Jay Day is our classic fall family festival! Enjoy live music by New York based bluegrass band, Citigrass, and play music with Bach to Rock plus custom silhouette portraits from Varin, face painters, pony rides and a petting zoo from Bronx Equestrian. Guests can snack on nibbles from food truck vendors like Crazy Taco Mex, Leila’s Creperie, Food Truck Refinery, Jimmy’s Soft Serve ice cream, and more local treats from Westchester and the Hudson Valley!
Admission is $50 per family or $20 per individual for ticketed activities on our website: www.jayheritagecenter.org. For more info, email Meredith Slater at mjslater.jhc@gmail.com.
ACTIVITIES AT THE 1838 JAY MANSION!
- 12:30-3:00pm Citigrass Urban bluegrass band from Brooklyn
- Get a one-of-a-kind Hand-Cut Silhouette of your child from Varin Acevedo of Sweet Silhouettes in the 1870 Dining Room – (Children 10 & under please)
- Explore the various rooms of the 1838 Mansion
- The Art of Origami-Learn the ancient craft of Japanese paper folding and make a flower or butterfly with friends from the Harrison Origami Volunteers.
LUNCH and GAMES IN THE MEADOW
- Delicious Bites! Enjoy lunch offerings from local food trucks Crazy Taco Mex, Leila’s Crepes, Food Truck Refinery, and Sunrise Pizza
- Try your hand at Old Fashioned Hoop Roll, Cornhole and Ring Toss in the Jay Meadow
- Chase giant bubbles with James Daniel Entertainment
- Learn about rockets with Mad Science at 1:30
- Explore New York’s vibrant history with storyteller Joy Smith
- Visit the talented Face Painters-Don’t be shy! Ask for a rainbow or tiger face
STROLL THE HISTORIC AND REIMAGINED JAY GARDENS
- Meet JHC Director of Horticulture and Garden Education Lucia Maestro and join her to collect seeds to grow your own garden
- Make your own Broomstick with our garden volunteers
- Enjoy Rich Soil, unique sculptures by American artist Kristine Mays
- Mini Boat Races with Rye Boy Scouts Troop 2- Take control and race your boat on the reflecting pool
- Scavenger Hunt– Enjoy the gardens with all your senses. Make sure to visit all three garden rooms to find what you’re looking for.
- Make a Quilt with Jim Britt
- Visit the Westchester Land Trust Pop-up Pollinator Tent to learn how to bring more birds and butterflies to your garden.
- Browse the American Herb Society’s fragrant offerings!
WALK “JAY WAY”
- Archaeology with Eugene Bosch– Hold artifacts in your hand from 4000-year-old projectile points to an 18th century slate pencil used by one of Rye’s earliest students
- Pony rides– Take a ride on a pony and imagine a time before cars, trucks and buses
- Make Fall play dough and paint with Wunderkind Early Learning
- Shop one-of-a-kind jewelry for a cause from Wear for Wonder
- Sample Ronnybrook Farm’s chocolate milk and learn about Starlight Dairy delivery service.
- Say hello to goats, rabbits, sheep and more at our friendly Petting Zoo from Pelham Carriage
- Learn about Safe Social Media and Phone Use with In Real Life (IRL) Rye
- Join Sew Happy for an exciting crafting activity (Kids 6 & older please)
SWEET TREATS, CRAFTS & MUSIC AT THE 1907 Wachenheim Center!
- Music with Bach to Rock, Mamaroneck – Try out the drums or an electric guitar plus student performances throughout the day
- Art in the Community with Jing (Ellen) Xu and Lanxia (Summer) Xie. The group is dedicated to community-based projects and were involved in the Elmhurst coloring project supported by the New York Foundation for the Arts and Street Works Earth 2024
- Stay cool with a refreshing iced beverage and tasty bite from Rye’s own MKT
- Build a robot with MakeInspires and take home a 3-D printed surprise
- Ooh La La – Enjoy some classic French delights from Petite Bretagne
- Enjoy a cone or a shake of soft serve from Jimmy’s Soft Serve
Immense thanks to our Jay Day Committee Tracy Edwards, Lindsay Bello Martin, Amy Villalba, and Caroline Wallach; and to our many tireless volunteers. We couldn’t do it without Richie Castellano and all of Rye DPW, our very own JHC Staff and all the families who support us!