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Ward Pound Ridge Reservation will celebrate its 100th year in 2025 and, to kick things off, is launching a 100-Mile Hike Challenge in which entrants aim to hike 100 miles at the park by May 7, 2025.
Participants of the challenge will have six months to complete it, and those who are successful will be recognized at the park’s 100-Year Anniversary Celebration at the Reservation, Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Participants will be able to log their miles through RunSignup in order to track their progress and have six months to complete the challenge.
Registration
FREE registration required
Registration is free to participate.
Location
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation; Route 35 and 121 South, Cross River, NY 10576 (directions)
Parking is $5 with a Park Pass, $10 without and is applicable weekends only from Labor Day and before Memorial Day Weekend. Parking fees are daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The Trails Without Limits program allows individuals who may be living with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, amputation, paraplegia, arthritis, cardiac issues, joint replacements, or have other mobility concerns the opportunity to immerse themselves in Westchester County Parks by using an All-Terrain Trackchair.
The program will rotate throughout Westchester County Parks from March through November. Program is free. Learn more.
Westchester County Parks has something for everyone this winter break! From family-friendly holiday events to getting in a few rounds of golf, and basketball at the County Center; you’ll never be bored while you’re home for the holidays!
Find your activity on the Westchester County Parks Activity Map.
Westchester’s Winter Wonderland Drive-thru Holiday Light Extravaganza at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla is open most nights through Tuesday, Dec. 31. Closed only on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Reserve your timeslot.
Visit Lasdon Park’s Holidays on the Hill Annual Train Show in Katonah. Open Thursdays through Sundays through Sunday, Dec. 15. Open daily from Thursday, Dec. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 5; closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Buy now.
Put on your hiking boots and hike our trails:
- Cranberry Lake Preserve, North White Plains
- Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson
- George’s Island Park, Montrose
- Kitchawan Preserve, Ossining
- Lasdon Park, Katonah
- Mountain Lakes Park, North Salem
- Saxon Woods, White Plains
- Tibbetts Brook Park, Yonkers
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River
If hiking isn’t for you, take a brisk walk or bike ride on any of our trailways:
- Bronx River Trailway
- North County Trailway
- South County Trailway
Looking for something educational? Our six nature centers are open at various times during the holiday break. Please call ahead to confirm your visit:
- Cranberry Lake Preserve, North White Plains, (914) 428-1005
- Croton Point Nature Center, Croton-on-Hudson, (914) 862-5297
- Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Rye, (914) 967-8720
- Lenoir Preserve, Yonkers, (914) 968-5851
- Marshlands Conservancy, Rye, (914) 835-4466
- Trailside Nature Museum at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River, (914) 864-7322
Let the kids run around at Alfred B. DelBello Muscoot Farm to see the animals! Closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Want to get a few more rounds in? Golf Westchester is open through Sunday, Dec. 29 (weather permitting). Reserve your tee times at any of our golf courses:
- Dunwoodie, Yonkers
- Hudson Hills, Ossining
- Maple Moor, White Plains
- Mohansic, Yorktown
- Saxon Woods, Scarsdale
- Sprain Lake, Yonkers
If outdoors isn’t for you this time of year, you can keep warm at the Westchester County Center in White Plains while cheering on local basketball:
- Westchester Knicks games:
Get your tickets now!
- Friday, Dec. 27 against Motor City Cruise at 7 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 30 against Indiana Mad Ants at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 1 against Indiana Mad Ants at 1 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 2 against Delaware Blue Coats at 7 p.m.
- Slam Dunk Showcase X Crusader Classic, Friday, Jan. 3
Get your tickets now!- 4:30 p.m.: Tuckahoe vs. Pleasantville (GIRLS)
- 6:15 p.m.: White Plains vs. New Rochelle (BOYS
- 8 p.m.: Woodlands vs. Peekskill (BOYS)
- Slam Dunk Showcase X Crusader Classic, Saturday, Jan. 4
Get your tickets now!- 10:15 a.m.: Ardsley vs. Ossining (GIRLS)
- noon: Ursuline vs. Walter Panas (GIRLS)
- 1:45 p.m.: Christ the King vs. Albertus Magnus (GIRLS)
- 3:30 p.m.: Rye vs. Mamaroneck (BOYS)
- 5:15 p.m.: Scarsdale vs. Byram Hills (BOYS)
- 7 p.m.: Headlining Event – Iona Prep vs. Stepinac
Tickets available only at the Westchester County Center, 198 Central Avenue White Plains, NY 10606. (directions)
All aboard! It's time for Holidays on the Hill Annual Train Show at Lasdon Park, Arboretum and Veterans Memorial, in Katonah.
Admission
Tickets are available through Jan. 5. Admission is $20 per adult, $10 per child and children up to 24 months are admitted free. $15 per senior age 62 and over. Note: Tickets will be sold online only with scheduled viewing times, no tickets will be sold on-site.
Event Schedule
Opening weekend is Saturday, Nov. 30 and Sunday, Dec. 1.
- Open Thursdays through Sundays beginning Thursday, Dec. 5 through Sunday, Dec. 15.
- Open daily Thursday, Dec. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025
- CLOSED on Wednesday Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, 2025
Special Twilight Train sessions on Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21. From 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
The Holidays on the Hill Annual Train Show will be open as scheduled, rain or shine.
Activities and Displays
Celebrate the season with iconic and immersive exhibits that will delight audiences of all ages. Visitors will be surrounded by the magic of the season as they stroll by colorful characters and enchanting holiday scenes.
The Conservatory Plaza will be transformed into a winter wonderland, featuring whimsical holiday exhibits leading to the Conservatory. Once inside, you will be surrounded by trains chugging along twelve multi-level tracks, over bridges, through tunnels, under waterfalls and by quaint holiday scenes all framed with colorful seasonal plants and decorations!
Enjoy the trains all lit during special Twilight Trains nights! The train tables will all be a glow with twinkling lights throughout the Conservatory. A truly magical sight!
Santa will be available to meet with children in his Holiday Cottage located opposite the Conservatory at scheduled times during each session.
Don’t forget a visit with Santa!
Visits with Santa are only good during your scheduled ticket time.
Please be aware that only individuals with pre-purchased tickets will be able to visit with Santa due to popularity of this event. While we make every effort to have Santa available for all sessions before Christmas, we cannot guarantee his availability at every session.
Schedule, times and dates are subject to change without notice.
Go to the Lasdon website or call (914) 864-7268 for more information.
Lasdon Park and Arboretum is a Westchester County Park on Route 35 in Somers. The GPS address is 2610 Amawalk Road, Katonah, NY 10536. (directions)
Westchester's Winter Wonderland Drive-thru Holiday Light Extravaganza returns to Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla, creating a memorable and affordable holiday experience the whole family can enjoy! The event is open most days, beginning Saturday, Nov. 23 through Tuesday, Dec. 31. Opens at 5:30 p.m. weekdays, 5 p.m. weekends; end times vary. Tickets are $40.57 per car and reservations are required.
Guests will be dazzled and delighted along the 1.2 miles of holiday lights by several new additions for 2024 including: a new character –Ice Queen– who will be interacting with children of all ages from the Ice House, kept cool in the breeze of Old Man Winter. Other brand-new additions include 125-foot pixel wall filled with thousands of lights that will illuminate scenes of the winter night sky, and OtoCast App that will allow families to hear magical stories of the larger-than-life light displays along the route surrounding the largest holiday Christmas tree in Westchester! Special themed nights, including a Taylor ‘Swiftie’ Night Wednesday, Nov. 27, Princess themed Night Wednesday, Dec. 4, and family-friendly festive New Year’s Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Westchester’s Winter Wonderland is presented by WMCHealth, sponsored by Westchester Parks Foundation and operated by Westchester County Parks. Additional sponsors: Con Edison, Wegmans, Dark Tech Effects, Eclectic Precision, News 12 Westchester, Westchester County Tourism, NY, Robison, M&T Bank, and Iona Preparatory School.
Get more information or call (914) 231-4600.