Van Cortlandt House Museum
Seasonal Events
Van Cortlandt House Museum sponsors and hosts a wide variety of events and activities throughout the year. Listed here are the annual programs and the season of the year they fall in. To find about more about these events or the specific date they will be held on in any given year, please contact Van Cortlandt House Museum. E-mail: queries@vancortlandthouse.org or call 718-543-3344.
Spring
March · April · May
Easter Eggstravaganza - A fun-filled day of Easter themed activities including egg hunts, egg races, face painting, craft projects, and musical entertainment. Look at the Easter Eggstravaganza Photo Album to see all the fun!
Summer
June · July · August
Adventures in Time Summer History Camp - Summer camp for the history-minded child. Activities focus on the daily life of children in the 18th century and soldiers during the Revolutionary War. We bet you'll want to enlist too when you see these photographs of 2002's Adventures in Time!
Fall
September · October · November
Native Harvest Festival - A festival celebrating traditional Native American culture through music, dance, and storytelling. Past Harvest Festivals have included the Drum Circle Singers and Mixashawn. For more information about this event sponsored by the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park, contact Master of Ceremonies and Event Coordinator Bobby Gonzalez.
Life in the Colonies: A Celebration of 18th Century Life - Co-Sponsored by Van Cortlandt House Museum and the NYC Urban Park Rangers, Life in the Colonies is a festival celebrating the sights and sounds of a typical18th market day. In the 18th century, Market Days were an opportunity for members of the community to gather together and socialize, eat, drink, and purchase the wares being offered by itinerant craftsmen. At "Life in the Colonies", the craftsmen don't sell their wares but they do show off their authentic skills. Browse through the photo album to see what Life in the Colonies was all about. Click here to view the flyer.
Haunted Happenings - Brought to you by the Van Cortlandt and Pelham Bay Parks Administrator, The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park, the NYC Urban Park Rangers, and Van Cortlandt House Museum, Haunted Happenings is guaranteed to scare up some fun. Activities include: scary stories, tours of the haunted basement, hikes along the haunted walk, visits with the fortune teller, magic shows, face painting, craft projects, and much, much more! See just how spooky things get around here in the Haunted Happenings Photo Album. For more information about the event, or to participate as a volunteer contact the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park or call (718) 430-1890.
Holiday
December
Music for Saint Nicholas - A charming holiday tradition presented by The Bronx Arts Ensemble, Music for St. Nicholas explores the folklore and legends associated with the patron saint of children in music and song. Tickets are required and are available after November 1st of each year from the Bronx Arts Ensemble (718) 601-7399.
Van Cortlandt by Candlelight - Held on two consecutive weekends in mid-December, Van Cortlandt by Candlelight allows visitors to experience Van Cortlandt House decked out the finest 18th century holiday decorations and bathed in the warm glow of candlelight. Warning to fans of Santa Claus as envisioned by Clement Clark Moore - you won't find a Christmas Tree or red-suited jolly old elf anywhere near Van Cortlandt House. What you will find is a glittering display of sugary sweets, the legend of Saint Nicholas explaining how stockings hung by a chimney became associated with Christmas, and a cheery glass of warm cider at the conclusion of your tour.
Winter
January · February
George Washington's Days at Van Cortlandt House - In honor of our first President's birthday, step back in time to October of 1776 when General George Washington was in residence plotting strategies for the engagement which would become known at the Battle of White Plains. Van Cortlandt House has been turned over for the General's use and interpreted to look as it might have during his three day stay.