What's The Plan: MAY 16-18
Carnivals galore, Food Truck Friday in Pound Ridge, Sleepy Cat Farm Open Days, Groove on the Green in New Canaan, a Town Party in Ridgefield, and more!
Three carnivals kick off this week, folks. If you plan on going, read this parenting survival guide first.
Thanks to all the small businesses who submitted an auction item or sponsorship for our school’s fundraiser on June 12 at The Benjamin (I’m looking at you, Petite Art Studio, Annie’s Home Delivery, and Chelli Health). There’s still time to submit! Click here for more info.
Hooray for Food Truck Friday season kicking off in Pound Ridge. Word on the street is that there will be a proper battle of the bands that night. I’ll report back on who wins.
Each week, I’ll pick an event that may not have a huge promotion budget but I think is worth highlighting.
This week’s Plan of the Week is RARE: A Fundraiser Benefiting STAR, which happens on Sunday afternoon at Lewisboro Town Park. Your kids can run around the gorgeous playground, ride a pony, watch the Harlem Wizards and a magician perform, and do some arts & crafts. (You can partake in some wine/beer/whiskey tastings and the silent auction).
I spoke last week with event organizer and Goldens Bridge mom of three Jessica Klein-Foglio to understand the “why” behind this one. Her energy and passion was infectious. She and her husband co-founded STAR (Salla Treatment and Research Foundation) in 2018 after her son Ben (now 10!) was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. Sunday’s event is all about celebrating “another year of life, health, and science.” Foglio tells me their foundation has given almost $1M away to science and research, which is incredible.
Tickets are only $25 (thanks to so many local donors and sponsors), and kids under 2 are free. Go! »
Thanks to all the subscribers who signed up last week, including Brianna E., Brooke C., Annie D., Dominic M., Mariloly M., Lauren R., Serena K., and Barbara A. I really appreciate your support. 🫶
xo,
K
PS: Follow The Plan on Instagram!
PPS: I’m hosting a women’s clothing swap tonight at Plank Ridgefield. Been doing them since 2022 at local venues with amazing spaces. They’re always so much fun. Sign up here to be notified of future swaps if you can’t make it. 💃
FRIDAY, MAY 16
Bike to School Day »
5:00 PM-8:00 PM — 🎡 Somers Lions Club Carnival (Fireman's Field)
An annual tradition! Check the Facebook page for ride pricing. »
5:00 PM-9:00 PM — 🍕 Food Truck Friday (first one!) (Scotts Corners, Pound Ridge)
Love these events. Great food, music, and lots of tables to hang on the green. (Bring a blanket just in case the tables fill up.) Looks like a great food truck lineup, from Captain Lawrence Brewing Co. to Tipsy Taco. School of Rock is hosting a “Rock Off,” featuring student bands from Briarcliff, Bedford, New Canaan and Ridgefield. 🤘 »
6:00 PM-10:00 PM — 🎢 St. Mary School Annual Carnival (Bethel Municipal Center, Bethel)
You can pre-purchase wristbands for this one. »
6:30 PM-11:00 PM — 🎢 St. Patrick’s Carnival (Bedford, NY)
Happening Tues-Sunday this week. Read this carnival post before you go. »
7:00 PM-9:00 PM — 🧜♀️ The Little Mermaid (Greenwich High School)
Running through Sunday. Tix $20. »
7:00 PM-9:00 PM — 🎶 An Evening of Harmony community concert (Lewisboro Library)
Bring your little music lovers to this community concert showcasing John Jay High School singers & musicians. Suggested donation of $10 at the door. »
SATURDAY, MAY 17
National Learn to Swim Day »
9:00 AM-5:00 PM — 🌸 Lewisboro Garden Club: Copia Home & Garden Fundraiser (Copia Home and Garden, South Salem)
LGC members will be on hand to help you select plants for your garden at South Salem's best nursery. Go with the kids, grab a coffee and snacks at Farmers Grind, and enjoy the flowers. »
9:30 AM-5:30 PM — 🤖 Makers Weekend (Westchester Children's Museum, Rye)
Every month this museum offers a whole weekend of themed STEAM-based activities. This weekend, it's all about makers – Math Marble Machines, Magnetic Motion, and lots more. »
10:00 AM-4:00 PM — 🐎 Spring Horse Show (Old Salem Farm, North Salem)
Today they have pony rides, face painting, dog adoptions, an author book-signing event, a free ice cream party, games, arts and crafts and a miniature horse meet and greet with Rising Starr Horse Rescue. Free to park! »
10:00 AM-4:00 PM — 🎉 Ward Pound Ridge Reservation's 100th Anniversary Celebration (Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River)
It's time to celebrate 100 years of The Rez. Expect a whole day of events, including nature walks, a visit from the Wolf Conservation Center, a children's tent with crafts, historical presentations, live music, a birds of prey show, and more. Food and drinks will be available to purchase from local food trucks. Free, but you must pre-register. »
10:00 AM-4:00 PM — ⛲️ Sleepy Cat Farm: Garden Conservancy Open Days (Sleepy Cat Farm, Greenwich, CT)
Go see why Ridgefield mom of two Sarah Kaplan recommends this Open Days garden for a family outing. Tix $10/adults, kids are free. »
10:00 AM-5:00 PM — 🎨 Third Saturdays (The Aldrich Art Museum, Ridgefield)
Admission is free every 3rd Saturday. Take advantage! »
10:00 AM-4:00 PM — 🎉 3rd Annual Rochambeau Festival (Yorktown Grange Fair Grounds, Yorktown Heights)
Bring your history-loving kids to this one. Learn about events that shaped our country's history right here in Westchester. Meet Generals Rochambeau and Washington, take a bus tour of our local encampment sites, practice drills with model muskets, and see historic demos like candle making. Happening tomorrow, too. »
10:00 AM-3:00 PM — ☀️ Pleasantville Day (Memorial Plaza, Pleasantville)
A kid's zone, food and entertainment. Looks like a great event! »
10:30 AM-11:30 AM — 📚 Storytime with The Aldrich (The Aldrich Art Museum, Ridgefield)
Cute collab btwn the Ridgefield Library & The Aldrich. Good for kids under 6. Register in advance as this one sells out. »
11:00 AM-12:30 PM — 🎥 Fleischer Cartoons Greatest Hits: Movie screening (Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville)
Kid-friendly screenings take place every weekend. Tix $5/non-member adults, and just $5/kid now. »
12:00 PM-2:00 PM — 🧙 Wicked: Sensory-friendly viewing (Bedford Playhouse)
A sensory-friendly screening for the neurodivergent community presented in partnership with the Inclusive Initiative. Plus, you get a free fidget toy pack! Tix $16/adults, $13/kids. »
1:00 PM-2:00 PM — 🐐 Goats on the Go! (Muscoot Farm, Katonah)
Bring your kids aged 12+ to take a pygmy goat on a walk around the farm this afternoon. You've got to register online ahead of time. Tix $22.50. »
1:00 PM-1:45 PM — 🎨 Young at Art: Saturday Fun for Kids (Pound Ridge Library)
Get your hands messy with your kid at this fun afternoon event. »
1:30 PM-2:30 PM — 🐮 We Love Cattle! (Stamford Museum & Nature Center)
An all-ages program for you and your kids to meet all the cows: Milking Shorthorns, Prim & Nessie; Scottish Highland, Petunia; and Randall Ox, Moose. Tix $15/adult+child pair. »
2:00 PM & 7:00 PM — 🧜♀️ The Little Mermaid (Greenwich High School)
Tix $20! »
2:00 PM-10:30 PM — 🎢 St. Patrick’s Carnival (Bedford, NY)
Happening Tues-Sunday this week. Read this carnival post before you go. »
2:00 PM-3:00 PM — 🥟 "A Banquet for Cecilia" book event (Ridgefield Library)
Meet author Julie Leung and illustrator Melissa Iwai to discuss their new book: “A Banquet for Cecilia: How Cecilia Chiang Revolutionized Chinese Food in America.” Then craft your own dumpling treasure to take home. Cute! »
4:00 PM-10:00 PM — 🎢 St. Mary School Annual Carnival (Bethel Municipal Center, Bethel)
You can pre-purchase wristbands for this one. »
5:00 PM-8:00 PM — 🍝 Pasta Night & Open House (Vista Fire Department)
The whole family is invited to this community event supporting local first responders. Tix $12/adult, $8/kid. Buy tickets at the door or online. »
5:00 PM-8:00 PM — 🕺 Groove on the Green (New Canaan Library)
A free music and dance party under the stars! »
5:00 PM-8:00 PM — 🎡 Somers Lions Club Carnival (Fireman's Field)
Another good one, folks. »
SUNDAY, MAY 18
National No Dirty Dishes Day »
8:00 AM-12:00 PM — 🏃🏻♀️ Muscoot Farm “Run The Farm” race (Muscoot Farm)
We've yet to do this race but it looks SO fun. The races include a 5 mile trail race and two smaller age-appropriate trail races. It's about $25/kid not including fees. There's another on Oct 19, too. »
8:00 AM-11:00 AM — 🚴 BCSD Bike Run - registration closed (Fox Lane Campus, Bedford)
A community-wide health and wellness event built by parents in partnership with the district, for kids aged K-5. Looks so cute. »
9:30 AM-5:30 PM — 🤖 Makers Weekend (Westchester Children's Museum, Rye)
Last day! »
10:00 AM-4:00 PM — 🐎 Spring Horse Show (Old Salem Farm, North Salem)
Last day! »
10:15am-4:00pm — 🐶 Westport Dog Festival (Winslow Park, Westport)
This is a huge event, 9 years running! Watch the dogs compete in obstacle courses, see demos and Gilbert the Party Pig, food trucks, get your portrait done by a caricature artist. Dogs welcome, obviously. Tix $10/pp and $30 per family of 4. Sold on site day of event only. »
10:00 AM-4:00 PM — 🎉 3rd Annual Rochambeau Festival (Yorktown Grange Fair Grounds, Yorktown Heights)
Last day! »
11:00 AM-11:45 AM — 🎨 Little Planksters: Move & Make (Ages 4-6) (Plank Ridgefield)
I like the setup of this one: Bring your kid into the studio for the movement portion of the class while you hang in the cafe. At the end, you do a craft together. It's $26/class and you must register over the phone or through the Plank app. »
12:00 PM-6:00 PM — 🇵🇱 46th Annual Polish Heritage Festival (Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla)
You know the polka music and pierogies will be amazing. Bring blankets or folding chairs for sitting on the lawn, but no coolers will be allowed. Free! »
12:00 PM-6:00 PM — 🎉 Family Fun Day (314 Beer Garden and Wood-Fired Pizza, Norwalk)
Good beer, food, and lots of stuff for the kids. This one came highly recommended by a friend of The Plan. »
12:00 PM-6:00 PM — 🎸 Ridgefield Town Party feat. Guster (waitlist only) (Ridgefield Playhouse)
They've already reached capacity for RSVPs but register for the waitlist just in case! Looks great. Bands, food, and family-friendly fun at the baseball field next door to celebrate the Ridgefield Playhouse’s 25th anniversary. It’s all outside and you can’t bring in outside food/drinks. Guster will go on at 4:00PM, and there will be lots of entertainment and food trucks leading up to the show. Looks great! »
1:00 PM-5:00 PM — 🎢 St. Patrick’s Carnival (Bedford, NY)
Last day! »
1:00 PM-4:00 PM — 🎸 Jam Session at Katonah Library (Katonah Village Library)
An all-acoustic jam designed for musicians who play stringed instruments like banjo or guitar. No registration required, and great for kids too. »
1:00 PM-3:00 PM — 🏃♀️ Family Field Day (New Canaan YMCA)
Everyone in the community is invited to this one. Potato sack races, water balloon tosses, obstacle courses, tie-dye and crafts. We were members here years ago; it really is such a special place. Should be a great day for outdoor fun! »
2:00 PM-6:00 PM — 🌟 "RARE": A Fundraiser benefiting STAR (Lewisboro Town Park, South Salem)
See above for more on why this one is my Plan of the Week. Tix $25, U2 free. »
2:30 PM-3:15 PM — 🇨🇳 Mandarin Learn & Play (Ridgefield Library)
Bring your kids to learn Mandarin with song, play, activities and stories. Great for kids preK-2nd. Held every third Sunday of the month. (Thanks for the tip, Jingjing!) »
3:00 PM-4:00 PM — 🎻 New Canaan Chamber Music Children’s Concert (New Canaan Library)
Experience an amazing family-friendly concert featuring excerpts from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” performed by music conservatory students. $26/adults, kids free. »
4:00 PM-7:00 PM — 🎢 St. Mary School Annual Carnival (Bethel Municipal Center, Bethel)
Last day! »
5:00 PM-8:00 PM — 🎡 Somers Lions Club Carnival (Fireman's Field)
Last day! »
ONGOING EVENTS
APRIL 19-MAY 18 — 👸 Sleeping Beauty - last weekend! (Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Bridgeport)
Friend of The Plan Lauren Mika says the Downtown Cabaret Theatre is a children’s theater that “brings such talent, joy and passion to each production.” She said it’s absolutely worth the drive. Tix $35-$41. Last weekend to see it! »
Every Friday & Saturday (5:00 PM-9:00 PM) — 🍻 Cider Nights 2025 (Hardscrabble Cider, North Salem)
Read my review here. We love this place. »
Every Saturday (8:30 AM-1:00 PM) — 🥕 Pleasantville Farmers Market (10 Memorial Plaza, Pleasantville)
60+ vendors and held outdoors, year-round. Located just off Bedford Road, right in a historic walking village. »
Every Saturday (9:00 AM-2:00 PM) — 🫛 John Jay Homestead Farmers Market (Lot No. 2, Downtown Katonah)
Friends of John Jay Homestead in partnership with Katonah Chamber of Commerce, have relocated the Farm Market to Lot No. 2 in downtown Katonah for the 2025 season. Runs every Saturday from May 3-Oct 25. »
Every Saturday (9:00 AM-1:00 PM) — 👩🌾 Gossett Brothers Farmers Market (Gossett Brothers Nursery, South Salem)
Shop for some yummy local treats and produce in the warmth of their newly-renovated greenhouse. Great selection, every Saturday morning. »
Every Saturday (10:00 AM-2:00 PM) — 🥕 New Canaan Farmers Market (244 Elm St, New Canaan)
Right behind the train station. So many great vendors! »
Every Saturday (10:00 AM-12:00 PM) — 🛍️ Take it or Leave it Shed now open! (Bedford Hills Train Station)
You never know what you’ll find at the Take It Or Leave It Shed. Great community initiative to reduce waste and inspire sustainability. Open through Oct. »
Every Saturday (10:30 AM-2:30 PM) — 🎨 Open Arts Studio (Grace Farms, New Canaan)
Held every Saturday at this magical place. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon. Recommended ages 4-12 (w/ adult). Non-member $5, register online. »
Every Saturday (12:00 PM-1:00 PM) — 🌍 Saturdays at Earthplace (Earthplace, Westport)
Pay the admission price ($10/adult, $5/kid) and drop in for a nature-based activity with your kiddo. Think: eco-art, science experiments, miniature pond exploration. »
Every Sunday (9:30 AM-2:30 PM) — 🍅 Farmers Market (Muscoot Farm, Katonah)
Browse the vendors, visit the animals, grab a snack at the concession stand. It's a great afternoon. Goes until Nov. 17. »
Every Sunday (11:00 AM-3:00 PM) — 🌽 Mt. Kisco Farmer’s Market (South Moger Ave, Mt. Kisco)
Live music and fresh produce, every Sunday. This is a good one. Ends Nov. 16. »
WHAT’S COMING UP
Here are a handful of upcoming events that you’ll want to plan for. Upgrade for just $5/mo so you can view all the details & ticket/registration URLs in your own calendar.
May 23 – 🍕 Food Truck Friday (Lewisboro Town Park)
May 24 – 🎠 Rye Playland opening weekend (Rye)
May 25 – ☂️ Mary Poppins opens at Play Group Theatre (White Plains)
May 26 – 🏃 South Salem Memorial Day Race + Fair (South Salem)
June 1 – 🎨 Pound Ridge Color Run (Pound Ridge)
June 1-2 – 🛍️ Fine Day Fair Home and Garden Show (South Salem)
June 8 – 🌸 Ridgefield Garden Tour (Ridgefield)