ArtsFest for Kids

ArtsFest 2025 kicks off Thursday, October 16 and runs through Sunday, October 19 with 42 venues representing the work of more than 250 artists (visual artists, performers, artisans). Family friendly activities abound, with some special events just for kids. Get a sneak peek here -- then visit the NRCA website for the for the complete ArtsFest calendar. All events are free unless otherwise noted.

ALL WEEKEND

Downtown enjoy a Self Guided Tour of the NRNY Murals (download a map of the murals at www.newrochellearts.org). The 20 large scale #NRNY Murals make a statement about New Rochelle as a diverse city where art plays a pivotal role. Completed in 2022 the high impact murals were created by a group of world class street artists curated by Street Art for Mankind and sponsored by the New Rochelle Council on the Arts and the City of New Rochelle’s IDA.

Or step back in time with a Self Guided Tour of Doctorow’s New Rochelle : Download the brochure at www.newrochellearts.org to visit author E.L. Doctorow’s New Rochelle, starting at his statue in Huguenot Park. (The statue was cast using actual items of clothing worn by Mr. Doctorow.) Installed in 2023 it echoes the bronze statue of Huguenot settler Jacob Leisler that has stood at the base of Broadview Avenue since 1913 and appears in Doctorow’s book Ragtime. E. L. Doctorow was one of the most important novelists of the 20th century – and a long time resident of New Rochelle. This tour of a slice of New Rochelle history will show you how our city inspired his work.

And keep an eye out for “Community Music Pop Ups” throughout New Rochelle all weekend, with Songcatchers musicians of various levels playing at outdoor locations. (songcatchers.my.canva.sit) The nonprofit organization provides affordable access to high quality music education and enrichment for children and families.

THURSDAY

Thursday and Friday are school days -- but also a perfect time to introduce children to some of the art spaces around town! For example, check out the art on view at the Lumen Winter Gallery in the lobby of the New Rochelle Public Library (1 Library Plaza, NR, 914-632-7878, www.nrpl.org ) : The New Rochelle Art Association is showing its 109th annual juried show, with paintings in acrylic, oil and watercolor as well as sculpture, photography digital art and mixed media. (Open 9 am to 8 pm on Thursday.).

And at City Hall the NRCA Rotunda Gallery ( 515 North Ave., NR, www.newrochellearts.org) has its fall exhibit, Still / Life, featuring works by 11 artists) at both the NRCA Rotunda Gallery and the Museum of Arts & Culture at New Rochelle High School. Exhibit runs through October 24.

Student art is the focus at Pelham Art Center (155 Fifth Ave., Pelham; 914-738-2525 ;; www.pelhamartcenter.org ) where artwork in a wide range of comprehensive media by the talented students of PAC will be showcased.

There’s a hands-on art activity happening all weekend at Town House Kitchen + Drinks (559 Main Street, NR; www.townhousekd.com) : Would-be artists of all ages are invited to help create a collaborative community mural on the restaurant’s third floor. Each participant will be assigned a designated box on the wall within Town House’s Skylight Studio and provided with a blank canvas and necessary painting supplies to create their own unique house. Together, these individual artworks will form a vibrant mural of houses—guided by the philosophy: Our House is Your House. (Drop in between 3 pm and 8 pm from Thursday to Saturday or set up a time in advance by emailing thomas@townhousekd.com)

Between 4 pm and 5:30 pm visit the home of Songcatchers (74 Petersville Road, NR 914-654-1178; www.songcatchers.org) for an Open House and learn more about this organization that provides affordable access to high quality music education, training, and enrichment for children and families. With a focus on “reaching for peace through music” Songcatchers offers classes in instrumental and vocal music for all ages.

After dinner older children and teens can get in the Halloween mood with an original theater performance of Undead: A Dracula Story at the Ossie Davis Theater at NRPL (1 Library Plaza, NR, 914-632-7878, www.nrpl.org ). The Red Monkey Theater Company has “deconstructed” Dracula (Amy Frey has adapted the original novel by Bram Stoker) creating a new play that follows Lucy Westenra, a geriatric patient in a hospital, who is convinced that she is seeing monsters.

FRIDAY

On Friday afternoon at 1:30 pm 3 pm the community is invited to a special open rehearsal and "behind-the-scenes" preview of R & J, a powerful and innovative reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Romeo & Juliet at The Dance School of JCCMW (999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583; 914-768-8882; jccmw.org). This groundbreaking dance production explores the complexities of love, identity, and fate.

Poetry slams and spoken word competitions are getting older preteens and teens to grab the mic: On Friday night The MOTH Story Hour will return for ArtsFest, bringing one of its popular Story SLAMS to New Rochelle. (Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 311 Huguenot Street, NR) Anyone can sign up to compete in this live, open mic storytelling competition: Simply come prepared to share a five-minute story on the night’s theme (TRAP). Ten lucky audience members, picked at random, will vie for the chance to be crowned the night’s StorySLAM champion. Doors Open: 6:30 PM; Show Starts: 7:30 PM. Admission is not guaranteed for late arrivals. Tickets cost $15 at https://themoth.org/events/trap-new-rochelle-2025

And if that’s not enough there is more spoken word action at Jolo’s (49 Lawton St, NR; 914-548-6640 ; Joloskitchen.com) at 7:30 pm where Da Mic is Open. All ages are encouraged to come to the mic to freely express and display any art form. Participants get 5 minutes for the1st Round, 3 minutes for 2nd Round (If time permits).

On the other end of town, families with older kids and teens will thrill to the return of The Haunt at Wildcliff Mansion (44 Wildcliff Drive, NR; www.hpcgreenhouse.org), a spine-chilling immersive Halloween experience from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm Friday and Saturday night. Guests can explore a mad doctor’s forgotten laboratory, navigate a restless graveyard, wander the haunted corn maze, and investigate Wildcliff Mansion, encountering ghostly figures and reanimated horrors at every turn. Guests under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult; no babies or strollers will be allowed. Timed tickets cost $25 per person at https://app.hauntpay.com/events/hauntatwildcliffmansion

SATURDAY

ArtsFest was built around the idea of artists opening their studios to the public, and one of the most kid-friendly is Charles Fazzino Art Studio at Museum Editions (32 Relyea Pl., NR; 914-654-9370; www.fazzino.com ) Once a year (for ArtsFest) this world famous pop artist opens his studio to the public, and on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm families can see how he creates his 3-D art and experience an interactive art workshop. Fun for all ages and an ArtsFest favorite.

What makes visiting an artist's studio different than seeing their work in a gallery is the chance to meet the artist in their work space and learn first hand about their process. At HighBrook Studio in Pelham (222 Highbrook Ave. North; 914-334-9311) you and your children can see works by 11 different artists spread over a multi-level space with wares, food, and a cat. Seven other artists will be opening their studios this weekend: Use the QR code in the Calendar to access an up-to-the-minute list of local artists who will be opening their doors to the public during ArtsFest weekend: The site offers addresses, times and parking information for each location.

Saturday is jampacked with your choice of other kid-focused activities, starting with an Open House at Songcatchers (9:30 am to 1:30 pm at 74 Petersville Road, NR 914-654-1178; www.songcatchers.org). Tour the home of this organization that provides affordable access to high quality music education, training, and enrichment for children and families. With a focus on “reaching for peace through music” Songcatchers offers classes in instrumental and vocal music for all ages.

If your kids enjoy vintage cars don’t miss the free Classic Car Show at the Hamilton Avenue Parking Lot (across the street at AJ’s Burgers at 542 North Ave., NR). The show focuses on automotive design with classic auto beauties spanning the 1920s to the 1970s on exhibit by invitation only. From 10 am to 5 pm visitors can touch the cars and talk to the owners, and from 12 pm to 2 pm the Bear Mountain Brass Band will provide rollicking live music. And if you get hungry you can pop across the street to AJ’s Burgers (542 North Avenue), the family-friendly fast casual restaurant that sponsors the Classic Car Show. Rain Date: Sunday, October 19th.

Did you know New Rochelle High School is the only high school in the state with its own museum? Older children and teens will enjoy visiting the Museum of Arts & Culture (located at North Avenue at Braemar) open Saturday only from 11 am to 3 pm top see “Still /Life” featuring works by 11 artists that elevate ordinary objects into personal artifacts. This event will include student works inspired by the exhibit, plus a special spoken word performance at 12:30 pm featuring Westchester County Poet Laureate Phylisha Villanueva, Youth Poet Laureate Harmony Hopwood and the NRHS Poetry Club reading original “ephrastik” poems written in response to the art.

From 11 am to 5 pm visit the 6th Annual ArtsFest Makers Market (on the grounds of Thomas Paine Cottage, 20 Sicard Avenue, NR) for a day filled with art, music, food, crafts activities and more. (Rain Date: Sunday, October 19th.) The outdoor market -- across from the NRHS tennis courts -- will feature 30 vendors, food trucks and live music by Mudsole Dixieland Trio from 12 to 2 pm, and Tilted Axes from 3 pm to 4 pm. (Kids will get out a kick our of this unique “guitarmy” -- a mobile procession of electric guitarists with Vox amplifiers slung over their shoulders.) New this year there will also be a Youth Makers Market from 11 am to 3 pm with every product crafted by kids aged 7 to 17. (If you have a crafty kid let them explore the Youth Market and maybe apply for a spot next year!)

Hands-on activities at the Makers Market include a visit from the ArtsWestchester ArtsMobile (1 pm to 3 pm) a colorful van that brings free, hands-on arts programming led by professional teaching artists to children and audiences of all ages outside the traditional classroom or studio setting. And a trio of children’s book authors will be at the one-room schoolhouse on site teaching crafts based on their titles: From 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Andrea Lambiasi, author of Quann Learns a Valuable Lesson, will be making friendship bracelets, and from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm Donna Sirabella, author of The Amazing Roberta Wigglesworth, will be crafting wooden cowboy hat and boots ornaments. Then from 1:30 pm to- 2:30 pm award-winning bilingual children’s book author and educator Marisa Boan will help children create greeting cards using artist Alma Thomas' inspiring mosaic technique.

There's more hands-on fun in Pelham from 12 noon to 2 pm with a Family Art Workshop at the Pelham Art Center (155 Fifth Ave., Pelham; 914-738-2525 ;; www.pelhamartcenter.org ) A free workshop will be run by PAC’s Teen Artist Council, a youth leadership program that gathers and engages young people interested in creating teen and community programming.

And downtown at the Empty Hand Zen Center (45 Lawton Street, New Rochelle; 914- 309-5403; emptyhandzen.org) children aged 4 and up are invited to paint a One Breath Japanese Enso using water soluble paint (Enso in Japanese means circle, an expression of emptiness) then color in stillness while your Enso dries. You can also take a tour of a slice of New Rochelle history: This building is the former site of the New Rochelle Trolly Turnaround Building.

Across the street from Empty Hand the New Rochelle Public Library (1 Library Plaza, NR, 914-632-7878, www.nrpl.org ) will be hosting a Spooktacular Celebration from 1:30 to 4 pm to celebrate the grand reopening of the Library’s beloved Children’s Garden— an initiative of the NRPL Foundation -- now blooming with a brand-new outdoor pavilion. Come dressed in costume to enjoy pumpkin decorating, face painting, photo ops with Esteban the Magnificent from The Day the Crayons Came Home, Music with Armelle, Songcatchers and more. The garden will provide a day rooted in creativity, connection, community.

From 2 to 4 pm kids can help create a “Commural” at the Huguenot Children’s Library (794 North Avenue at Eastchester Road; 914-632-8954; www.nrpl.org ). Grab a marker, pictures, glue and bring your imagination to help create a giant paper mural that includes images and words to celebrate the people and spirit of New Rochelle. Writer Karen Gardner will spark the creativity, but drop in anytime to add your words, doodles, and designs to this one-of-a-kind community artwork.

If you have a budding movie maven in the house the two-day ArtsFest Film Festival (175 Wolf’s Lane, Pelham; 914-738-7337; www.thepicturehouse.org) is a must: This event from 1 pm to 6:30 pm (and 2 pm to 7 pm on Sunday) will showcase short features created by local aspiring film makers, plus panel discussions with industry professionals. Note that the subject matter for these films may be best suited for mature audiences. Tickets cost $10 for the day or $15 for both days from https://newrochellearts.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/newrochellearts/eventRegistration.jsp?event=12&.

On Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 5 pm expose your kids to the magic of movement at the spectacular ArtsFest Dance Festival (Albert Leonard Middle School, 25 Gerada Lane, NR). This exciting free showcase of astonishing dance performances by professional companies and local schools will introduce young audiences to a variety of dance styles (and give parents a chance to discover local dance schools). On Saturday: Ajkun Ballet Theatre, MorDance, TORCH Dance Theatre, stringdance + media/Christy Walsh, Ballet Arts - The Performing Arts of Southern Westchester, Ballet des Ameriques / Carole Alexis Ballet Theatre.

Live “poetic storytelling” will be featured at "A LuvNote 4-Art" Poetically at Aleathia's Original Artworks (AOA) (50 East Sanford Blvd., Mt Vernon; www.AleathiasArt.us). This ticketed event from 4 pm to 9 pm will spotlight two Teen Poets (4:30 pm) and two Seasoned Adult Poets (6 pm); the music playlist by DJ Masai sets the tone for selected performers poetry offering different outcomes. Tickets cost $21.60 from https://square.link/u/X7j0hiUs

Saturday’s kid-friendly events wind down at 5 pm when New Rochelle resident John Stix (formerly editor-in-chief of Guitar for the Practicing Musician) will offer a window into rock-and-roll history (Thomas Paine Memorial Building, 983 North Ave., NR; parking on Valley Road). Stix will display treasures from his personal collection of rock memorabilia and share favorite stories from a lifetime of interviews with famous musicians. Accompanying John will be Westchester's most renowned guitarist, Grammy-nominated Gill Parris, who will demonstrate some of the signature guitar licks in the history of the electric guitar.

SUNDAY

From 11 am to 2 pm families can enjoy some seasonal fun at the Hudson Park Children’s Greenhouse Pumpkin Patch (Hudson Park Children’s Greenhouse, 44 Wildcliff Rd, Hudson Park, NR; www.hudsonparkgreenhouse.org ). Children can explore a corn maze, select and paint a pumpkin, go on a “Skeleton Scavenger Hunt” and other seasonal activities. For an extra $10 guests can take a guided tour through a less-scary daytime version of “The Haunt at Wildcliff Mansion” with lights on and no actors. Buy timed ticket for $10 (plus handling fee) at https://app.hauntpay.com/events/25802

The popular old-timey trolley will be back from 11 am to 4 pm offering free guided tours of New Rochelle’s murals (meet at Hotel NoMa Hotel, 1 Radisson Pl. NR). The Arts Fest Trolley Tour will feature NRCA docents guiding the trolley through the streets of New Rochelle to provide the backstory behind some of the city’s most loved public art. There will be four tours (11 am, 12:30 pm, 2 pm and 3:30 pm); seats are available on first-come, first served basis.

In the center of New Rochelle the Friends of Glenwood Lake Park are hosting Glenwood Lake Park En Plein Air from 11 am to 2 pm, with artists of all ages invited to capture the west side shoreline in its autumnal splendor. (Corner of Glenwood Avenue and Lakeside Drive; 206-913-8006; fglppresident@gmail.com) This very special tree line will be permanently altered by necessary earthen dam improvements taking place in the coming year, so photographers, painters and an illustrators of all abilities are asked to help immortalize the natural beauty of this space. A very limited quantity of painting and drawing materials will be available, so artists are encouraged to bring their own.

Stop by the Fall Fest Open House at the JCC Mid-Westchester ( 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale, NY; 914-768-8882; jccmw.org ) from 11 am to 2 p m to experience the programming for all ages available at this multi-generational cultural center open to all, from arts and crafts, to dance, live music, visual arts exhibitions, fitness, fun activities, and food vendors. You’ll have a chance to sample drop-in dance classes, edible gardening, PJ library story hour, a breath-body-mind meditation class, plus inside and outside games, raffles and activities.

Did you know our local hospital has an art gallery? Visit the Queen City Art Gallery at Montefiore New Rochelle (101 Glover Johnson Place, NR; 914-365-3468; montefiorenewrochelle.org) to see “Queen Kitty City: Feline Fun by the Seaside,” featuring playful and colorful art with plenty of "cattitude". This show's site-specific paintings depict familiar New Rochelle landmarks interpreted with cats, birds and a heavy dose of whimsy. Meet artist Nicky Serrano at Montefiore between 1 pm and 3 pm.

At 2 pm Sunday the Young Musicians of Westchester will present a captivating chamber music performance by recent graduates from the Bard Conservatory of Music at the New Rochelle Public Library (Ossie Davis Theater, 1 Library Plaza, NR, 914-632-7878, www.nrpl.org ) This Celebration of Chamber Music will be performed by a talented trio including Monika Dziubelski (flute), Yuchen Zhao (violin), and Andrew Altrock (piano).

The ArtsFest Dance Festival (Albert Leonard Middle School, 25 Gerada Lane, NR) continues today from 3 pm to 5 pm with free performances by Accent Dance NYC, The Coleman Teen Dance Company, Hudson Ballet Theatre, Steffi Nossen Dance Company, Dance Ministry Instititute, Westchester Ballet Company, New Beginnings Center for Performing Arts, and students in New Rochelle High School's competitive PAVE program.

Local theater company Tutti Bravi presents performances of original works: At 3 pm see “Spirits & Souls” with the music of Michael LeMorin at the historic Trinity St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (311 Huguenot St., NR; tuttibraviproductions.org) This play features selected monologues about some of the original Huguenot settlers who are buried in the Trinity Churchyard, accompanied by the music of Michael LeMorin evoking the sounds of the Caribbean. Performances will take place in the vestry of Trinity St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (built in 1862 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006). Suitable for adults and school-age children.

Finally, ArtsFest wraps up at 5 pm with a free concert at The Oaks, the charming seaside estate built on Davenport Neck in 1900 and now home to the New Dawn Foundation, which uses this beautiful haven as a place for renewal and growth. Teenaged musicians Xingxing Yao (age 19) and Muxin Li (age 18) are virtuoso guitarists from China, currently studying at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. Winners of numerous international competitions, their dazzling program presents solo and duo guitar music of three centuries. Please park at Davenport Park and walk to the property. (The New Dawn Foundation, 590 Davenport Ave. between Brittany Lane and the VIP Beach Club; 914-632-8084 ; info@thenewdawnfoundation.org

Now in its 17th year, ArtsFest is organized by the non-profit New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA) to spotlight the diversity of arts and artists in our community, with more than 40 venues representing the work of some 250 visual and performing artists.

Sponsors for this year’s ArtsFest include Golden 50 Year Grand Sponsor Cappelli Organization and LRC Construction, ArtsWestchester, The Gwendolyn Appleyard Trust Fund for New Rochelle Charities, New Rochelle CLD, Montefiore New Rochelle, Town House Kitchen + Drinks, Alvin & Friends and Orange Bank, plus in-kind donors The Dining Lab at Monroe University, AJ’s Burgers, The Picture House, the New Rochelle Public Library, The Atelier, and Hotel NoMa.

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts is proud to be a grantee of ArtsWestchester with funding made possible by Westchester County government with the support of County Executive Ken Jenkins.