Beaches Open; Outdoor Country Cooking; Blacksmith Workshop

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Here are some of the activities happening over the holiday weekend in Westchester's parks.

THURSDAY, MAY 23

Genealogy 101 – 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Muscoot Farm, Route 100, Somers – (914) 864-7282. Ever wondered how to start exploring your family tree? A workshop for ages 16 and up to help steer you in the right direction. Fee: $10 per person; registration required at (914) 864-7286.

FRIDAY, MAY 24

New York Liberty v Indiana Fever – 7:30 p.m. Westchester County Center, White Plains – (914) 995-4050. Tickets and information countycenter.biz

SATURDAY, MAY 25

Blacksmith Workshop – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Muscoot Farm, Route 100, Somers – (914) 864-7282. A full-day workshop with master blacksmith Bill Fitzgerald to make your own items in our blacksmith shop. For adults 18 and older. Fee and registration required.

World Otter Day – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Trailside Nature Museum at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Routes 35 and 121 South, Cross River -- (914) 864-7322. Learn about ongoing river otter research in the park, explore otter artifacts and create your own otter crafts to take home.

Outdoor Country Cooking – 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Lenoir Preserve, Dudley Street, Yonkers – (914) 968-5851. We will prepare fresh food over an open fire using a cast iron pot. We will also be discussing food culture and the different styles of preparation. Fee: $5 per person; registration required.

Three Sisters Garden Workshop – 12 noon – 1:30 p.m. Muscoot Farm, Route 100, Somers – (914) 864-7282. Find out the history behind this and help plant one at the farm. Fee: $5; registration required at (914) 864-7286.

G.I. Joe: “Pigeon Hero” of World War II – 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Playland Park, Rye – (914) 967-8720. Find out about the impact and the important role that birds played in the military during wartime and how they still work with us today. And, meet some “ambassador birds” up close.

Volunteer Work Project: Clearing Debris from the Parking Lots – 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Marshlands Conservancy, Boston Post Road, Rye – (914) 835-4466. Great for service credit hours. Please bring work gloves. All hand tools will be provided.

SATURDAY – SUNDAY, MAY 25 - 26

Art Show: Works by the Westchester Watercolor Group -- 12 noon – 4 p.m. Muscoot Farm, Route 100, Somers – (914) 864-7282. Works of art on view in the historic main house weekends through May.

SATURDAY – MONDAY, MAY 25 – 27

Beaches Open for the Season – 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson – (914) 862-5290; Playland Park, Rye – (914) 813-7010; Glen Island Park, New Rochelle – (914) 813-6720. Open weekends only through June 23, then full-time when all pools and beaches will be open for the season on Friday, June 28. Admission and parking fees apply.

Playland Park, Playland Parkway, Rye – (914) 813-7010. Playland Open: Sat. – 12 noon – 11 p.m.; Sun. – 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Mon. – 12 noon – 10 p.m. Admission and parking fees apply.

SUNDAY, MAY 26

Farmers Market – 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Muscoot Farm, Route 100, Somers – (914) 864-7282. Local farmers offer a variety of produce every Sunday through October.

Meet the Babies Day – 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Muscoot Farm, Route 100, Somers – (914) 864-7282. Stop by to see the farm moms showing off their new offspring.

“What’s in Bloom?” Walking Tour – 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Lasdon Park, Arboretum and Veterans Memorial, Route 35, Somers – (914) 864-7268. Join the horticulturist for a walking tour of Lasdon's spring blooming perennials and shrubs. Meet at the Shop at Lasdon.

MONDAY, MAY 27

Veterans Appreciation Day – 12 noon – 10 p.m. Playland Park, Playland Parkway, Rye – (914) 813-7010. Helicopter landing at noon. Register through Westchester County Office of Veterans Affairs at (914) 995-2145.

Fourth Monday Bird Walk – 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.Croton Point Nature Center, Croton Point Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson – (914) 862-5290. Bring binoculars and join the experts from Saw Mill River Audubon in the ballfield parking lot.