What To Do: With the Kids July & August

What To Do: With the Kids Summer:  Whether your idea of family fun is sleeping with wolves or taking a faerie walk, getting out on the water, into the woods or riding in a 1909 bi-plane high in the air, we have a mixed bag of summer what to dos for the whole family.

All Summer Long

Marine Life Cruises at The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk: The Norwalk Aquarium’s new 63 foot research vessel is North America’s first to run on hybrid-electric power. The vessel runs silently on electric power for its 2½-hour “study cruises” on the Long Island Sound. Built in Mamaroneck, the vessel doubles the aquarium’s cruise capacity and cuts diesel consumption by 75%. They offer their Marine Life Study Cruises at 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays in May, June, September and October and daily in July and August. (10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)

All Summer Long – 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, a hike on the nature trail through Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, a picnic and other beach front activities. Sat-Sun, 5/23-9/27: 11am, 2 & 3:30pm. Mon, Thurs & Fri, 6/29-9/7: 11am & 3pm. Tues-Wed, 6/30-9/2: 11am. Check special holiday weekend times. Or take a Clambake Tour on Thursday nights: ferry over to the island, tour the lighthouse and enjoy a clambake on the shore. Clambake Tours: Thurs, 6/25-9/7: 6pm. On Friday nights they offer with dinner optional from Mama Boy’s Southern Table & Refuge. We’re talking shrimp & grits, pecan roasted chicken, chicken and waffles, etc. Sunset Cruises: Fri, 6/26-8/28: 6pm.  (Sheffield Island Dock, Washington and Water Streets, South Norwalk, Ct.; www.seaport.org)

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome: The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, a “living” museum of antique aviation, offers one of the largest collections of early aero planes (1909 to 1939) in the world weekend, plus weekend airshows, and bi-plane rides. The museum displays aircraft form the Pioneer Era, World War I and the Lindbergh Barnstorming era. Saturday airshows chronicle the History of Flight with Pioneer, World War I and Lindbergh era aircraft including a 1909 Bleriot – the oldest flying aircraft in the United States. Sunday shows feature a World War I dogfight and Barnstorming Aircraft. The museum and bi-plane rides are open June- October 1. Air shows: mid-June through mid-October. (9 Norton Rd, Red Hook; www.oldrhinebeck.org)

July

Schooner Soundwaters: Sail the Long Island Sound on the Schooner Soundwaters from Stamford’s Harbor Park Marina beginning on Sat, 6/27 through Sun, 8/2. The Schooner’s 2-hour afternoon family-sails offer a hands-on educational experience for kids 5 and up. Or pack dinner and a chilled summer quaff and watch the sun set on the horizon on one of their sunset-sails. Afternoon family-sails: Sat-Sun: 6/27-8/2: 3-5pm. Sunset-sails: Thurs-Sun: 6:30-8:30pm. Plus a special fireworks sail on Thurs, 7/2 & Sat, 7/5: 7-10:30pm. (Stamford Harbor Park Marina, 333 Ludlow St., Stamford; www.soundwaters.org)

Sleeping with Wolves – Wolf Conservation Center: Join the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem for a unique nocturnal adventure that gives you a chance to camp out overnight with the 24 wolves that call the WCC home! With all the howls, circling vultures, and nature’s nighttime chatter, you’ll feel like you’re camping under the stars with wild wolves. We might not be Yellowstone, but we’re pretty close! Just $285 per 4 person tent. BYOT! Friday nights in July plus Sat, 7/18: 6pm-8:30am. Pre-registration is required. Information and registration are available at www.nywolf.org.

Muscoot Farm Butterfly Walk and Mushroom Walk: Take an interactive walk through the forest, hunt for butterflies and mushrooms and learn about all the different species and varieties that make Muscoot Farm their home. Sun, 7/12: 10am – Butterfly Walk, 1-3pm-Mushroom Walk. (Route 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

Putnam County 4H Fair: Produced by the Cornell University Cooperative Extension, this fair offers 3 days of family entertainment including animal showmanship, a pet dog show, mini-horse demonstrations, horse jumping, educational and environmental exhibits, games, crafts, food, music and a country living auction. Plus, Muscoot Farm animals. Fri, 7/24: 12-7pm, Sat, 7/25: 10am-7pm & Sun, 7/26: 10am-5pm. Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park, 201 Gipsy Trail Rd., Carmel; www.counties.cce.cornel.edu)

Dancing at Dusk – Caramoor: These mid-week, kid-friendly evenings are held on the spacious lawn of Friends Field. They offer the whole family a chance to learn about and dance to music from around the world and meet and greet the artists after the show. Israeli Folk Dancing with Danny Pollock and Tavche Gravche: Wed, 7/1: 5pm; Italian Folk Dancing with music from Allesandra Belloni and I Giullari di Piazza and stilt dance Mark Mindek: Wed, 7/8: 5pm; Turkish Music and Bellydance with music from Carmin and Friends and bellydance instructor Kaeshi Chai: Wed, 7/22: 5pm; Greek Dancing with The Band Ethos with Kostas Psarros: Wed, 7/29: 5pm. (Caramoor, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Local! Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce Summer Concerts: The Chappaqua Millwood Chamber of Commerce, with major support by Breezemont Day Camp, presents four summer concerts on Wednesday nights at 7pm at The Gazebo on Recreation Field. Here’s the line-up: Don DuPont’s Big Band: Wed, 7/8: 7pm; Chappaqua Orchestra: Wed, 7/15: 7pm: Tramps Like Us: 7/22: 7pm & The Ronald Reagans Big 80s Band: Wed, 7/27: 7pm. (Recreation Field, Chappaqua: 200 S. Greeley Ave. Chappaqua-millwoodchamber)

Local! Summer Concert at the Katonah Memorial Park – The Kevin Myers Band: Take a dip in the pool and then check out the Kevin Myers Band playing soul, southern rock and 80s pop at the Katonah Park field. FOR FREE!. Fri, 7/10: 7-8:30pm. (The top of North St., Katonah; Bedford Recreation)

Pleasantville Music Festival: Dubbed New York’s backyard jam, the Pleasantville Music Festival has attracted top folk, roots and Americana festival acts since its inception in 2005. Including Jakob Dylan, Joan Osborne, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, and Dar Williams. This year’s artists include the Gin Blossoms (“Follow You Down”); Marshall Crenshaw (“Someday, Someway”); the alt-hip-hop band G. Love and Special Sauce that famously covered the New Seekers 1971 hit “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” for a Coca Cola commercial; Lost Leaders, whose members have lineage to the Levon Helm Band and Ollabelle; the rising Hudson Valley act Rebecca Haviland and Whiskey Heart; and the ska band Beebs and Her Honeymakers. With food, crafts, and a kid’s area with face painting, games and food. Free parking and round-trip bus service between Pace University and the Festival site from 11:30 AM through 10:00 PM. Sat, 7/11: (Parkway Field, Village Ln. Pleasantville; www.pleasantvillemusicfestival.com)

Pirates of the Hudson at Philipsburg Manor: This year’s Pirates of the Hudson festival features a rollicking show fresh from Off-Broadway. The Greatest Story Never Told, a swashbuckling pirate musical in which the audience helps write and perform the tale, takes the stage at Tarrytown Music Hall. The show begins with a crew of misfit pirates flung into the future by a bumbling sea witch, with only one chance of returning home: performing the greatest pirate epic ever seen on stage. But when their script is torn asunder, these pirates-turned-actors are forced to improvise based on audience suggestions. Sat, 7/11: 1, 3 & 7pm. (Tarrytown Music Hall and Philipsburg Manor; www.historichudsonvalley.org)

The Rejuvenary River Circus: The Arm of the Sea Theater presents a performance for the entire family. This Circus is an allegorical tale featuring masks and puppets, a bio-morphic set and live music. The story follows Malakai, the River messenger and water carrier who encounters a host of creatures, including a lyrical sea turtle, a fast-talking crow, a pair of  industrious beavers, beds of filter-feeding oysters, and schools of migrating fish who offer insights into their role in a watershed’s ecosystem. The performance is set outdoors in the Hommond Museum’s stroll garden and dinner is available for purchase. Thurs, 7/16: 7:30pm. ((Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden, 28 Deveau Rd., N. Salem: www.hammondmuseum.org)

Local! Movie Night at the Bedford Memorial Park – Paddington: The Bedford Village Chowder & Marching Club’s annual free movie night is a family event suitable for picnicking. This year’s screening will be Paddington, This January 2015 release received a 98% critic’s rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s the consensus critics review. Paddington brings a beloved children’s character into the 21st century without sacrificing his essential charm, delivering a family-friendly adventure as irresistibly cuddly as its star. Grab a blanket or chair and enjoy the FREE show. Fri, 7/17: 8:30pm. (Bedford Village Memorial Park, 65 Greenwich Rd., Bedford; Bedford recreation)

Caramoor Jazz Festival: This day-long festival is a celebration for jazz enthusiasts of all ages with performances set throughout Caramoor’s gardens and grounds, kids activities, Rosen House tours, and extensive food and beverage options. Day only tickets are just $10 for kids. The afternoon line-up is curated by Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and features an eclectic mix of established jazz legends, future phenoms, big bands, and solo pianists including:  Cécile McLorin Salvant
, Orrin Evans Quartet, 
Joey Alexander Trio, 
Sammy Miller and the Congregation
, Bryan Carter Quintet Plays Ray Charles
, Jazz for Young People on Tour: “Let Freedom Swing” with the Jerome Jennings Quintet
, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra featuring Joey Alexander 
and more. The evening show headlined by Wynton Marsalis is also an all-ages event. Sat, 7/18: 12pm. (Caramoor, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Local! Westmoreland’s Theatre in the Sanctuary presents Into the Woods Jr.: Westmoreland Sanctuary presents Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim, directed by Denise Simon. This approximately hour-long family-friendly adaptation is set in the beautiful natural setting of the preserve—literally in the woods! Grounds open 90 minutes prior for picnicking and there will be a half-hour ‘preshow’ featuring members of the cast before the main performance. Fri, 7/24: 6:30 pm, Sat, 7/25: 2 & 6:30 pm, Sun, 7/26: 2 pm. (260 Chestnut Ridge, Rd., Mt. Kisco; www.westmorelandsanctuary.org)

The Science of Magic with Mr. Fish and Lisa Lou: Mr. Fish and Lisa Lou reveal the scientific secrets of magic during this interactive and exciting show! 
Watch as the pair conducts astonishing feats of magic that make learning about science fun. Audiences will discover how to use magnetism, light, air, condensation and optical illusions to create magic.  Tues, 7/28: 10am. 
(Stamford Center for the Arts, The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford; www.stamfordcenterforthearts.org)

August

By Deborah Grosmark

Renaissance Faire: The Faire is a romp through Elizabethan England complete with 16th Century games, rides, arts, crafts, food, music and dance in Tuxedo Park. There’s mime, magic, music, comedy and storytellers, pirates, fairies, pole dancing, piping, acrobats, aerialists, a fire circus, birds of prey, sword fighting, knife throwing and the big one … jousting. Sat, Sun, & Labor Day: 8/1-9/27: 10am-7pm. (600 Rt. 17A, Tuxedo Park; www.renfair.com)

Muscoot Farm Dragonfly Walk: Take an interactive walk through the forest, hunt for dragonflies and learn about all the different kinds of dragonflies that make Muscoot Farm their home. Sun, 8/9: 10am (Route 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

County Center Baseball Card Show: 450 tables, thousands of autographed memorabilia, modern and vintage sports cards, autographed baseballs, on-site authentication, hobby and wax boxes, and on site autographs from the stars like Dwight Gooden, Mookie Wilson, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and more. Thurs, 8/13: 4-8pm, Fri, 8/14: 11am-7pm, Sat, 8/15: 10am-5pm & Sun, 8/16: 10am-4pm. (198 Central Ave., White Plains; www.countycenter.biz)

Muscoot Farm Faerie Walk: Take an interactive walk through the forest at the farm to discover the fairies that live at Muscoot. Dress up like fairies, make a fairy craft and listen to fairy stories. Sun, 8/23: 1-3pm. (Route 100, Somers; www.muscootfarm.org)

Dutchess County Fair: 144 acres of bucolic fairgrounds in Rhinebeck plays host to nearly half a million patrons and thousands of farm animals, agricultural exhibits and horticultural displays at the second largest county fair in New York. Plus, carnival rides, racing pigs, diving dogs, a horse show, petting zoo, pony rides, Oscar the robot, a timber show, goat milking, chicken clucking, horse shoeing, Frisbee dogs, jugglers, arts & crafts, woodworking and weaving demonstrations, a painted pony rodeo, championship bull riders, a bikes, blades and boards show, food and musical entertainment including the Felice Brothers, The Doobie Brothers and the Spin Doctors. Tues-Sun: 8/25-30: 10am-10pm. (6550 Springbrook Ave, Rhinebeck; www.dutchessfair.com)

Living History: Military Reenactment Day at Boscobel: Since 1804, Boscobel House, its founder loyalist Morris Dyckman, and his descendants have played a role in the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Civil War.  To honor its historic ties, Boscobel presents, “The Dyckman Family at War: An Encampment of Soldiers from the American Revolution through the Civil War”.  Re-enactors from the three wars will demonstrate military camp life including tactical weapon demonstrations, inspections, formations, musket firings, artillery demonstrations and drills, all which take place on the grounds of Boscobel House & Gardens, overlooking the majestic Hudson River and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Sun, 8/30: 11am-4pm. (Boscobel, 1601 Route 9D (Bear Mountain Highway) in Garrison; www.boscobel.org)

September

Lime Rock Park Historic Festival: The east coast’s premier vintage racing and concours event. Three days of on-track racing. More than 300 cars and drivers, racing everything from pre-WWI racers to the best competition machines from the 1920s to the 1970s. How cool is that? Thurs-Mon, 9/3-7: check schedule. (60 White Hollow Rd., Lakeville CT: www.limerock.com)

CORNucopia at Philipsburg Manor: This novel corn festival offers an inspired bounty of corn-centric delicacies, demonstrations and hands-on, corn-related activities. Kids play games like Konk-a-Crow and Ring-a Cob in the CORNival area. There are corn-shucking races, a mini maize-maze, and crafts – make a cornhusk doll. Plus house tours, cooking, barrel making and corn grinding demonstrations, bluegrass and folk music and English country dancing in the barn. For those with the corn munchies there’s cornbread, corn salsa and chips, corn chili, popcorn and sweet corn ice cream. Sat-Mon, 9/5-7: 10am-5pm. (381 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow: www.hudsonvalley.org)

Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival: Arts & Crafts show, harbor tour cruises, vessel tours, a Ferris wheel, a New England Seaport Village, Go Green environmental demonstrations, and a Kids Cove with circus and puppet shows, music, and arts & crafts (for the kids), an International Food Court with craft beer (for the adults), celebrity oyster slurping contests and … OYSTERS, OYSTERS, OYSTERS. With musical entertainment on Saturday night (last year the headliner JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS) and Family Day specials on Sunday including free admission, discount rides, kids’ specials at food courts and special entertainment. Yowza! How did we miss this all these years? Fri, 9/11: 6-11pm, Sat, 9/12: 11am-11pm, Sun, 9/13:11am-8pm. (Norwalk Veterans Park, 42 Seaview Ave., Norwalk: www.seaport.org)

Local! Community Family Camp Out at Katonah Memorial Park: Bedford Recreation, together with community organizations, serves up this first family camp out event. They provide tent set-up assistance, a large campfire, 2 large grills for cooking, picnic tables, S’mores, hot chocolate, coffee and tea, ghost stories, breakfast bagles, donuts, and beverages, clean rest rooms, supervision, and a Sunday morning swim at the Katonah pool. Campsite registration begins June 1. Sat, 9/12: 5pm. Contact the recreation office at 666.7004 or Recreation@Bedfordny.gov)

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