April
Florists from across the Lower Hudson Valley display beautiful arrangements at Lyndhurst Mansion’s second annual Spring Blossoms flower show. The sprawling, 67-acre park in Tarrytown hosts the three-day show April 6 to 8; visitors can partake in guided tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or experience the floral arrangements themselves. The show will host a variety of local florists, including Blossom Flower Shops, Forever in Bloom, Joseph Richards Florals, Seasons on the Hudson, and the Garden Club of Irvington.
June
Kick off summer with this celebration of mobile food — where else can you find wood-fired pizza, gyros, lobster rolls, homemade ice cream, and rousing live music all in one place? The Rye Recreation Center hosts its third annual Food-Truck Festival, attracting 12-plus food trucks from across New York and Connecticut. Previous participants have included Little Taste of Peru, LobsterCraft, Melt Mobile, Boxcar Cantina, Three Little Pigs BBQ of Westchester, and Walter’s Hot Dogs. The festival also has a kid’s zone and beer tent.
July
Photo by Lynda Shenkman Curtis
The 14th anniversary of the Pleasantville Music Festival features both national and local rock acts, myriad food vendors, and drinks, including a beer-and-wine garden, and activities to foster a positive vibe among festivalgoers. Blues Traveler, Suzanne Vega, The Revivalists, and Guster have been featured rock acts in previous years. The festival also encourages a zero-waste policy enforced through waste collection centers set up throughout the festival grounds. Taking place at Parkway Field off Marble Avenue, the event is presented by Westchester Medical Center and sponsored by 107.1 The Peak.
September
Close to 200 juried artists appear at the 2018 edition (and 57th annual) Armonk Outdoor Art Show. Hosted in North Castle Community Park on a September weekend, the yearly exhibition showcases art from across the country and throughout the world. Each artist has their own booth, featuring art that ranges from oil and watercolor painting to printmaking, photography, and jewelry. Other amenities include kids’ activities, a food court, and free parking and shuttle service.
The White Plains Jazz Fest returns for its seventh annual celebration. The five-day festival hosts a variety of local jazz performers at several locations, including ArtsWestchester and White Plains Performing Arts Center. The event climaxes on the final day with a free outdoor Jazz and Food Festival on Mamaroneck Avenue. Performances encapsulate jazz in all its worldly forms, including American Jazz, Afro-Cuban Jazz, and Jazz Fusion.
September/October
Photo by Heather Sommer
Apple Picking at Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm
www.wilkensfarm.com • www.outhouseorchardsny.com • www.stuartsfarm.com
Leaves aren’t the only colorful objects falling from trees this fall. Just ask the staff at Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm. The Yorktown Heights farm, in its 102nd year of operation, offers apple, peach, and pumpkin picking daily from late August through mid-December. Guests can also visit the bakery (the apple-cider donuts are renowned), farm market, or country market, featuring gifts and local crafts. Once Thanksgiving passes, Wilkens also offers “choose-and-cut” Christmas trees from a variety of firs grown on the farm. Outhouse Orchards in North Salem and Stuart’s Fruit Farm in Granite Springs are other delicious apple-picking options.
November
Bedford Antiques Show at Historical Hall
This annual boutique show provides a breath of excitement to the quaint village green of Bedford, featuring approximately 20 dealers inside an 1806 historic landmark. These vendors specialize in everything from antique furniture, textiles and jewelry to fine art, china, and decorative accessories. The show attracts dealers from New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, ensuring a fresh, new mix of items each year.
Holiday Parade & Tree-Lighting Ceremony at Cross County Shopping Center
The Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers hosts the first county tree-lighting event of the holiday season. The lighting of the 40-foot Christmas tree is only part of the annual tradition however: the night also features live music and a Holiday Spectacular Parade. Past participants have included Girl Scout troops, Irish step dancers, and local schools — and Santa Claus makes an appearance of course!
