What To Do: Memorial Day Weekend
What To Do: Memorial Day Weekend: 20 what to do’s for Memorial Day Weekend for townies, culture-vultures, weekend warriors, nature lovers and downward facing dogs!
National Parks Adventure (IMAX) at the Maritime Aquarium: This new movie, narrated by Robert Redford provides the ultimate off-trail adventure into awe-inspiring parks and the great untamed wilderness of Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Arches, Everglades, the Redwoods and Canyonlands on this giant- IMAX screen. Fri, 5/27- Wed, 11/23: check times. (Maritime Aquarium, 10 North Water St., Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)
Don Felder – Paramount Hudson Valley: Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer and lead guitarist for The Eagles, Don Felder co-wrote Eagles hits “Hotel California”, “Victim of Love” and “Those Shoes”. Famous for his signature guitar work on “One of These Nights” and “New Kid in Town”, Guitar World recently named “Hotel California” the best 12-string guitar song in the world. Fri, 5/27: 8pm. (Paramount Hudson Valley, 1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthdsonvalley.org)
Pride of the Hudson River Cruise: See the majestic beauty of the Hudson River on this narrated river adventure that begins in Newburgh and travels down to West Point taking in the sights of Washington’s Headquarters, World’s End, Mt. Beacon, Bannerman Island, Storm King Mountain, Breakneck Mountain, the Catskill Aqueduct and Cold Spring along the way. Fri-Sat, 5/27-28: 1pm & Sun, 5/29: 1 & 4pm. (120 Front St., Newburgh; www.prideofthehudson.com)
Happy Days – Westchester Broadway Theatre: Grab your poodle skirt, saddle shoes and the kids, and take a rock & roll trip down memory lane! In this new musical, based on the television series and written by its creator, Garry Marshall; Richie, Potsie, and “The Fonz” team up to save Arnold’s Malt Shop from going into the dustbins of history by staffing a dance contest. The show features 21 songs written by Oscar and Grammy winning songwriter Paul Williams including the series’ theme song. “These happy days are your and mine (oh Happy Days.)” Fri, 5/27: 6:15pm, Sat, 5/28: 6:15pm & Sun, 5/29: 11:45am & 5:15pm. (One Broadway Plaza, Elmsford; www.westchesterbroadwaytheatre.com)
Free! Shakespeare in the Park – Delacorte Theatre: The Taming of the Shrew: Olivier Award-nominee, Cush Jumbo (Josephine and I, The River) and Tony and Olivier Award-winner Janet McTeer (A Doll’s House, Mary Stuart) star in Phyllida Lloyd’s all-female production of Shakespeare’s “Shrew” in Central Park. Fri-Sun, 5/27-29: 8pm. (Delacorte Theatre in Central Park; www.publictheatre.org)
Lime Rock Park Memorial Day Season Opener: After a three-year absence the SCAA Pirelli World Challenge returns to Lime Rock Park for their Memorial Day Season Opener. Four big races are scheduled for GTS, GT and GT Cup plus the park’s first-ever races of the all-new United States Formula 4 open-wheel single seat championship. On Sunday, the Royals Car Show draws 200-400 prime vehicles from rare sports cars to muscle cars from the 60s and 70s. Fri-Sun, 5/27-29: check schedule. (60 White Hollow Rd., Lakeville CT: www.limerock.com)
Yoga at the Farm – Harvest Moon: They’re doing outdoor Vinyasa Yoga among the apple trees every Saturday at North Salem’s Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard this summer. Just $15 on a drop in will get you a one-hour class, a cup of coffee and a cider donut that you can chill with on the patio in the orchard after class. Priceless! Sat, 5/28: 9:30-10:30am. (130 Hardscrabble Rd., North Salem; sign up at www.hmorchard.com/yoga)
Seven Men From Now, Saddle Up Saturdays with Jonathan Demme – Jacob Burns: Academy Award winning Director Jonathan Demme screens Budd Boetticher’s” brilliant little Western”, starring Randolph Scott as a former Sheriff who tracks down seven men who killed his wife. Sat, 5/28: 12pm. (Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville; www.burnsfilmcenter.org)
New! Spirit of the Sound Lighthouse Cruises: The Norwalk Aquarium’s Spirit of the Sound catamaran new Long Island Sound Lighthouse Cruises concludes Memorial Day weekend with one final Western Long Island cruise that will make passes at Greens Ledge, Sheffield Island, Stamford Harbor, Great Captain Island, Execution Rocks, Stepping Stones, Sands Point and Eaton Neck. This final season 6-hour cruise departs on Sat, 5/28: 9am. (10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)
Phil Lesh and Friends – Capitol Theatre: Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh returns to the Capitol Theatre for Memorial Day weekend with Warren Haynes, Melvin Seals, Eric Krasno and Tony Leone. Sat- Sun, 5/28-9: 8pm. (Capitol Theatre, 149 Westchester Ave., Port Chester; www.capitoltheatre.com)
Jones Beach Air Show: The temperature will be in the 80s with plenty of sun when the US Navy Blue Angels, the Golden Knights, Breitling Jet Team,the American Airpower Museum Wizards and more take to the sky over Jones Beach. Best viewing is from the beach itself. Cost? Just $10 for parking. Sat-Sun, 5/28-29: 10am-3pm. www.airshow.jonesbeach.com.
Sleeping with Wolves – Wolf Conservation Center: Camp out overnight with the 20+ wolves that call the WCC home! It’s cheaper than a trip to Yellowstone – and you’ll leave a much smaller carbon footprint. The evening includes a pizza party with Ambassador wolves Atka, Alawa, Nikai and Xephyr, movies under the stars at Zephyr, Alawa and Nikai’s enclosure, tents for all campers, fireside snacks and a light breakfast. Sat-Sun, 5/28-29: 6pm-8:30am. Pre-registration is required at www.nywolf.com)
Bicycle Sundays on the Bronx River Parkway: Friends of Westchester County Parks closes off a six and a half mile stretch of the Bronx River Parkway for the exclusive use of bicyclists, joggers, scooters and strollers. Park your car at the County Center lot and bike to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers. Round trip 13.1 miles. Bicycle Sundays return on May 1 and run through the last Sunday in June.
Kykuit Tours: This hilltop paradise, now a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, was home to four generations of the Rockefeller family, beginning with John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil. Guided tours include the main rooms of the six-story stone house; the terraced gardens with Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller’s collection of 20th-century sculptures from Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Louise Nevelson, and David Smith; the underground art galleries featuring a collection of Picasso tapestries; and the Coach Barn with its collections of classic automobiles and horse-drawn carriages. Scheduled tours: Fri-Mon, 5/27-30: Check online for special tours and times. (381 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow: www.hudsonvalley.org)
Sheffield Island Lighthouse Cruises: Board the 45-foot C.J. Toth catamaran for a cruise to Sheffield Island on the Long Island Sound for a lighthouse tour, hike through Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, picnic and beachfront activities. Sat-Mon, 5/28-30: 11am, 2 & 3:30pm. (Sheffield Island Dock, Washington & Water Streets, South Norwalk, Ct.; www.seaport.org)
Hilltop Hanover Farm Memorial Day Farm Fest: A family day at Hilltop Hanover celebrating farming in Westchester. With plants for sale, a farm stand, vendors, kids events, tours, hiking, food, and YOGA! Sat, 5/28: 10am-4pm. 1271 Hanover St., Yorktown Heights; www.hilltophanoverfarm.org)
Lewisboro/South Salem Memorial Day Races & Fair: Four events starting with the 10K race at 8am that takes on challenging hills in South Salem. Start time for the 5K is 9:30am. Both races are USA Track and Field certified. The youth Mile Fun Run starts at 10:45am and Pee Wee 25 and 50-yard dashes for 2-8 year olds are at 11:05am. Register online or on race day at 7am. Mon, 5/30: 8am-11:05. The Memorial Day Fair (10am-3pm) features performing artists, music, children’s games a bake sale and food. (Lewisboro Library, 15 Main St., South Salem; www.southsalempc.org)
Memorial Day Picnic – Bedford: The local American Legion Post 1575 will host a Memorial Day picnic at American Legion Hall next to the Katonah Museum of Art. All town residents are invited. Mon, 5/30: 11am-2pm. (American Legion Hall, 136 Jay St. Katonah; www.bedfordny.gov)
Bedford Memorial Day Pace, Luncheon and Tag Sale: Horse stuff tag sale: tack, blankets, riding clothes, framed prints. Sat, 5/23: 10am-3pm. BRLA Memorial Day Pace and Luncheon. Mon, 5/30: 7:30-11:30am. Steak and chicken BBQ: 11:30am-1: 30pm. (John Jay Homestead, 400 Jay St., Rt. 22, Katonah; www.bedfordridinglanes.com)
LIGHTSCAPES – Van Cortland Manor Extended through Jun 12: This springtime garden fantasy from the creators of the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is a nighttime display of sculpture, light, sound and special effects. Recycled elements are building blocks for intergalactic flora and woodland creatures. Otherworldly mushrooms, floating fairies, butterflies, a massive praying mantis, a super-size birdhouse, and a dino-sized egg are among the state of the art illuminations that are set against the natural landscape of Van Cortland Manor. Squiggle through an enormous caterpillar and walk through a giant garden maze. This event runs Thurs-Mon, 5/26-30: 8:30, 9 & 9:30pm. (Van Cortland Manor, 525 S Riverside, Croton-on-Hudson; www.hudsonvalley.org)
Museums: Our Spring Museums Guide features a bevy of exhibitions running through Memorial Day weekend including SHE: Deconstructing the Female Identity at ArtsWeschester; The Mianus River Gorge: Photographs by William Abranowicz, Electric Paris and Wild Reading: Animals in Children’s Book Art at The Bruce Museum in Greenwich; Art on a String: Asian Kites in Flight! at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center; The Nest at the Katonah Museum of Art; Futuristic Glass at the Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden, and more exhibits at The Hudson River Museum, Wave Hill, The Neuberger Museum, Boscobel and The Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art. Read more.
More What To Do: In & Around Town
Sign up for the What To Do Email Newsletter … carefully curated for townies, foodies, culture-vultures & weekend warriors