Our list of 13 fun and low-cost things to do with kids in Westchester County this June includes family events in Croton-on-Hudson, Katonah, Mount Vernon, Peekskill, White Plains, Yonkers, and nearby in the Bronx.
Westchester/Fairfield Walk Now for Autism Speaks
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division, White Plains
June 2
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder in the United States today. Join Autism Speaks on June 2 to increase awareness, fund research, and advocate for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. The Westchester/Fairfield Walk Now for Autism Speaks is a fun-filled, family-friendly event that includes a 2-mile walk around the beautiful campus of New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division in White Plains, kids’ activities, and a resource fair featuring educational sources, therapists, schools, and recreational organizations. Registration begins at 9am; walk starts at 11am. Participation is free, but fundraising is encouraged.
Colonial Day
St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, Mount Vernon
June 8
Families can experience what it was like to live in colonial-era Westchester during Colonial Day, held at Mount Vernon’s Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site. There will be colonial-style music, dancing, crafts, games, and arms, as well as special tours of the Church Bell Tower and the colonial section of the cemetery, a recital on the historic pipe organ, and hay rides. Talks will explore colonial life, and demonstrations will include blacksmithing, coppersmithing, spinning, and open-hearth cooking. FREE!
Picture This! Pizza Party
Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah
June 8
Picture This! is a monthly Saturday story time series featuring great children’s stories, illustrations, and special guests. Following the story, children have the opportunity to create artwork and participate in hands-on activities in the museum’s Learning Center. This month, the program turns into a Pizza Party in which a local pizza maker will read stories about good food and talk about making everyone’s favorite meal. The series is sponsored by Little Joe’s Books in Katonah. FREE!
Daisy Jopling Band and the Westchester Putnam Youth Symphony Orchestra
Paramount Hudson Valley Theatre, Peekskill
June 9
The historic Paramount Hudson Valley Theatre in Peekskill has been closed since October, but it will re-open this month with a joint performance by the Daisy Jopling Band and the Westchester Putnam Youth Symphony Orchestra. If you’ve never seen Daisy Jopling, you’re in for a treat. The delightful, energetic performer was a child prodigy in her native England where she made her concerto debut on violin at Royal Albert Hall. Now a Peekskill resident, Jopling is an international star who brings her special brand of joy to festivals, stages, and concert halls worldwide. For this special event, Austrian composer Tristan Schulze has composed a 45-minute concerto, with lighting design by internationally renowned Kendall Smith. “Concerto for Violin, Rock Band, and Orchestra” includes tango, Irish folk music, the blues, and rock ’n’ roll, and ends with the whole orchestra playing Latin percussion instruments. It’s a perfect introduction to popular and classical music for the whole family.
Father’s Day Fun
Throughout Westchester
June 16
It doesn’t seem fair to make Dad man the barbecue on his special day (June 16), so why not try one of these 7 low-key (and low-cost!) options this Father’s Day?
Animals & Acrobats 2013
Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson
June 22-23
Experience a cavalcade of creativity at Animals & Acrobats 2013, which captures the fun of an early American traveling circus and includes a cast of clever characters on a stage in the round. Performers at the two-day festival include the comedy, juggling, and acrobatic troupe Boston Circus Guild; the conservation group Two by Two Zoo; birds of prey demonstrations from Flight of the Raptor; plus tightrope walkers, mimes, and more. Don’t miss this exhibition of curiosities, daredevils, and beautiful creatures. Picnic fare, treats, and beverages will be available for purchase. Kids get a free popcorn when you purchase tickets online at hudsonvalley.org.
Bernie Williams and His All-Star Band
Westchester’s Ridge Hill, Yonkers
June 27
Westchester’s Ridge Hill has become a favorite regional family destination for unique outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment. Patterned after a classic downtown with a lush town square, it features a children’s play area, dancing fountains, and a trolley. And on select Thursday evenings in June, July, and August, visitors can enjoy al fresco shopping, eating, and listening, thanks to the 2013 Ridge Hill Summer Concert Series hosted by WFAS-FM. On June 27, guitarist, former Yankee, and four-time MLB World Series Champion Bernie Williams and His All-Star Band kick off the concert series with their smooth Latin jazz rhythms. FREE!
(Upcoming shows will feature rocking tributes to Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Santana, James Taylor, The Four Tops, and more; check out our full calendar of events for details!)
More Fun
Check out our guide to carousels in Westchester and the surrounding area
Find amusement parks in and near Westchester
Search our full calendar of events for more fun and low-cost family activities in the NYC area
