Arts, Music, Crafts Are on Tap for the Weekend

The air is cooler and crisp. The leaves are just starting to turn. The apples are ripe and juicy. Fall may just be the best season in New York State. Here are some things to do this weekend.

· Arts and Crafts Show: The Fourth Unitarian Society of Westchester is holding its 3rd Annual Fine Arts and Crafts Fair. Local artists and crafters will be displaying their wares at the society at 1698 Strawberry Road in Mohegan Lake. The fair features knit items, pottery, Jewelry, body care, home care and more - all made locally. Sample items from our bake sale, and maybe win one of the fabulous raffle items. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For further information, click here.

· Blessing of the Animals in White Plains: The First Baptist Church in White Plains will hold a blessing of the animals for pets of all religious backgrounds and their owners with a ceremony on Sunday at 10 a.m. Each pet will receive an individual blessing and a treat from senior minister, the Rev. Tim Dalton. First Baptist is partnering with the New Rochelle Humane Society. Participants should bring either pet food or monetary donation for the society. The church is at 456 North Street in White Plains. For further information, click here.

· Blessing of the Animals in Garrison: The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement will hold their annual Procession and Blessing of Animals on Sunday at Graymoor in Garrison, New York. The Blessing of the Animals honors the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals. A celebration of the Eucharist will take place at the Chapel of Our Lady of Atonement at 11:00 a.m. At 2:00 p.m., there will be a procession of animals and their human friends beginning at the Chapel. All animals, large and small, must be on leashes, leads, or in carriers while on the premises. Photos of pets unable to be transported can be blessed as well. In the event of rain, the blessing is held inside the Chapel. Graymoor is located at 1350 Rt. 9, Garrison, NY 10524. For more information, call the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center at (845) 424-3671, ext. 2111 or e-mail GraymoorCenter@AtonementFriars.org.

· Ballet des Amériques: Tarrytown Music Hall, at 13 Main Street, will host a performance by Ballet des Amériques at 2 p.m. Saturday. The "Ballet of the Americas” is a company of classically trained dancers performing works of French-American director and choreographer Carole Alexis. Tickets are $25 to $50. For further information, click here.

· High Tor Movie Showing: “High Tor.” the first "made-for-TV" movie was originally broadcast on CBS in 1956. It is based on Maxwell Anderson’s play, which led to the preservation of High Tor Mountain by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. The film, with Bing Crosby and Julie Anderson, will be shown at the Lafayette Theatre at 97 Lafayette Avenue in Suffern at 11 a.m. A VIP luncheon after the showing is sold out. Tickets for the film screening are $5 per person and are available at the Lafayette Theatre's ticketing site at Fandango.com. For further information, click here.

· Theater on Bannerman’s Island: The Bannerman Castle Trust and Theater on the Road Production is presenting “Poe’s Last Mystery” on Bannerman’s Island in the middle of the Hudson River. The outdoor performance of the interactive show will take place on Saturday at 5 p.m. The boat leaves the Long Dock at Long Dock Road in Beacon for the island at 3:00 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. for the 5:00pm show. Tickets are $65 and are available through the Bannerman’s Castle website.

Image – Kristine Paulus, Wikimedia commons.