Lots To Do, See and Hear at Aquefest Next Weekend

Whether you’re looking to enjoy some folk music, get an inside view of the Aqueduct tunnel or participate in a family-friendly bike ride, head to the Old Croton Aqueduct trail next weekend, where the annual Aquefest will be taking place.

“It’s just a beautiful day to come out and be with the community,” says Eileen Charles, the executive producer of the event. “You can stay put in one area and enjoy the day in one location or stroll or cycle up and down the trail and stumble on great activities for the whole family.”

Now in its seventh year, the event, which is run by the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct, takes place from 11 a.m. to around 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 15 in Sleepy Hollow, Ossining and Yonkers and on Sunday, Oct. 16 in Hastings, Irvington and Dobbs Ferry, according to a release.

Activities at the event range from stretching and running safety demonstrations by the Rivertown Runners in Sleepy Hollow on Saturday to a henna artist on hand in Irvington on Sunday to a performance by Grammy winner Tom Chapin, who will be playing at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Dobbs Ferry, according to Charles and the release.

Have kids? There will be lots going on to entertain the younger set. Tree climbers from Almstead Trees will be putting ropes in a tree and giving kids rides and the company Making Books Sing will use a puppet—whose name is Patchy—to teach kids about local water, according to Charles. Plus, artist Karen Kelleher who often creates paintings of the aqueduct, will be offering a painting lesson for the little ones in Irvington. 

And if you want to get in a little exercise before the festivities get underway, you can participate in “The Rivertowns Roll.”

“[Cyclists] can get on board one of two rides: a 10-mile family ride down to Yonkers and back or a more challenging 25-mile group ride from Dows Lane [in Irvington] to Yonkers, then around up the South County trail,” says Charles.

She also notes that a mini-bus will be available throughout the day on Sunday and will make stops in Dobbs Ferry, Irvington and Hastings.

Charles, who has been involved with the organization for 18 years, says that while there has always been an “Aqueduct awareness” day, it was on a smaller scale. But after receiving in Dobbs Ferry, additional fundraising was needed and the idea for Aquefest was born. 

Today, the free event serves as a fundraiser for the organization, with proceeds from donations and sales of items like t-shirts, going towards projects such as renovations on Keeper’s house and creating signage for the trail, Charles says.

It’s also a way to raise awareness and encourage involvement. “Our goal is to have active members in every community along the aqueduct trail,” says Charles, who explains the organization is looking for volunteers from all the areas, particularly those further north on the trail.

For more information on times and activities broken down by town, click here. You can find the official press release here. And to sign up for the Rivertowns Roll, click here.