White Plains, N.Y. (PRWEB) October 27, 2014 -- The holidays are just around the corner and there’s no better way to get into the spirit with family and friends than with a visit to Westchester County. Whether looking for family-oriented activities, music concerts, a romantic dinner, exciting hotel packages or places to get a kick start to holiday shopping, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Westchester, the heart of the Hudson Valley.
“Westchester County is the perfect place to create memories with family and friends, especially leading up to the holidays,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “From family-fun activities to great dining options and relaxing hotel packages, there’s no shortage of things to do even as the temperature drops.”
Upcoming activities and events are highlighted below:
Get into the Game with the Westchester Knicks
Basketball fans will have an opportunity to see up-and-coming NBA talent as the Westchester Knicks, the official NBA D-League Affiliate of the New York Knicks, debut their 2014-15 season this November. The expansion team, which is owned and operated by Madison Square Garden, will play its home games at the Westchester County Center. Visitors can be a part of the action as they bring an entertaining brand of basketball that's also a family-affordable night of sports to Westchester. Individual, season and group tickets are on sale (starting October 22, 2014). Fans can purchase tickets, which start at $10, through Ticketmaster via westchesterknicks.com or in person at the Westchester County Center box office located at 198 Central Avenue in White Plains. The Westchester Knicks will make their regular season debut at the Westchester County Center on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 against the Canton Charge for their inaugural home opener. This season’s schedule features 16 weekend games with theme nights and giveaways to be announced at a later date.
For ticket package and group ticket information, visit westchesterknicks.com or call (914) 559-6889. Fans can stay up-to-date on team news by following the team at: @wcknicks on Twitter at twitter.com/wcknicks and on Facebook at facebook.com/wcknicks.
Bring on the Holiday Cheer
DreamWorks Animation has chosen Westchester’s Ridge Hill shopping center to host its only DreamPlace in the northeast, Thursday, November 6 through Wednesday, December 24. The completely reimagined “Mall Santa” experience developed by the creative minds at DreamWorks Animation is an attraction that takes families on a virtual journey to the North Pole with the cast of characters from DreamWorks’ Shrek movies and culminates in a private, personalized meeting with the man of the season, Santa. More than 200,000 families are expected to go through the attraction where the impressive structure will stand 42’ tall, 2,000 sq. ft. in the center of the mall. DreamPlace uses interactive technology throughout the experience and on the outside of the house, which is made up of 70 percent LED Screens. DreamPlace is free to the public. Westchester’s Ridge Hill is located at One Ridge Hill Boulevard in Yonkers. For more information, call (914) 207-2900 or visit http://www.westchestersridgehill.com/.
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 18 for a meet-and-greet with The Rockettes from Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center at Westchester Ridge Hill, located at 39 Fitzgerald Street in Yonkers. For more information, call (866) 243-0770 or visit http://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/westchester/.
The first-ever Westchester’s Winter Wonderland transforms the iconic Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla into a festive wonderland for everyone to celebrate this holiday season with more than 2.5 million LED lights set to a one-hour long continuous show choreographed to holiday music; a fabulous outdoor recreational ice skating rink (skating and skate rentals are an additional cost); boutique holiday vendors where visitors can browse for that perfect gift or treat; photos with Santa Claus; sleigh-rides; the Himalaya ride; and a heated indoor food court offering a variety of dining options, wine and beer. The program will open the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 29. Winter Wonderland will be open Wednesdays through Sundays until December 14. Beginning Wednesday, December 17 through Sunday, January 4th the program runs continuously from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. weekdays and Sundays, and 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Winter Wonderland is sponsored by the Friends of Westchester County Parks and produced by the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation. Adult and child admission tickets cost $10 while children 3 and under are free. For more information on sponsorships please call (914) 231-4548 or visit http://www.wwinterwonderland.com.
Westchester is Alive with The Sound of Music
Westchester County is host to a variety of music, from jazz to rock and soul to pop. The Paramount Hudson Valley, for example, has a lineup of concerts for all music lovers. Its schedule of concerts for November includes hot jazz from the Django Festival Allstars who bring audiences to their feet with lightning-fast guitar finger work on standards such as “Minor Swing” and something to put the crowd into a romantic mood with gorgeous melodies of hit songs of the past including Django’s “Nuages.” This concert will take place on Saturday, November 1 at 8:00 p.m. Other performances include ones by musician Todd Rundgren on Friday, November 7 at 8:00 p.m. and Rock vocal group The Association on Friday, November 14 at 8:00 p.m. Paramount Hudson Valley is located at 1008 Brown Street in Peekskill. For more information, call (914) 739-0039 or visit http://paramounthudsonvalley.com/.
Dinner for Two, Three or More
Hudson Valley Restaurant Week (HVRW) will take place November 3-16 for the fall season. During HVRW, diners will have the opportunity to sample dishes featuring farm-to-table, sustainable products at nearly 100 of the county’s popular restaurants. This comes after a recent partnership between Westchester County Tourism and The Valley Table to launch the Westchester County Farms & Orchards Visitor’s Guide where visitors plan their getaway in the county for a farm-to-table experience. A complete list of participating restaurants is available by visiting http://www.HudsonValleyRestaurantWeek.com and diners are encouraged to follow HVRW on social media by using #HVRW and @ValleyTable. For more information, call 1-800-833-9282.
Hello to the warming comfort of fall’s flavors, including “Mussels and Gnocchi Night” at Crabtree’s Kittle House. The menu includes a choice of fresh PEI mussels or Jay’s hand-rolled potato gnocchi served with any of three delectable sauces and crispy frites (mussels) or local organic greens salad (gnocchi). Diners choose from several sauces, including: slow roasted Hudson Valley heirloom tomatoes, roasted garlic, braised meadowland farm onions and fresh basil; Peekskill Brewery IPA, mountain smokehouse double-smoked bacon, fingerling potatoes and caramelized Hudson Valley onions; or one of Chef Jay’s favorites culled from his storied culinary past. Crabtree’s Kittle House is located at 11 Kittle Road in Chappaqua. For reservations, call (914) 666-8044 or visit http://kittlehouse.com/.
Stay and Play!
Planning all of this fun and looking for a place to stay for a long weekend? Take a visit to White Plains for The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester “Discover With You” Package which includes Deluxe accommodations, daily American Breakfast for two, a seasonal welcome amenity and admissions to Westchester Winter Wonderland at Kensico Dam Plaza. Starting at $439 per night, this package will be available starting November 29 through January 10. The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester is located at 3 Renaissance Square in White Plains. For more information, call (914) 946-5500 or visit http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Westchester/Default.htm.
Book plans early for New Year’s Eve festivities in Westchester County. DoubleTree by Hilton Tarrytown will host its annual New Year’s Eve 2015 Murder Mystery Celebration. Enjoy an evening of mystery where costumed characters from The Killing Kompany will enact a scene and the audience has to solve the crime. Starting at $379, this package includes cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres, the Better than Ever Mystery Show, a buffet dinner, complimentary open bar, DJ and dancing, champagne toast at midnight, overnight guest room accommodations and a breakfast buffet on New Year’s day. Reservations are encouraged due to limited availability. To make a reservation, contact Michelle Citino at (914) 524-6404 or email michelle(dot)citino(at)hilton(dot)com.
For more itineraries, visit http://escapes.visitwestchesterny.com and to get 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.mediatwo.com/westchester-destination.
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.
Hope Salley, Thompson & Bender, +1 914-762-1900 Ext: 25, [email protected]
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