Kykuit: The Rockefeller Estate is a preeminent Hudson Valley landmark. For architecture, remarkable gardens, art, history, and spectacular scenery, a trip to Kykuit is simply amazing.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (PRWEB) May 18, 2015
Fun in the sun is Westchester County’s middle name. With summer around the corner it’s time to start planning weekend getaways, and Westchester has everything travelers need to get their fill of outdoor activities.
“The summer months in Westchester are always packed with great activities for all ages to enjoy,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “From live outdoor music festivals and movies in our picturesque parks to arts and cultural events and great places to eat and shop, there is no shortage of things to do. So tell all your family and friends to ‘Meet Me in Westchester’ and experience all the county has to offer.”
A “Fest” Celebrating Summer
Area locals and regional visitors get ready for a new lineup of exciting activities at Cross County Shopping Center’s Annual SummerFest celebration this year. Now in its 5th year, SummerFest is Westchester’s premier summer festival of music, arts and entertainment. Along with its signature outdoor concerts, kids shows, fireworks and other promotions, the summer series will also include two new elements: a new Style Lounge, presented by Macy’s, featuring mini makeovers and one-on-one beauty workshops and Fit Fest, presented by Blink Fitness, offering outdoor fitness classes that promise to get participants swim suit ready. Additionally, its annual Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival will take place on Saturday, June 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., providing an opportunity for the community to see amazing works of art created in chalk by both professional and amateur artists. The events are free to the public and draw tens of thousands of residents from throughout the region. Cross County Shopping Center is located at 8000 Mall Walk in Yonkers (at the junction of the NY State Thruway and the Cross County Parkway). For more information and for a full schedule of events, visit http://crosscountysummerfest.com.
“Meet Me” for Arts & Culture
An emerging artists section and a gallery-like show of White Plains Public School student artists (grades K through 12) will round out the weekend festivities for this year’s White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31. This event began in 1962 as a small art show featuring local painters and has grown into a show of juried fine artists and craftspeople who come from near and far to show and sell their art. It is the largest source of fundraising for art scholarships for White Plains High School seniors who are committed to continuing their education in the arts. Artists’ entry fees and an art raffle complete the funding sources. The festival will take place at Tibbits Park located at 1 North Broadway in White Plains. For more information, visit http://www.whiteplainsoutdoorartsfestival.com.
ARTSEE: A Festival of New Work by ArtsWestchester gives visitors a glimpse into some of the county’s newest dance, film, theatre, art exhibitions, concerts, poetry readings and other arts. The festival culminates arts and culture, while celebrating the creative spirit in Westchester by encompassing 70 events with 40 organizations scheduled through July. The event is part of ArtsWestchester’s year-long 50th Anniversary in 2015 and includes some of Westchester’s most iconic arts institutions such as Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Emelin Theatre, Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, Katonah Museum of Art, Music Conservatory of Westchester, Sarah Lawrence College, SUNY Purchase and the Taconic Opera, among many others. Don’t miss the 50 for 50 New Works exhibition at ArtsWestchester from May 19 through June 20, which recognizes 50 outstanding local artists in all disciplines. ArtsWestchester is located at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, please visit https://artswestchester.org or call (914) 428-4220.
2015 Wine & Food Festival
Now in its 5th year, Westchester Magazine has announced the activities for its Annual Wine & Food Festival. This year’s expanded event with new outdoor elements will take place Wednesday, June 3 through Saturday, June 6 in White Plains and Valhalla, in the heart of Westchester County. Kathie Lee Gifford will be back hosting a special evening of Fashion, Food and Wine at Bloomingdale’s. An Evening with Westchester’s Tastemakers and a farm-to-table themed, outdoor Grand Tasting Village are new this year. The festival, which draws more than 5,000 people from across the New York Metro area, will feature 100 top restaurants and 150 world-class wines selected by the experts at Zachys of Scarsdale. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit http://www.westchestermagazine.com/winefood.
Feel the Music
Join one of the region’s largest music and environmental gatherings along the Hudson River with the Clearwater Festival on Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21. The annual event, also known as Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival, takes place at Croton Point Park and will feature seven sustainably powered stages with diverse music, dance, storytelling and family-oriented programming as well as a juried Handcrafters’ Village, the Green Living Expo, the Working Waterfront with small boat exhibits and rides, the Artisanal Food & Farm Market, environmental education displays and exhibits, and the Circle of Song where audience participation is the focus. Inspired by Pete Seeger’s desire to clean up the river over forty years ago, the festival initially helped raise the funds to build the sloop Clearwater, which has since become a world-renowned floating classroom and a symbol of effective grassroots action. Today, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a non-profit organization that sails at the forefront of the nation’s environmental challenges. The revenue raised by the event goes to support Clearwater’s numerous educational programs and its work toward environmental and social justice—as well as keeping the sloop Clearwater afloat. For more information, visit http://www.clearwaterfestival.org/about-the-festival.
As it continues its 70th anniversary celebration, Caramoor Center for Music & the Arts has a schedule of performances ready for all of the music lovers looking for an interesting setting. Enjoy a charming Sunday afternoon on June 21 at 2:00 p.m. at the scenic Caramoor with a tour of the Mediterranean-style villa showcasing the Rosen’s fine and decorative arts collection before relaxing in the Summer Dining Room for an Afternoon Tea with an array of tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and preserves, scrumptious desserts, a variety of aromatic teas and sparkling wine. Tea is served overlooking the romantic Spanish Courtyard of the Rosen House. Stay for the 4:30pm concert in the Sunken Garden with guitarist Ana Vidovic and savor the beautiful gardens. Caramoor Center for Music & the Arts is located at 149 Girdle Road in Katonah. For more information, visit http://www.caramoor.org or call (914) 232-5035.
Find Hidden Gems of History
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the death of President Abraham Lincoln, and the Lincoln Depot Museum in Peekskill is providing a way visitors can explore his legacy. The Lincoln Depot Foundation, Inc. was charged with creating a museum at the old rail depot at Water and Centre Streets in Peekskill to illuminate Lincoln's relationships with the political, financial, industrial and military leaders of New York before and during the Civil War. The mission of The Lincoln Depot is to explore this fascinating time in the region's history through educational programs and outreach, collections and exhibits, reenactments and presentations. For more information, visit http://www.lincolndepotmuseum.org or call (914) 402-4318.
Stay & Play
Discover the History of the Hudson Valley with Tarrytown House Estate’s Rockefeller Estate Package. This package combines overnight accommodations at the historical landmark estate, a Full American Breakfast buffet style for two, and a tour of another preeminent landmark, Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate. Tarrytown House Estate is located at 49 East Sunnyside Lane in Tarrytown. The Tarrytown House Estate property has been in use for more than 165 years and harkens back to a time when the nation's industrial and economic might grew, producing a new breed of wealthy gentry who began calling Westchester home in the 1800s. To reserve tickets for this package, call Tarrytown House Estate Reservations at (914) 591-3122. Tours are not available on Tuesdays. For more information, visit http://www.tarrytownhouseestate.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.