Spend a Long Weekend in Westchester This Summer!

[Bronx Scoop]

Westchester County Tourism Recommends Fireworks, Outdoor Movies, Jazz Under the Stars, Cultural Celebrations and Other Exciting Attractions  Longer days, sunny skies, and beautiful landscapes provide a picture-perfect getaway in Westchester County. Visitors can find everything from unique cultural celebrations and traditional 4th of July fireworks to outdoor music, concerts and film screenings ready for the entire family to enjoy all here in the heart of the Hudson Valley.

“A long weekend in Westchester County lends itself to a variety of options,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “For families there is plenty to do outside from hiking, biking, swimming and riding the Dragon Coaster at Playland. Couples can enjoy the beautiful view from the Hudson River and Sound Shore, and everyone loves the delicious dining presented by top chefs in the region. Westchester has it all.”

Fireworks 
Celebrate Independence Day with firework celebrations throughout the county, including: 

• Thursday, July 2, Cross County Shopping Center, 8000 Mall Walk, Yonkers
• Friday, July 3, Kensico Dam Plaza, 1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla
• Saturday, July 4, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah
• Saturday, July 4, Spark the Sound, can be viewed from all New Rochelle waterfront parks including Hudson and Five Islands

Have a “Reel” Good Time 
Find outdoor movies throughout Westchester County this summer. Don’t miss Westchester’s Film Frenzy, which returns in July. The weekly events offer after hour swimming and picnicking at various Westchester County Parks followed by an outdoor movie. The BoxTrolls, Dolphin Tale 2, Big Hero 6, and Annie will be playing throughout the month. Families are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for seating. Admission is $5 (free for children under 5). For more information, call (914) 864-PARK or visit 
http://parks.westchestergov.com/featured-events/family-film-frenzy

There will also be Movie Mondays at Westchester Ridge Hill in Yonkers. The free family-friendly film series kicks off in July with the movie Paddington on July 13, Big Hero 6 on July 27 and Maleficent on August 10. Pre-film festivities begin at 7:00 p.m. and the films begin at sunset. For more information, visit http://www.westchestersridgehill.com.

Join the staff of Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site for the return of their annual Movie under the Stars film series, which is free and takes place at night on the western lawn of the Manor. Movies to be shown as part of the series include Big Hero 6 on Friday, July 24 at 8:30 p.m. and The Lego Movie on Friday, August 28 at 8:30 p.m. For additional information about Philipse Manor Hall, please visit http://nysparks.com/historic-sites/37/details.aspx.

Celebrate All That Jazz 
The 22nd Annual Jazz Festival at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is the perfect event for music lovers. A highlight of the event will take place on Saturday, July 18, with performances by Wynton Marsalis and Cécile McLorin Salvant, Orrin Evans Quartet and more. Enjoy activities are provided for children and also tours of the historic Rosen House at Caramoor will be provided. As noted by JazzTimes, “You really couldn’t come up with a prettier setting for a jazz festival … Caramoor is a perfect day trip for city slickers who want to hear some of the most prominent jazz artists of the day without going very far to do so.” For ticket costs and additional information, call [phone] or visit [e-mail].

Another opportunity to listen to great jazz can be found at Sunset Jazz at Lyndhurst, a weekly outdoor jazz concert series from Thursday, July 9 to Thursday, August 27. Guests picnic and relax on the great lawn for these performances. Each week there will be different jazz musicians playing at this venue. There is a $10 charge per car. For additional information call [phone] or visit http://www.lyndhurst.org/event/sunset-jazz-4/2015-07-09.

Reptiles, and Wolves…Oh My! 
Westchester is home to many unique attractions and this summer the Westchester County Center will host the New York Metro Reptile Show on Sunday, July 12. At this annual event, find thousands of pet reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates on display even for sale. In addition, there will be more than 200 vendor tables selling books, supplies, cages and more. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12. Children under 7 are free. All children must be accompanied by an adult over 21. For further information call [phone] or visit http://www.reptileexpo.com.

If reptiles are not appealing, enjoy seeing and learning about wolves in Westchester. Join the Wolf Conservation Center’s exhibition CRY WOLF: Humanity's Love/Hate Relationship with Canis Lupus 07 with award-winning singer/songwriter Terri Bocklund on Saturday, July 18. She will explain the near-extinction of wolves and their relationships with humans through multi- media presentation and a live music performance. There will also be a presentation about recent wolf research and the wolf as an endangered species. There is a fee of $13 for adults and $11 for children under 12. Register at http://nywolf.org.

Let’s Celebrate 
Find culture in Westchester through various Ethnic Celebrations held on weekends throughout the summer. This Westchester County Parks sponsored series includes three upcoming cultural heritage celebrations. On Sunday, July 12, Kensico Dam Plaza will host the Polish Heritage Festival; the Hispanic Heritage Festival on Sunday, July 19 and the Italian Heritage Festival on Sunday, July 26. For more information, please visit http://parks.westchestergov.com/featured-events/cultural-heritage-celebrations-2015.

For more culture, visit Hudson River Museum’s Friday Night Music: Cocomama on Friday, July 17 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. featuring Afro-Cuban, Jazz, Caribbean and South American backgrounds and Latin fusion original music. Food trucks will provide refreshments for purchase. This event is free. For further information call, [phone] or visit http://www.hrm.org.

Fun for the Entire Family 
Most kids may finish school by the end of June, but that doesn’t mean they need to spend their summer inside. The staff members of Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site invite children to see and experience some of the ways that leisure time was spent by children their own age over 200 years ago. The event will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on select Thursdays during the summer: June 25, July 9, 16 and 23, and August 13, 20 and 27. From bilbo catchers and whirligigs to tops and graces, children can stop by the Manor to learn about, and try out, some of the top of the line toys from the 1700’s. For additional information about Philipse Manor Hall, please visit http://nysparks.com/historic-sites/37/details.aspx.

Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, a nonprofit farm and education center, has changed the way families can visit the farm and is introducing new activities, tours and demonstrations designed to engage each and every visitor in a whole-farm experience. For example, weekend tickets are now available for purchase at stonebarnscenter.org at $20 for adults and $10 for children. Children under 2 are free and there is no longer a parking fee. Stone Barns Center members do not need to reserve tickets ahead of time. Also, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday admission is free and there is no parking fee. On a Saturday or Sunday visit to Stone Barns Center, families may participate in a variety of seasonal, hands-on activities and drop-in tours—all included with your one-day admission ticket. For more information, visit https://www.stonebarnscenter.org.

Stay & Play 
In partnership with LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester, the Westchester Marriott and Courtyard by Marriott - Tarrytown are featuring a special package that offers a family-friendly experience with overnight accommodations, two adult tickets, two children’s tickets, discounted parking and more. This package is available for a limited time on weekends through August 3, 2015. The Westchester Marriott is located at 670 White Plains Road in Tarrytown and the Courtyard by Marriott is located at 475 White Plains Road in Tarrytown. For more information, visit http://www.marriott.com/specials/mesOffer.mi?marrOfferId=919489&displayLink=true.

The Hyatt Place New York/Yonkers, the first Hyatt Place hotel in Westchester County and a refreshing new choice for business and leisure travelers alike, is now open for guests. Hyatt Place New York/Yonkers is located in the center of the thriving Cross County Shopping Center, which is currently celebrating its Annual SummerFest of events from music concerts and children activities to a Style Lounge and Fit Fest. The hotel is minutes away from local attractions including Empire City Casino, Playland Amusement Park, The Bronx Zoo, and The NY Botanical Gardens. For Hyatt Place information or to make a reservation, call 1-888-HYATT-HP (888-492-8847) or visit http://www.HyattPlace.com. For more information about Cross County Shopping Center’s SummerFest, visit http://www.crosscountysummerfest.com.

For the latest events and happenings in Westchester, log onto http://www.visitwestchesterny.com, like us on Facebook (facebook.com/westchestercountytourism), follow us on Twitter @westchestertour or call 1-800-833-9282. To view the Westchester County Destination Guide, please visit http://digital-editions.todaymediacustom.com/westchester-destination/2015/.

About Westchester County Tourism & Film 
Tourism & Film is Westchester County’s official destination marketing organization. Its mission is to generate economic benefits by enhancing the image and promoting Westchester County as a premier business and leisure destination in the Hudson Valley region. The Tourism & Film Office in Westchester County is a division within County Executive Robert P. Astorino’s Office of Economic Development.

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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (PRWEB) June 19, 2015