As we move into November, the weather will be turning chilly and the days will be getting shorter. But as one door closes, another opens. Some of the best shows and performances of the year are coming up. There is something for everyone. Shows tailored to preschoolers, Disney shows for the princess and pirate crowd, concerts and musicals for the music lovers, live action shows for the thrill seekers and holiday shows for all of the nostalgic and festive folks.

Why not head to a local Westchester County or nearby theater, concert venue or preforming arts center to experience live entertainment with your family? Book your tickets in advance before they are sold out.

Did we miss one? As always, you can find a full listing of things to do this weekend, recurring events and other upcoming events on our Community Calendar. Events are free to add so we encourage our readers and local businesses to post great family events.

PAW Patrol Live!
Sat Nov 9th - Sun 10th
The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
Wed Nov 13th 
The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT

The Little Engine That Could Earns Her Whistle
Sun Nov 17th 11:00am - 2:30pm
Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck

Rosie Revere, Engineer
Sat Jan 18th
Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck

Pete The Cat
Sat Feb 29th
Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck, NY

The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites
 Sun Mar 1st 
The Performing Arts Center Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd, Purchase, NY

The Pout-Pout Fish 
Sat Mar 28th
Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck

Random Farms Kids' Theater presents Frozen Jr.
Mon Nov 11th - Tue 26th 
Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main St, Tarrytown, NY

Disney's NEWSIES - The Broadway Musical
Fri Nov 22nd - Sun 24th 
Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main St, Irvington

Peter Pan
Sat Dec 7th
Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck, NY

Disney's The ARISTOCATS, Kids
Sat Dec 7th - Sun 8th 
Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main St, Irvington

Disney's NEWSIES - The Broadway Musical
Fri Dec 20th - Sun Jan 12th
White Plains Performing Arts Center, 11 City Pl, White Plains

The Spinning Tales of Peter Pan and Cinderella on Ice
Sat Feb 29th 
The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT

Kidz Bop World Tour
Fri Nov 8th
Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave, White Plains, NY

Mamaroneck Chorus
Thu Dec 12th & ​Fri Dec 13th
Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck

Legally Blonde, The Musical
Fri Jan 24th - Sat 25th 
Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main St, Irvington

1 2 3 Andres
Sat Mar 14th
Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck

Treehouse Shakers: The Boy Who Grew Flowers
Sun Mar 22nd 3:00pm
The Performing Arts Center Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd, Purchase, NY

Arch 8 Rising Tide
Sat Nov 23rd 
The Performing Arts Center Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd, Purchase, NY

"The Science of Magic"
Thu Dec 5th 
The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT

Casey Carle's BubbleMania
Sun Dec 29th 
The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT

Harlem Globetrotters
Tue Dec 31st
Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave, White Plains,

The Amazing Max
Sun Jan 26th 
The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT

Flip Flop Circus
Sun Feb 9th 
The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT

Playtime at The Palace Mr. Fish "Fabulous Forces"
Sun Feb 16th 
The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT

MUMMENSCHANZ: you & me
Sun Feb 23rd 
The Performing Arts Center Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road Purchase, NY

Air Play
Feb 28th 
The Performing Arts Center Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd, Purchase, NY

The Peking Acrobats
Sun Mar 29th
Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck

Close to You A Carpenters Christmas
Fri Nov 29th 
The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT

​The Nutcracker, An Amanda Kupillas Dance Production
Sat Dec 14th 
Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main St, Irvington

A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail
Fri Nov 29th
White Plains Performing Arts Center, 11 City Pl, White Plains,

Twas The Night Before Christmas
Sat Nov 30th 
The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT

8th Annual Westchester All-Stars and Friends Christmas for Veterans Concert
Fri Dec 6th 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, 1008 Brown St, Peekskill

The Laurie Berkner Band Holiday Celebration
Sat Dec 7th 
Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main St, Tarrytown, NY

Dickens's 'Christmas Carol'
Sat Dec 7th - Sun 15th 
Philipsburg Manor, 381 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow

Westchester Ballet Company Presents "The Nutcracker"
Fri Dec 13th - Sun 15th 
Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave, White Plains, NY

A Christmas Carol
Fri Dec 13th 
The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT

Brunch With Santa & Sing Along
Dec 14th 
Westchester Broadway Theatre, 1 Broadway Plaza, Elmsford, NY

Canadian Brass: Christmas Time Is Here
Sun Dec 15th
The Performing Arts Center Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd, Purchase, NY​

Santa Visits the Rosen House
Sun Dec 15th
Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd, Katonah

The Magic Dreidels
Thu Dec 26th & Mon 30th
White Plains Performing Arts Center, 11 City Pl, White Plains

Have you seen any of these shows? Share your experiences in the comments below. 

Ah, homework. *Insert grimace here.* It’s one of the endless chores of being a student. And our kids have to do it. Every day. After a full day of school. On repeat.

And nobody likes it. Right? I am correct in saying that NOBODY likes it?!

But homework lasts from the end of elementary school on through college, so the sooner our kids can develop habits to master it, the better. It ain’t goin’ nowhere!

*More grimacing. Insert eye roll for good measure.*

Most people who give homework argue that not only is it great for reinforcing what kids learned in school that day, but it also gets them practicing life skills like time management, organization, and responsibility. So fair enough!

You can empathize with your kids because you’ve done your fair share of homework too. But I bet you can see just how much harder it is these days with all the distractions available for our kids and teens. Aside from the dinging and pinging of social media and smartphones, so much homework is now computer-based, and ohhhh the tabs they could open and the browsing they could be doing instead! It’s just so tempting to, like, look at a couple of cat memes first…

So you can see how a simple homework assignment could turn into a field day of distraction or get drawn out way longer than it should. But the easiest way to instill good homework habits is to talk to your kids about it so they’re aware of the challenges they face. Then they’ll be able to self-regulate and guide themselves to be more efficient and less distracted… and this is a skill that’s useful forever. Like through high school, college, and even work days in the office. Here’s how to help your child make their homework habits a little healthier or “improve their homework hygiene” if you will.

1 – Tell them you feel for ’em.
Empathize. You know homework can feel like torture. You know how hard it is to focus after a full day of school. And you’re aware that they’d rather be doing other things and the Internet is just calling their name…

2 – Make it an interesting convo!
This isn’t the time for nagging or judging. Stay calm and keep the subject neutral but interesting.
For instance, you could ask them to guess how long the average student stays focused on homework before switching to a technological distraction. The answer is six minutes, by the way. Yup, bring up this study. It’s true!

Or talk to them about the different types of distractions and which one they think affects them more. Is it usually an external distraction, like the light of an Instagram notification or a vibration from their phone? Or is it more an internal one, like a flash in their brain that says “I should just check Snapchat real quick!”?

3 – Strategize
​How do they do approach homework as it stands now? Do they make a to-do list? Do they get everything set up on the kitchen counter and put their phone away before diving in? Then throw out some ideas of your own… (or mine, whatever).

• Get some exercise in before doing homework. The body learns more efficiently this way. (Perfect if your kid has just come home from sports practice anyway!)
• Start with the task they dread the most. If they can just work on it for ten minutes, that gets over the mental barrier of doing it and makes it more approachable.
• Try the “Pomodoro Method” – set a timer and work on homework for 25 minutes straight with no distractions. When the timer goes off, take a short break of about five minutes before jumping back in. Repeat this a few times and then take a longer break… or however long you need to finish up all the homework. It helps the brain get over distractions and be more productive.
• During homework breaks, they can check social media or get on the Internet if they like, but mix it up with things like playing with a pet, chatting with you, or getting a breath of fresh air outside.
• If all else fails and they’re really having a tough time keeping their technological distractions in check, there are apps for parents to monitor their Internet usage during homework time. But it’s better if they can learn to monitor themselves!

Getting into these healthy homework habits can help your child be more independent, focused, and efficient. They know they have to do it, so why not streamline the process, eliminate distractions, and get homework finished so they can do the stuff they really want to do after school… like hang out with you maybe? Hey, we can dream…

About the Author: 
Laurie Wolk is an Author, Educator & Motivational Speaker focusing on parenting adolescents and social media. A “go to” girl since childhood and a cheerleader at heart, her passion is helping parents and young girls learn how to communicate and connect with themselves, each other and the outside world.

She works directly with companies, schools, organizations and individuals on building confidence, leadership and digital citizenship skills. Her goal: teaching girls how to put down their digital devices and develop “in real life” communication and relationship skills. 

A graduate of Emory University, Laurie received her BA in Psychology and is the Author of the book Girls Just Want to Have Likes: How to Raise Confident Girls in the Face of Social Media Madness due in bookstores nationwide this August. She is the Editor of The Spark Report, a weekly report that helps parents of tweens/teens spark meaningful conversations with their children. Laurie received advanced certification at the Martha Beck and Girls Leadership Institutes and is on the Board of the Westchester Children’s Museum and at Girls Leadership.
​
 An engaged and hands-on mother of three + dog, Laurie understands adolescents and connects with them both as a guide and a friend, teaching them important social and emotional skills that will serve them for a lifetime. She has been called a “modern mentor” by clients and forms natural connections early on with both parent and child.

www.lauriewolk.com

Halloween season in Westchester County is kind of a big deal. After all, Sleepy Hollow is considered by some to be one of the "most haunted places in the world." What better setting for Halloween attractions? Extraordinary jack o'lantern displays, spooky haunted houses, terrifying cemetery tours, vast pumpkin patches and more will put you in Halloween mode! Beware of the horror that may be lurking in the shadows, some attractions are not appropriate for young children.

Displays & Pumpkins
Watch thousands of glowing jack o'lanterns come to life with amazing carvings, extraordinary displays and synchronized lighting. Want to see how it's done? Head to the Pumpkin Carving Face-Off or demonstrations at the NYBG to see the magic happen.

• The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze- Runs until Nov 30, reserve tickets in advance-- READ THE BLOG
• Night of 1,000 Jack O'Lanterns- Oct 10-20, reserve tickets in advance
• Spooky Pumpkin Garden & More Halloween Events at the NY Botanical Garden- Runs through Oct 31, see details for individual events, some require advance tickets

Festivals
​Food, drinks, live music, trick-or-treating, face painting, hayrides, you'll find it at these spook-free family festivals. Have a seasonal brew or cider and get your Halloween on.

• Fall Orchard Festivals- see Apple Picking, Pumpkins, Hayrides, Donuts and More
• Bear Mountain Oktoberfest- Runs Friday-Sunday until Oct 20
• Goose feather's Oktoberfest- Oct 5
• "Oktoberfest" Comes to Yorktown- Oct 12​
• Halloween Spooktacular Event at Cross County Shopping Center- Oct 19
• HarvestFest on the Hill- Oct 19
• Rye Town Park 2019 Fall Festival- Oct 20
• Forest O'Fears: Halloween Family Fun Festival- Oct 25-26

More Special Events
Grab those costumes! Dressing up is just one piece of these frightfully fun celebrations, ideal for all ages.

• Boo at the Bronx Zoo- Weekends Sept 28-Nov 3 plus Mon Oct 14
• Stew Leonard's Yonkers Halloween Events- Multiple events, see specific dates and reserve tickets in advance​
• White Plains Zombie Walk- Oct 26
• Spooky Tales- Oct 30, reserve tickets in advance

Get into the Halloween spirit with these frightfully fun attractions, best suited for older children and adults. Feel your heart pumping with fear as you step into a haunted house, board a haunted hayride or take a terrifying walk through the woods. Chilling! Be sure to purchase tickets in advance for these popular venues as they typically sell out.

• Home of the 'Legend'- Runs until Nov 3, see specific dates
• Hudson Horrors- Oct 4-27
• The Haunt at Rocky Ledge- Oct 4-Nov 2
• Horseman's Hollow- Oct 4-Nov 3
• Sleepy Hollow Experience- Oct 4-Nov 3
• Irving's Legend- Oct 4-Nov 3
• The Unsilent Picture- Oct 4-Nov 3
• Headless Horseman Silent Movie- Oct 9, 16, 23, 30
• Scared by the Sound Haunted House- Oct 11-27
• Tarrytown Music Hall Ghost Tours- Oct 15-29
• ​Jay Ghoul's House of Curiosities- Oct 17-31
• Forest O'Fears: The Haunting At Cedar Lane- Oct 18-19, Oct 25-26
• Sleepy Hollow’s Annual Haunted Hayride- Oct 25-26
• Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Tours- Runs through Nov 30

​Have you been to any of these events in the past? Post your comments below and share your experiences.

October has arrived and it's that time of year again- ghosts, ghouls, pumpkins, Oktoberfest and more. Westchester County has so much to offer families during the Halloween season, ranging from pumpkin picking to frightening Haunted Houses. As the beautiful autumn weather continues there is no shortage of things to do outside- carnivals, parades, festivals and more. Happy fall!

• Fall Orchard Festivals- see Apple Picking, Pumpkins, Hayrides, Donuts and More
• The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze- Runs until Nov 30, reserve tickets in advance
• Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Tours- Runs through Nov 30, reserve tickets in advance
• Spooky Pumpkin Garden & More Halloween Events at the NY Botanical Garden- Runs through Oct 31, see details for individual events, some require advance tickets
• Bear Mountain Oktoberfest- Runs Friday-Sunday until Oct 20
• Home of the 'Legend'- Runs until Nov 3, see specific dates and reserve tickets in advance
• Boo at the Bronx Zoo- Weekends Sept 28-Nov 3 plus Mon Oct 14
• Stew Leonard's Yonkers Halloween Events- Multiple events, see specific dates and reserve tickets in advance
• Hudson Horrors- Oct 4-27, reserve tickets in advance
• The Haunt at Rocky Ledge- Oct 4-Nov 2, reserve tickets in advance
• Horseman's Hollow- Oct 4-Nov 3, reserve tickets in advance
• Sleepy Hollow Experience- Oct 4-Nov 3, reserve tickets in advance
• Irving's Legend- Oct 4-Nov 3, reserve tickets in advance
• The Unsilent Picture- Oct 4-Nov 3, reserve tickets in advance​
• Goose feather's Oktoberfest- Oct 5
• Headless Horseman Silent Movie- Oct 9, 16, 23, 30, reserve tickets in advance
• Night of 1,000 Jack O'Lanterns- Oct 10-20, reserve tickets in advance
• Scared by the Sound Haunted House- Oct 11-27, reserve tickets in advance
• "Oktoberfest" Comes to Yorktown- Oct 12
• Tarrytown Music Hall Ghost Tours- Oct 15-29, reserve tickets in advance
• Jay Ghoul's House of Curiosities- Oct 17-31, reserve tickets in advance
• Forest O'Fears: The Haunting At Cedar Lane & Halloween Family Fun Festival- Oct 18-19, Oct 25-26, reserve tickets in advance
• Halloween Spooktacular Event at Cross County Shopping Center- Oct 19
• HarvestFest on the Hill- Oct 19
• Rye Town Park 2019 Fall Festival- Oct 20
• Sleepy Hollow’s Annual Haunted Hayride- Oct 25-26, reserve tickets in advance
• White Plains Zombie Walk- Oct 26
• Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow Halloween Parade- Oct 26
• Halloween Spooktacular- Oct 26
• Peekskill Safe Halloween- Oct 26
• Halloween Fall Festival- Oct 26
• Festifall- Oct 27
• Halloween Party and Graveyard Tour- Oct 27
• Spooky Tales- Oct 30, reserve tickets in advance

• Fall Carnival- Oct 2-6
• 10th Annual ArtsFest 2019- Oct 4-6
• Chappaqua Children's Book Festival- Oct 5
• Peekskill Rotary’s 49th Annual Horse Show & Country Fair- Oct 5
• New York Renaissance Faire- last call! Ends October 6
• Third Annual Fall Fun Fest: Celebrating Abilities- Oct 6
• Eastchester Columbus Day Carnival & Parade- Oct 11-14
• 23rd Annual Sleepy Hollow Crafts, Food and Street Fair- Oct 12
• Nyack Famous Street Fair- Oct 13​

• ​Baseball & Sports Card and Memorabilia Show- Oct 4-6
• Art Tour: Guggenheim-Hugo Boss Prize: Simone Leigh- Oct 4
• Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley- Walk for Wishes 2019- Oct 5
• Music Conservatory of Westchester's 90th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration- Oct 5
• Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band- Rock Stars from the Original Cast of the Broadway Hit!- Oct 5
• JBFC Potter-Thon-  Ends October 6
• Annual Support-A-Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer- Oct 6​​
• Family Gardening Days at Ridge Hill- Oct 6
• Youth Archery Lesson Series- Oct 6 and every Sunday
• Hedwig and the Angry Inch- Runs until Oct 12​​
• Moon Mouse- Oct 12
• Make Your Own Clay Whistle- Oct 12
• Halloween Themed Drop In Clay- Oct 12
• The Chair Show- Runs until Oct 19
• 2019 Miles for Medals Walk/Run to benefit Special Olympics NY - Hudson Valley Region- Oct 13
• Halloween Movie Night- Oct 17
• Thursday Night Out: Still-Life Paintings: A BYOB Night Out!- Oct 17
• SOOP Theatre Company's Chicago High School Edition- Oct 17
• Stamford Symphony Opening Weekend Of The  2019 – 2020 Season- Oct 19
• Lunch Invite - Bullying & Resilience: A Medical Perspective- Oct 23

Find a full listing of things to do this weekend, recurring events and other upcoming events on our Community Calendar. Events are free to add so we encourage our readers and local businesses to post great family events.