is the 40-room John D. Rockefeller Estate with remarkable architecture and scenery overlooking the Hudson River.

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Theater
Whether you’re a Broadway buff, a fan of fringe or just crazy about classic theater, Westchester guarantees an unforgettable night on the town. The venues are as unique as the shows they produce, and also offer ballets, classical recitals, cabaret shows, theater for children, art exhibits, and cultural and nature programs. Theaters are housed among traditionally designed Japanese gardens, silent-film-era movie houses and the homes of the county’s rich and famous. Broadway-caliber shows are being produced by the Westchester Broadway Theatre, which offers a night of dining and entertainment. The Paramount Center for the Arts and Rockland Center for the Arts both provide live entertainment, as well as education in the arts.

Music
Our diverse community is reflected in the sounds that flow throughout it. Experience Beethoven and Mozart via the talented artists of the Westchester Philharmonic, featuring Artistic Director and violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman. Emelin Theatre, a multi-purpose performing arts facility in Mamaroneck, appeals to all ages and tastes with top-notch acts such as the 16-piece Westchester Jazz Orchestra, bluegrass stars Dailey & Vincent, Broadway leading lady Kelli O’Hara, and folk-urban pop artist Patty Larkin. The Tarrytown Music Hall is one of the most popular venues in the region, attracting more than 80,000 people annually. For a more laid-back atmosphere, visit the Lazy Lounge, a cocktail lounge offering the area’s best jazz and blues performers. Family-oriented fun is provided by Rye Playland, which hosts concerts and shows on a daily basis.

Our Westchester Home Builders Awards take place on April 4!

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum is March 14!

Unveiled: A Boutique Bridal Brunch is February 25!

Our Best of Westchester Elimination Ballot is open through March 6!

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