Here’s a fun idea for this Father’s Day weekend: Spend a day at the Clearwater Festival in Croton-on-Hudson. On June 16 and 17, Croton Point Park will be transformed into a large folk music and environmental festival featuring Bela Fleck, Ani DiFranco, Arlo Guthrie, and Joan Osborune, among more than two dozen other singer/songwriters.
Kids under 12 are free, and there is a ton of stuff for them to do: Take them to Discovery Tent for a look at Hudson River fish life. A puppet show by Arm-of-the-Sea-Theater (shown below) will inspire even the youngest of environmentalists into action. At Story Grove, lively storytellers will spin tales under a shady tree. Kids can sing, clap, stomp and shout at the Circle of Song exhibit, all the while learning how to juggle from clowns and jesters goofing off in the Juggling Area. Don’t miss the Working Waterfront. Here, families can paddle kayaks.
When I was a kid, we took a field trip up the Hudson on the sloop Clearwater, a world-renowned floating environmental education classroom, and it was an unforgettable experience. This weekend, you can go for a two hour sail on this historic replica tall ship or the schooner Mystic Whaler at the Clearwater Festival. Seriously — don’t miss this. Both ships are stunning, and the Hudson River on a sunny day is spectacular. Buy tickets to this event in advance. ($45 for adults, $15 for children 12 and under.)
Don’t pack lunch. In addition to a variety of festival food booths – fresh squeezed lemonade, falafel, crepes, smoothies, etc — there’s an Artisanal Food and Farm Market. Find foods from local farms and locally-produced specialty products.
Also on the grounds is a Juried Handmade Crafts and Fine Art Fair. Think: homemade toys by AEWooden Toys, jewelry made from recycled glass by FestivalReGlass, and these funky silverware wind chimes from The Shabby Chic Garden. Marketplace will feature additional shopping booths plus a Green Living Expo.
Gates open both days at 9am, but check the performance calendar for specific times of performances. It pays to book tickets in advance. A ticket costs $75 per day or $120 for a weekend pass; $85 per day or $150 if purchased at the gate.Kids under 12 are free.
If you go, tweet us @weewestchester and let us know that you made it!
