Sept. 17, 2015 -- County Executive Robert P. Astorino announced today a new attraction coming to Westchester this fall – Circus Latino!, which debuts tomorrow evening and runs through Sunday, Sept. 20.
“The fall season is a great time for both residents and visitors of Westchester County to experience brand new events like Circus Latino! and classic ones such as the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities and Horseman’s Hollow,” Astorino said. “These events bolster our economy, create jobs, and help make Westchester the great place it is to visit, work and live.”
Heading into one of the busiest times of the year, and continuing an upward trend, Westchester County’s tourism industry is on pace to break its record for visitor spending in 2015. Since 2010, visitor spending in Westchester has totaled $8.3 billion, including the current record of $1.74 billion in 2014.
Upcoming attractions are highlighted below:
Kicking Off the Season the Right Way
Experience the art, music and soul of Sleepy Hollow with Circus Latino! at Tarrytown Music Hall from Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20. New to Westchester, Circus Latino! will provide five shows of circus dance and art for all to enjoy, plus Brazilian and Ecuadorian music. For more information on event hours and ticket cost, go to Visit Sleepy Hollow or call (914) 631-1000.
Find music and culture at the 2015 SoWe Music Festival. On Saturday, Sept. 19, the event will feature multiple stages, dozens of top national and regional artists including Marc Cohn, Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals, Shawn Mullins, David Johansen, Steve Forbert, Willie Nile, and others. The festivities will include beer, wine, food trucks, carnival rides and more. SoWe Music Festival will take place at Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck.
The Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst will usher in the Fall with the rose garden in bloom and the autumn leaves beginning to change along the majestic Hudson River from Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20. 300 artists will fill the grounds of the Lyndhurst estate offering the first taste of Fall shopping, as well as exciting activities including tours of the Lyndhurst mansion, live music, kid’s activities, gourmet specialty foods and craft demonstrations. Lyndhurst is located at 635 South Broadway in Tarrytown.
The second annual Harbor Island Annual International Beer Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, from 12 - 5 p.m., in Harbor Island Park, located in Mamaroneck, New York. The event, sponsored by Half Time, the world’s largest retailer of domestic and international beers, will present more than 150 breweries offering nearly 400 beers from around the world.
Thrilling Signature Events
“Meet Me” in Sleepy Hollow for tales and thrills. Visitors can take a trip on the popular Sleepy Hollow Haunted Hayride, visit the Old Dutch Church and tour Sleepy Hollow Cemetery by lantern light. See some of the spookiest attractions and explore the great estates of the Hudson Valley, including Kykuit, Lyndhurst and Washington Irving’s Sunnyside.
Horseman’s Hollow returns to the village for 15 evenings of highly entertaining haunted mayhem. Philipsburg Manor transforms into a terrifying landscape ruled by the undead, the evil, and the insane. Creatures, human and otherwise, lurk in the shadows, ready to terrify the unsuspecting while incredible special effects disorient and unsettle. Elaborate costumes and the work of award-wining feature-film makeup artists make it all too real.
When looking for something a little less spooky, try The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze where visitors see more than 7,000 individually hand-carved, illuminated jack o’lanterns in an elaborate walkthrough experience. Families find their favorite constellations and get star struck walking through the Pumpkin Planetarium.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze and Horseman’s Hollow experience is available throughout October and early November. Advanced tickets are required. For more information, visit Historic Hudson Valley or call (914) 631-0089.
Adding to the variety of fall activities, Lyndhurst will host a fun house called Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities: A Monster in Every Family. Visit the Disenchanted Castle and experience the only indoor Halloween venue in Westchester. Participants will be able to experience the gothic castle at night and in a way rarely seen. While the event will appeal to adults and teens, younger children can also participate as the performance is appropriate for all ages. Lyndhurst is located at 635 South Broadway in Tarrytown. For more information, visit Lyndhurst or call (914) 631-4481.
Favorite Escapes
Westchester has it all this Fall. From apple picking to pumpkin patches, spooky Halloween adventures to family friendly fun, you’ll find your perfect autumnal getaway in Westchester. Choose one of our weekend itineraries at escapes.visitwestchesterny.com. See the colorful foliage, breathe in the crisp air and enjoy all Westchester has to offer during one of our favorite seasons of the year.
Take a ride over to Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture for an exciting weekend experience on Saturdays and Sundays this season with farm demos and tours. Stone Barns Center creates a healthy and sustainable food system, operating on an 80-acre farm in Pocantico Hills. Plan ahead and buy tickets online or call (914) 366-6200.
Hotel Getaways
Westchester County’s hotels have a fantastic listing of nearly 20 packages ready for fall. For more details, visit Tourism's hotel packages page. Participating hotels and sample packages include:
- The Castle Wings Air Helicopter Package at the historic Castle Hotel & Spa includes an aerial tour from Midtown Manhattan in a private helicopter and a stay at the luxurious Castle with a private butler and a five course dinner, atop Westchester County’s highest point.
- Doral Arrowwood’s Fall Foliage Bed and Breakfast Package with a lavish breakfast overlooking the golf course and a variety of weekend activities among the 114 acres of fall foliage.
- The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze Package at the Doubletree by Hilton in Tarrytown which includes a VIP trip to more than 5,000 individually hand-carved jack o’ lanterns and a stay at the award–winning Doubletree.
- The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester’s Discover With You Package which invites guests to enjoy both nature and excitement of the city with deluxe accommodations, breakfast in bed and a seasonal welcome amenity.
- The Stone Barns Experience at the Sheraton Tarrytown Hotel includes a weekend in the Historic Hudson Valley with roundtrip ticket rail fare from Grand Central Terminal, a visit to the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture and a full breakfast.
- Tarrytown House Estate’s Hudson Valley Romance Getaway Package includes an exquisite deluxe room, a bottle of sparkling wine, chocolate covered strawberries and a delicious breakfast in the romantic Biddle Mansion.
For the latest events and happenings in Westchester, log on to www.visitwestchesterny.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter@westchestertour or call 1-800-833-9282. View the Westchester County Destination Guide.
Photo 1: (left to right): County Executive Robert P. Astorino; Ken Wray, mayor, Village of Sleepy Hollow; Waddell Stillman, president, Historic Hudson Valley; Natasha Caputo, director, Westchester County Office of Tourism and Film; William Mooney III, director, Westchester County Office of Economic Development; Peter Johnson, vice president, Edge-On-Hudson; and Carlo Pellegrini, co-director, Westchester Circus Arts.
Photo 2: Circus Latino! performers ready for the shows big Westchester debut on Friday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m.