10 Outdoor Spring Festivals in Westchester

The list of things to do in Westchester grows as the warming temperatures bring a respite from the frosty cold of winter. Outdoor festivals are aplenty in the coming weeks, giving Westchester residents and visitors every excuse they need to get outside and enjoy the arts. The festivals, many of which are free and family-friendly, celebrate crafts, music and art, as well as traditions from the many cultures that make up the county’s diverse population. Stay tuned also for a special ArtsNews roundup of Juneteenth festivals happening throughout the county this June.

Here are 10 outdoor spring festivals taking place through June:

April 27
WoodFest 2024
Presented by Bethany Arts Community
Guests can celebrate the art of wood crafting in Ossining, where they can watch wood sculpture demonstrations, browse handcrafted works and participate in wood-crafting activities. The festival will also feature live music, art and more throughout the day. From 11-4pm.

May 3-5
Crafts at Lyndhurst
Presented by Artrider
This annual tradition returns with a weekend of arts, food, family-friendly activities and more. More than 200 craftspeople and makers will display works in a variety of media, including jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, textiles and more to be displayed on Lyndhurst’s sprawling lawn. Guests will also have the opportunity to watch craft demonstrations and explore the 67-acre grounds on the Hudson River.

May 4 & 5
Yonkers Arts Weekend
Presented by the City of Yonkers and Yonkers Arts
Yonkers Arts Weekend, a two-day festival presents workshops, exhibitions and more at many of the city’s arts organizations and venues. The weekend includes offerings from Blue Door Art Center, Hudson River Museum, MorDance, Philipse Manor Hall, S.I.C Film School, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy, US+U/Warburton Galerie, YOFI DMAC, Yonkers Philharmonic, Yonkers Public Library’s Riverfront Art Gallery and more.

May 18
Ardsley AAPI Festival
Presented by Ardsley AAPI Festival
In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Ardsley’s Pascone Park will be filled with art and performance aimed at creating a dialogue about Asian arts and traditions that bridges generations and cultures. Included will be henna demonstrations, calligraphy workshops, a Japanese tea ceremony, communal art creation with artist Edwin Ong, performances that showcase traditional dances and instruments and keynote speaker author and professor Patricia Park. ArtsWestchester’s ArtsMobile will also be on site with a clay activity for guests of all ages.

June 1
RiverArts Music Tour
Presented by RiverArts
This live music festival, now in its 9th year, takes place throughout the Rivertown villages of Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown and Yonkers. Music from over 250 performers will perform a variety of styles, from classical and jazz to rock and world music. These tunes will fill backyards, gardens, village businesses, churches, community centers and open green spaces on the banks of the Hudson River all day long.

June 1 & 2
White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival
Presented by White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival
The White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival has been a lively downtown event for over 50 years. Held in Tibbits Park, this event showcases a variety of arts and crafts like paintings, jewelry, and ceramics. Visitors can shop and enjoy food from the local vendors. There will also be a free art workshop for kids and opportunities to see works by emerging artists and scholarship winners.

June 1 & 2
Westchester Craft Crawl
Presented by Westchester Craft Crawl
This spring event will be the year’s only Westchester Craft Crawl. Guests are encouraged to travel between three arts hubs in Ossining and Croton-on-Hudson to view the works of 40 professional craft and mixed-media artists.

June 8
Sleepy Hollow Music Festival 
Presented by the Village of Sleepy Hollow
The Sleepy Hollow Music Festival debuts at Kingsland Point Park on June 8. Featuring two stages of live music, diverse food, and kids’ activities, the event promises a day of entertainment alongside the majestic Hudson River. Headlining acts include Cold War Kids, Danielle Ponder, Nightingale All-Stars and The Verve Pipe.

June 22
Puerto Rican Flag Raising & Festival
Presented by the White Plains Puerto Rican Cultural Committee and ArtsWestchester
A ceremonial flag raising will take place on June 22, followed by a celebration of Puerto Rican music, dance, food and art. The day will include dancing and live bomba drumming with Grupo Cimarrones, as well as performances by arts and craft vendors, the Carlos Jimenez Mambo Orchestra, and more. The program features a special procession led by the colorful vejigante, a folkloric character associated with Puerto Rican carnival.

June 29
American Roots Music Festival
Presented by Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
Caramoor presents a its annual American Roots Music Festival on June 29, with a full-day lineup of blues, Americana, folk and bluegrass music. Guests can picnic on the lawn of Friend’s Field and explore several venues Caramoor has to offer, including the Sunken Garden, Spanish Courtyard and Venetian Theater.  That evening, Madison Cunningham will close the festival in the Venetian Theater, with a show for which separate tickets are also available.

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June 1
Port Chester Arts Festival
Presented by Clay Art Center and Neptune
Port Chester will buzz with creativity when the second annual Port Chester Arts Festival showcases local talent through exhibitions, workshops and performances during a daylong festival for all ages. With participants like The Capitol Theatre and Jete Dance Studio, the festival promises a vibrant celebration of art.

Photo credit: Westchester Craft Crawl (courtesy of the organization); Wood work (courtesy of Bethany Arts Center); Crafts at Lyndhurst (courtesy of Artrider); Cj Priester: Yonkers Mural (courtesy of the artist); Ardsley AAPI Festival (courtesy of the organization); RiverArts Music Tour graphic (courtesy of the organization); White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival (courtesy of the organization); Westchester Craft Crawl (courtesy of the organization); Cold War Kids (courtesy of the artists); Puerto Rican Flag Raising & Festival (courtesy of White Plains Puerto Rican Cultural Committee and ArtsWestchester); Madison Cunningham (photo by ©Shervin Lainez).