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  • 🦆 Duck Derby Returns and a New York Yankee Star Coaches the Kids

🦆 Duck Derby Returns and a New York Yankee Star Coaches the Kids

Score tickets to the Bronx Zoo and catch Caribbean vibes & circus fun on the farm

August 04, 2026


Hello, Westchester!
 

We hope you made it out to a few of our recommended events around the county and surrounding areas last week… there were some great ones!
 
We squeezed in as many as we could with trips to the Shoulder Check Showcase in Fairfield on Thursday, Playland Park fireworks on Friday, and then a huge day on Saturday with the grand opening of The Collective in Bedford Hills, Muddy Puddles Mess Fest in Carmel, and Bubbles & Bandanas at Outhouse Orchards in North Salem.
 

It felt like a packed holiday away, all within one hour of home.
 
We also made a huge mistake… which was not getting to Outhouse Orchards earlier in the summer. We’ve visited in years past but had no idea how much they added for the kids in the back fields of the farm. Big bounce houses (which were previously up front), a tractor pull, water pump duck races, and a bunch of other games that kept the kids happy and entertained all evening. They have a few more Summer Saturday Nights through August starting this weekend with a circus show. This isn’t an ad, just a strong recommendation to go check it out!
 
Also, we tend to focus on one-off events in this newsletter, but we’d be mistaken if we didn’t mention this… did you know the Bronx Zoo offers free entry to the park on Wednesdays? We tried it out last week and it was super easy to do. Tickets become available Mondays at 5p and are limited admission, being park entry only and not to special exhibits. Still a ton to do and see with standard entry, though, and a great way to spend the afternoon. Take a look at ticketing details and reserve yours here.
 
One final note, our second question in the first Know Your County series is just down below where you can also find the answer to Question #1. Hope you’ll keep playing, good luck and enjoy the week!
 

 
📍 Know Your County
 

Last Tuesday, we asked:
 
Of Westchester’s 23 villages, which one was incorporated first?
 
The answer is… Ossining! 
 
Ossining was the first village incorporated in Westchester County, receiving its New York State charter on April 2nd, 1813. It was originally known as Sing Sing for all you bonus point entrants out there, a name that was changed in 1901. Ossining was our most popular answer at 38% of the entries. You can check out some additional historical details from the Village of Ossining itself.

Question #1 of Contest #1 is in the books! Thanks to all who took the time to answer and let’s crack on with Question #2…
 
In the early 1800s, Hachaliah Bailey of Somers bought an exotic animal for $1,000 which was one of the first of its kind to arrive in America. Bailey soon learned that the animal was a spectacle that people would pay to see…

What type of animal was it?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Bonus point if you email us with the animal’s name.
 
Good luck!
 

 
In today’s edition:

And a message from our partners, QueenBHive, giving you, your business, or brand the visibility and support it needs, and QueenBPoker, hosting your epic game night.

 

Now let’s get to it!

💓 The Pulse

Loving Westchester’s Featured Events!

🥁 Caribbean Night on the Farm
Sat., Aug. 8 | Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard, North Salem | 5p-9p | $18 (3 and under free)
 
The Caribbean Vibe Steel Drum Band returns for a night of island music and dance performances across the orchard, with Caribbean-inspired food trucks, craft beer, hard cider, and specialty cocktails. Add face painting, the kids harvest train, and farm soft serve, and it is an easy, laid-back summer evening for the whole family.
Steel drums, island food, and soft serve as the sun goes down over the orchard →
 
🎪 The Circus Comes to the Farm
Sat., Aug. 8 | Outhouse Orchards, North Salem | Shows 5:45p & 6:45p | $22 (2 and under free)
 
Two 45-minute circus performances under the open sky at the orchard, split by a short intermission, plus live music, food, hard cider, and local craft beer. Kids get a range of activities to explore between acts. Come for the show, stay for a farm night with a drink in hand and the little ones running loose.
Two circus acts, a cider in hand, and the whole family under one big sky →
 
🦆 Duck Derby 3
Sun., Aug. 9 | Tibbetts Brook Park, Yonkers | 11a-4p | $20 per person, $10 per child (3-11), 2 and under free
 
It’s that time of year again! Westchester County Parks unleashes hundreds of rubber ducks down the lazy river with race winners taking home prizes including a PlayStation 5 and a stay at Great Wolf Lodge. Festivities include a DJ, bounce house, face painting and pool party. Ticket includes one duck for the races and pool party admission.
A highly photogenic classic summer event you don’t want to miss →

 
Have an event you want to feature in Loving Westchester?

Got 99 ideas, but can’t execute 1?

 
Hey, everybody. This is Bec.
 
I’ve spent 20 years helping businesses, brands and community organizations grow through better strategy, communications and partnerships. If you’re a local business owner with 100 ideas but never enough time to move them forward, that’s exactly why I created QueenBHive. Think of me as the person in your corner. Helping you decide what matters most, connecting the right dots, creating momentum, and making sure the good ideas actually happen. Whether that’s your visibility, social content, a launch, a partnership or simply having someone strategic to think alongside.
 
Send me a message and let me be your WingWoman.

📆 What’s Happening?

Family Fun!

👮‍♂️ National Night Out
Tue., Aug. 4 | Harbor Island Park, Mamaroneck | 5p-8p | Free
 
Meet local police with K-9 demonstrations, a police helicopter flyover, and a lineup of vehicles and equipment to explore. Face painting, a magician, a bubble show, archery, a gaga pit, and food trucks round out the evening.
 
🎲 Historical Games
Wed., Aug. 5 | Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, Yonkers | 12p-2p | Free
 
Play the tabletop and yard games people entertained themselves with centuries ago, from mancala and nine man's morris to quoits, cup and ball, and hoop and stick.
 
⚾ Jazz Chisholm Youth Baseball Camp
Thu., Aug. 6 | Flowers City Park, New Rochelle | 10a-2p | Prices vary
 
The Yankees second baseman leads a day of skill stations and interactive sessions for ages 6-13, grouped by age. Each camper gets a team photo with Chisholm and a limited-edition camp shirt. Bring a bat, glove, and cleats.
 
🎭 Summer Vacation Camp: The Jungle Book Kids
Fri., Aug. 7 | Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown | 1:30p | $19
 
Music Hall Academy students in grades 2-8 stage the show under the direction of Broadway's Lauryn Ciardullo.
 
🐿️ The Secret Lives of Squirrels
Sat., Aug. 8 | Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville | 9:30a-11a | $4/child (parking $6)
 
Kids learn about New York's squirrel species and their adaptations, then head out to look for signs of their activity and make a squirrel-themed craft. Ages 5 and up.
 
🌊 Untermyer Family Fun Day: Sea of Wonders
Sun., Aug. 9 | Untermyer Gardens Conservancy, Yonkers | 12p-3:30p | $10+
 
The garden turns into an underwater world with sea-themed sprinklers, a bubble station, canal fishing, crafts, and a treasure hunt through the Walled Garden, plus animal ambassadors from the Nature Center at Greenburgh.
 
🎤 K-Pop Party
Sun., Aug. 9 | Westchester Children's Museum, Rye | 4:30p-7:30p | $25/child, $10/adult
 
A live K-Pop sing-along with a DJ dance party, design-a-tote and friendship-bracelet crafts, a make-your-own-soda station, face painting, and a fandom photo booth. Child tickets include a pizza slice. Costumes and fandom gear encouraged.

 

 

Grown Ups & Date Nights

🤠 Country Line Dancing
Tue., Aug. 4 | Cross County Center, Yonkers | 6p-8p | Free
 
Instructor Adam Cherko teaches classic line dancing steps like grapevines, pivots, and rocking chairs on The Green. The first hour is beginner-friendly, the second builds to more advanced routines. All skill levels welcome.
 
🎸 107.1 The Peak Summer Sessions: Devon Gilfillian
Thu., Aug. 6 | The Barley Beach House, Rye | 7p | Free
 
Soul and rock singer Devon Gilfillian plays a free show on the waterfront deck with Brandi & The Alexanders. Seating is first come, first served starting an hour before.
 
🎸 Alex Cano
Thu., Aug. 6 | The Grand, Croton-on-Hudson | 8p-10:30p
 
Nationally touring Hudson Valley rock and Americana artist Alex Cano who has opened for the Plain White T's, Gin Blossoms, and Band of Heathens plays The Grand Thursday night.
 
🧘 Free First Fridays: Yoga and Art
Fri., Aug. 7 | Hudson River Museum, Yonkers | 5p-7:45p | Free
 
Two 45-minute yoga classes at 5p and 6p in the galleries overlooking the Hudson, led by Karen Young of Key Wellness, plus a bilingual sketching workshop with Carolina Amarillo and a cash bar. Bring your own mat. Stick around for a free 8p amphitheater performance by Afro Dominicano.
 
🎸 Tramps Like Us
Fri., Aug. 7 | Cortlandt Yacht Club, Montrose | 6p-10p | $45+
 
The Bruce Springsteen tribute band Tramps Like Us plays a night of Boss hits on the water at the Cortlandt Yacht Club.
 
🎤 Hudson Valley Arts Collective Open Mic
Fri., Aug. 7 | Ludy Cafe, Irvington | 7p-10p | Free
 
A poetry open mic where you can share your own work or sit back and listen. Seasoned poets and first-timers welcome.
 
🎤 Aaron Berg at Tristate Comedy Club
Fri., Aug. 7 | 189 East Post Road, White Plains (attached to ZPrime) | 8:30p | $25+
 
Appearing in cult films like Boondock Saints 2, Detroit Rock City, and The Ladies Man, actor and comedian Aaron Berg takes his comedy chops to Tristate’s new room in White Plains.

 

 

The Beat… Westchester’s Live Music Scene
 

🎵 Louis Cato
Thu., Aug. 6 | Bedford Playhouse, Bedford | 7p | $75
 
The bandleader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert steps out front for an intimate one-night set with his trio. A Grammy nominee and 2026 Emmy nominee for music direction, Cato has played alongside Bobby McFerrin, James Taylor, Q-Tip, Jon Batiste, and St. Vincent before stepping into his own songwriting.
The Colbert bandleader, up close and off the clock →

 

Game nights are having a moment in Westchester, and if you've ever wanted to host a poker or casino night without the stress of figuring out the rules or rounding up chips, QueenBPoker is the answer. They come to your home, venue, office, and handle everything you may need from teaching the table to running the night. Casual, corporate, charity. No experience needed, just people who want a good time.
 
Plan your game night →

📚 Rachel Mansfield: More, Please!
Thu., Aug. 6 | Athena Books, Greenwich, CT | 6:30p-8p | $49.87
 
Food creator and cookbook author Rachel Mansfield celebrates the release of her new cookbook of feel-good family meals, in conversation with bestselling author Kat Ashmore. Ticket includes a copy of the book, beverages, and a light dessert.
 
🎬 Over Your Dead Body with Director Q&A
Thu., Aug. 6 | Four Brothers Drive-In, Amenia | 7p-10p (film at dusk) | $24+
 
The Lonely Island's Jorma Taccone presents his darkly comic thriller starring Jason Segel and Samara Weaving, a South by Southwest Audience Award winner, with a pre-film Q&A at the drive-in. Movie-themed cocktails and film-inspired food specials during happy hour.
 
🐶 Boulders Jr. Day: VIP Bluey Meet and Greet
Sun., Aug. 9 | Clover Stadium, Pomona | 3p-6p | $25+
 
A pre-game meet and greet and photo op with Bluey in a community party suite, followed by a New York Boulders baseball game. Ticket includes a hot dog, chips, and soda plus a seat in the bowl.

Loving Westchester is written by a real-life husband and wife team, completely free, and in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday. If it adds something to your week, contributions help us keep growing - including our first in-person Loving Westchester event we're working toward for the fall.
 
"Thank you for your emails highlighting the wonderful events happening throughout Westchester. They are such a great resource and reminder of how much Westchester has to offer." — A Loving Westchester Reader

🏡 Where the Heart Is

Incredible homes are listed in Westchester every week. Here’s one that caught our eye

 

The Key Details: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1,874 square feet on 0.24 acres ($614 / square foot)
 
What We Love About It: A 1927 Tudor with the character to prove it… original stone framing the gas fireplace, beamed ceilings, and a first-floor bedroom that doubles easily as an office. The kitchen is the real gathering spot, open and bright, with a layout built for entertaining. Downstairs, an extra 1,200 square feet of finished walk-out space brings its own full bath, living room, and washer/dryer, ideal for guests, in-laws, or a home gym. Add an expansive side yard for gardening or play, all within a short drive of Larchmont's Metro-North station, restaurants, and shops, and Hommocks/Mamaroneck schools rounding it out.
 

We love to hear from you! Give us a shout at [email protected] or find us on Instagram @lovingwestchester. And don't forget to forward this to a friend who's always asking "what's going on this week?"
 
See you out there!