7 Artsy Fall Festivals in Westchester
[Editor’s Note: We just can’t help ourselves! We love a good fall arts festival. Since this article was published, we’ve added to it with a “More Artsy Fall Festivals in Westchester” section at the bottom. So what started as 7 festivals to look out for is now 11. Enjoy, and don’t forget to tag us @artswestchester on your photos if you attend any of these great offerings! –MAF]
Sure, summer has beaches, sun and pool parties. But September is the time to usher in pumpkins, foliage and fall festivals. Every year, autumn is replete with festivals of all kinds that fill local parks and streets with outdoor arts fun. Here are some of ArtsNews’s favorite festivals:
September 2
Arts & Crafts Hudson River Festival
Presented by Croton Council on the Arts
This outdoor festival brings the arts to the fore of the Hudson for Labor Day weekend, where 75 local artisans present their handmade works at Croton-on-Hudson’s Senasqua Park. The events, which expanded its hours this year, will also have hands-on art activities for kids available.
September 6-10
JazzFest White Plains
Presented by ArtsWestchester, White Plains BID and the City of White Plains
This annual five-day festival of jazz will introduce guests to different types of jazz music through a series of free and affordable family-friendly events in downtown White Plains. The varying performances feature emerging talents and Grammy Award-winning legends. Performances take place at Downtown Music at Grace, ArtsWestchester, White Plains Farmers Market, White Plains Performing Arts Center, and more. The final day will culminate in a full lineup of performers on Mamaroneck Avenue (between Martine Avenue and Main Street).
September 8-10
Crafts at Lyndhurst
Presented by Artrider
This fall festival, a seasonable staple for many, allows guests to peruse an array of handmade artistry while beginning holiday shopping early. On display will be jewelry, wearable art, home décor and more made from a range of materials, from ceramics and metal to wood and fabric. Family-friendly activities include puppet theater, face painting and craft demonstrations. New this year is a mobile beer and wine truck. The festival takes place on the scenic 67-acre grounds of Lyndhurst Mansion, so a tour of the property completes the day for many visitors.
September 23
Yonkers Riverfest
Presented by Yonkers Downtown BID
Yonkers Riverfest packs a big punch with live music, vendors, arts activities, food, kids’ rides and more, which all come together to form the biggest one-day festival in Westchester. Visitors can hear everything from hip hop to jazz during a lineup of musicians that will take the stage outdoors at 1 Larkin Plaza. The festival, which has been around for more than three decades, also encourages people to explore the local community and all it has to offer, from murals to restaurants.
September 30
Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival
Presented by Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival
Literature isn’t always what comes to mind when someone think of fall festivals. However, the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival goes all in when it comes to encouraging a child’s love of reading. The event offers 180 authors along with family activities like storytime, author talks, demonstrations from children’s book illustrators, crafts, and a visit from this year’s headliner, Magic Treehouse author Mary Pope Osborne. At the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival.
September 30 & October 1
Armonk Outdoor Art Show
Presented by North Castle Public Library
Each year, nearly 150 tents are assembled in rows that cover the grassy tree-lined grounds of the Armonk Outdoor Art Show. Each tent features a juried artist whose work differs, often dramatically, from the works featured in the tents on either side of it. The array of media ranges from painting and sculpture to photography and metal. A family tent provides art lessons and projects. Net proceeds from the show benefit the Friends of the North Castle Public Library’s programming, including The Armonk Players theater group. At 205 Business Park Drive.
October 19-22
ArtsFest
Presented by New Rochelle Council on the Arts
Art will take over the City of New Rochelle and Town of Pelham this fall, with exhibitions, open artist studios, live music, spoken word, film screenings and dance performances. Event staples have become
the ArtsFest Music Festival, ArtsFest Dance Festival and ArtsFest Artisan Market. For the first time this year, the festival will include a collaboration with The Moth for a Story Slam event to kick off the festivities.
More Artsy Fall Festivals in Westchester
September 28-October 1
Watershed Literary Festival
Presented by Rye Free Reading Room, Rye Arts Center and Rye Historical Society
This four-day festival brings contemporary literature to Rye with an array of author readings, panel discussions, signings and workshops. The festival, which kicks off with a cocktail party with author Annabel Monaghan at Rye Town Pavilion on 9/28, will present all additional events at Knapp House from 9/29-10/1.
September 30
Larchmont Arts Festival
Presented by Larchmont Arts Committee and the Village of Larchmont
This family-friendly event features a variety of art and artists, live music by local musicians and art activities for kids at Constitution Park.
October 7
Artoberfest
Presented by Bethany Arts Community
Bethany Arts Community’s fourth annual festival in Ossining will feature artists, live music, demonstrations and more. Activities include a fairy walk with Theater O, the opening of BAC’s young artists’ exhibition, screen-printing demonstrations by BAC staff and artists, interactive workshops and more.
October 21-22
Westchester Craft Crawl
The biannual outdoor craft tour is artist-organized and brings visitors to four stops in Ossining and Croton-on-Hudson that together feature artworks by more than 40 artists. Guests are encouraged to begin at any of the stops and travel between them.
ArtsWestchester’s Music in the Air directory of free and affordable outdoor summer arts events runs through the end of September. Some of these and many others can be found on the list at artsw.org/musicintheair.
Mary Alice Franklin is ArtsWestchester’s Communications Manager and Editor of ArtsNews. She has a Bachelors in English and Masters in Publishing, and has been published in Paste Magazine, HuffPost, Art Zealous, Art Times, and more.
You May Also Enjoy:
- The Pumpkin Blaze Returns This September
New Season at Performing Arts Center, Purchase College
More Than $550,000 in Arts Alive Grants Support Local Groups
Top photo: Armonk Outdoor Art Show (courtesy of the organization); Lakecia Benjamin performed at JazzFest White Plains 2018 (photo credit: Tim Grajek); Wendy Lin is among 140 artists participating in Crafts at Lyndhurst (photo courtesy of Artrider); performer photo courtesy of Yonkersfest.
