NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Through October, the festive Grand Market in Ruby Dee Park at Library Green will continue providing a bounty of fresh, local produce, artisanal foods and crafts, and family fun each Saturday, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. On October 6th, a Vegan Food event will take place all day, with samples and recipes for everyone to enjoy. From 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Juggles the Magical Clown will perform hilarious tricks and juggling for the younger set. For grown-ups, the Barndog Band takes “the stage” from 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm.
Oktoberfest will be celebrated on October 13th, when costumed members of the Florian Schantz Polka Band perform a free concert from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. A free market bag will be gifted to any Market-goer wearing lederhosen or other traditional Bavarian garb.
On October 20th the annual BID Family Fall Festival I will take place along with New Rochelle ArtsFest, beginning at 10:00 am with Window Painting and Mask Making. Families with children ages 8 – 12 years are invited to paint seasonal scenes for Halloween and Thanksgiving on the windows of downtown businesses. At the same time, a mask-making workshop geared for younger children will take place in Library Green at the Grand Market. In the event of inclement weather, a rain makeup date will be available by calling 654-2116. Families must pre-register in order to paint a window: email ngainor@newrochelleny.com (654-2116). From 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, the Arts Fest activity will be led by members of the New Rochelle Art Association, as they conduct a rock painting project – and hunt.
The next week, the BID Family Fall Festival II will be the grand finale of the Grand Market’s 2018 season. At 9:45 am, children (accompanied by an adult), are invited to start lining-up at New Street, New Roc City (in front of Regal Cinema), for the annual Merchant’s Urchins Parade. The parade starts at 10:00 am and ends in Ruby Dee Park at Library Green, where participants each get a pumpkin to paint and bring home. Free treat bags are given to all those in costume. In the event of inclement weather, the parade is cancelled and pumpkin painting will take place in the library’s meeting room.
For more information about the BID Grand Market, visit newrochellegrandmarket.com. BID Family
Days are presented by the New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District with the Public
Library, the City School District, and the Department of Parks & Recreation.