Over 800 park lovers enjoyed hours of unplugged, old-fashioned activities at this year’s Jay Day Fall Family Festival. There were so many activities to choose from face painting to riding around the Jay Meadow in a horse-drawn carriage by Pelham Bit Carriages, to just sitting on picnic blanket with ice cream listening to storyteller Joy Smith, to learning how to draw, make prints and masks under the shade of an old tulip tree with Caldecott award-winning authors Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey and Tracey Baptiste.
Families sat for hand-cut silhouettes by Varin Acevado, watched students from the East Point Dance group perform, and tapped their toes to Americana tunes from Citygrass. A rocket show by Mad Science drew oohs and ahs from aspiring young innovators. New this year, visitors could also shop in a market filled with unique, handmade works by 18 artisans – among the fine crafts featured were hand-knit sweaters, colorful glassware and organic maple syrup curated by Dawn Manwaring of beehive. The joyous outdoor event was co-chaired by Tracy Edwards and Lindsay Martin with assistance from Jen Soliman and Claire Weschler, and amazing JHC staff, volunteers and trustees as well as partners like the Boy Scouts and Harrison Public Library. The event is part of New York State’s annual Hudson River Valley Ramble – the Jay Estate is one of 100 participating sites each year. Special thanks to Michael Phillips for capturing the fun on video
Cover photo by Kim Crichlow. More photos coming soon.