Four days of art, music, theater, history, markets and family activities in New Rochelle and surrounding communities, Oct. 15–18, 2026
New Rochelle ArtsFest returns Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, with a sprawling schedule of gallery exhibitions, open artists’ studios, music and dance, theater, storytelling, film, hands-on workshops, and outdoor attractions. The festival also extends into Pelham, Larchmont, Scarsdale, Mount Vernon and the Bronx.
The New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA), a nonprofit founded in 1975, has organized ArtsFest as an annual fall tradition since 2009. Unless an event specifically lists a charge, admission is free, according to the festival brochure. Some free events still require advance reservations. Schedules, availability, and weather-related plans may change, so consult the organizers’ links before leaving home.
Quick links: Start here
- Official ArtsFest homepage — the festival’s central information page.
- Full 2026 ArtsFest brochure (19-page PDF) — detailed descriptions, times, participating artists and venues.
- Official tickets and reservations directory — links to booking pages for selected events.
- Interactive map of ArtsFest venues — useful for planning multiple stops.
- New Rochelle Council on the Arts — information about the organization and its year-round programs.
At a glance: Big attractions
| When | Event | Where | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. | The Moth StorySLAM | Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 311 Huguenot St. | Live five-minute stories on “American Dreams.” Doors open 6:30 p.m.; tickets $15. Tickets. |
| Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Tall ship Lynx tours | New Rochelle Municipal Marina | Historic schooner tied to the festival’s American Revolution commemorations. |
| Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Classic Car Show | Hamilton Avenue lot near City Hall | Vintage cars, a Waymo autonomous vehicle and brass-band music. Sunday rain date. |
| Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | ArtsFest Makers Market | Thomas Paine Cottage, 20 Sicard Ave. | Artists, artisan merchandise, food and live music. Sunday rain date. |
| Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | Youth Makers Market | Thomas Paine Cottage | Young creators sell their work. |
| Saturday, Oct. 17, 3–5 p.m. | ArtsFest Dance Festival | Whitney Young Auditorium, New Rochelle High School | Free performances by dance companies and schools. |
| Sunday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m.–noon | Battle of Pell’s Point reenactment | Orchard Beach, Pelham Bay Park | Revolutionary War anniversary program; arrive early. |
| Sunday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. | Historic mural trolley tours | Depart Hotel NoMa | Guided looks at New Rochelle’s murals. |
| Sunday, Oct. 18, 1–7 p.m. | ArtsFest closing celebration | Echo Bay Yacht Club | Art, music, history and views of the Lynx; boat trips require $5 round-trip reservations (children younger than 12 free). Reservations. |
Thursday, October 15: Opening day
Thursday features art exhibitions across multiple venues, hands-on creative activities, and an especially busy evening of music and performance.
| Time | Event | Location / details |
|---|---|---|
| 6:45 a.m.–9 p.m. | Vivid Views | JCC Mid-Westchester, 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale; paintings by Lori Kapner Hosp. |
| 9 a.m.–8 p.m. | New Rochelle Art Association 110th Open Juried Show | Lumen Winter Gallery, New Rochelle Public Library, 1 Library Plaza; seven artwork categories. Library. |
| 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Sight Line | NRCA Rotunda Gallery, City Hall, 515 North Ave.; mixed-media exhibition with 11 artists. Enter and park behind City Hall on Beaufort Place. |
| 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Beneath the Visible | Pelham Art Center, 155 Fifth Ave.; an exhibition exploring nature, change and renewal. Pelham Art Center. |
| 9 a.m.–7 p.m. | Ordinary Magic / Fragments of Light | The Gentleman’s Lab, 584A and 1291 North Ave.; work by Marc Deliz and Gina Kingsley. |
| 10 a.m.–noon | Paper Cutting Traditions | New Rochelle Public Library; adult art workshop exploring papercutting, including Jewish traditions. |
| 10:30 a.m.–noon | Challah Club | JCC Mid-Westchester; challah-baking workshop, $45. Tickets. |
| 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Surrealism | Palmer Art Gallery, 1947 Palmer Ave., Larchmont; Joan Miró lithographs. |
| 11 a.m.–7 p.m. | Highbrook Studios | 222 Highbrook Ave. North, Pelham; meet artists and browse their work. |
| Noon–5 p.m. | Best of Mamaroneck Artists Guild | 1987 Palmer Ave., Larchmont; members’ award show. |
| 1–4 p.m. | The Music Man film and discussion | JCC Mid-Westchester; free film followed by conversation with librarian and film historian Chris Poggiali. |
| 5–9 p.m. | A Mural of Houses | Town House Kitchen + Drinks, 559 Main St.; collaborative mural, all ages; free but reservation required by emailing thomas@townhousekd.com. |
| 5–10 p.m. | Art and live music | Alvin & Friends, 14 Memorial Highway; artwork by Alvin Clayton and music. |
| 6–7 p.m. | Liner Notes: The Beatles’ Let It Be | New Rochelle Public Library; music listening and discussion with Tyler Martinez. |
| 7 p.m. | ArtsFest kickoff concert: FROG | Ossie Davis Theater, New Rochelle Public Library; hometown indie rock band. |
| 7 p.m. | MINGO musical theater bingo | Alvin & Friends; doors 6 p.m.; tickets $47.84. Tickets. |
| 7–8:30 p.m. | Beyond the Headlines with Mo News | JCC Mid-Westchester; Mosheh Oinounou and Pamela Pekerman; $36. Tickets. |
| 7 p.m. | Intended, by Amy Frey | Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, 895 Shore Road, Bronx; Revolutionary War-themed play; [latex]40 general/[/latex]35 reduced admission. Tickets. |
| 7–10 p.m. | Celebration of Vinny Pastore | Posto 22, 22 Division St.; tribute with dinner and performances; $80 plus 20% gratuity; reserve via FrancisSisco@aol.com. |
| 8–11 p.m. | Singer-songwriter evening | 18th Ward Brewing, 40 Division St.; performances and songwriting conversation. |
Friday, October 16: Storytelling, jazz and art
Friday continues the gallery and open-studio programming, adds workshops, and ends with the Moth, live music and late-night performances.
| Time | Event | Location / details |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning–evening | Vivid Views | JCC Mid-Westchester; see full schedule for Friday gallery hours. |
| 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | New Rochelle Art Association juried exhibition | New Rochelle Public Library. |
| 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Sight Line | City Hall Rotunda Gallery. |
| 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Beneath the Visible | Pelham Art Center. |
| 10 a.m.–noon | Fran Sisco book performance | Pelham Art Center. |
| 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Zahra Jlayer retrospective | Vanda Gallery, 379 Huguenot St. |
| 11 a.m.–7 p.m. | Highbrook Studios open studios | Pelham. |
| Noon–5 p.m. | Best of Mamaroneck Artists Guild | Larchmont. |
| 1–3 p.m. | Intro to Cyanotype Printing | JCC Mid-Westchester; $55. Tickets. |
| 1:30–2:30 p.m. | Turning Nature Walks into Scientific Discovery | Sheldrake Environmental Center, 685 Weaver St., Larchmont; $30. Tickets. |
| 2–4 p.m. | Fran Sisco and Friends | Posto 22; $30. |
| 5–9 p.m. | A Mural of Houses | Town House Kitchen + Drinks; free with advance time reservation. |
| 7 p.m. | Intended | Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum; ticketed. |
| 7–9 p.m. | Wayne Tucker celebrates Miles Davis | Ossie Davis Theater at New Rochelle Public Library. |
| 7–10:30 p.m. | The Haunt at Wildcliff Mansion | 44 Wildcliff Road; ticketed, prices start at $25. Tickets. |
| 7:30 p.m. (doors 6:30) | The Moth StorySLAM | Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 311 Huguenot St.; ten storytellers, theme “American Dreams”; $15. Tickets. |
| 7:30–10:30 p.m. | Open mic | Jolos Kitchen, 49 Lawton St. |
| 9–11 p.m. | Late Night Jam | The Faboratory, New Rochelle Train Station. |
The Moth in detail: Audience members may put their names forward for a chance to tell a five-minute story. The evening’s theme, “American Dreams,” invites accounts of ambitions, triumphs, setbacks, and the ways expectations collide with reality. The brochure says ten participants will be selected at random. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show begins at 7:30 p.m.; late admission is not guaranteed.
Saturday, October 17: Markets, music, classic cars and the Lynx
Saturday is the busiest day for outdoor activities and a particularly good choice for families. The Makers Market and Classic Car Show both identify Sunday as a rain date.
| Time | Event | Location / details |
|---|---|---|
| 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | Art Association juried show | New Rochelle Public Library. |
| 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Tall ship Lynx public tours | New Rochelle Municipal Marina; historic schooner visiting for the Revolution’s 250th anniversary. |
| 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Exhibition and curator open house | Pelham Art Center. |
| 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Classic Car Show | Hamilton Avenue parking lot near City Hall; vintage cars, Waymo vehicle; Bear Mountain Brass Band noon–2 p.m. Sunday rain date. |
| 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Fiona Agababian open studio | Atelier44. |
| 11–11:45 a.m. | Dreams n’ Screams family concert | Huguenot Children’s Library. |
| 11 a.m.–noon | New Rochelle High School TheatreWorks | Student theater presentation. |
| 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | The Art of Games | Two Clinton Park. |
| 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Seventh annual ArtsFest Makers Market | Thomas Paine Cottage, 20 Sicard Ave.; makers, food trucks and music. Sunday rain date. |
| 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | Youth Makers Market | Thomas Paine Cottage; products made by young vendors. |
| Noon–5 p.m. | Art activities and meditation | Empty Hand Zen Center. |
| 1–2 p.m. | TheatreWorks performance | Cafetero, 111 Centre St. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Children’s paper flowers | New Rochelle Public Library. |
| 3–5 p.m. | ArtsFest Dance Festival | Whitney Young Auditorium, New Rochelle High School; professional ensembles and local dance schools. |
| 3 p.m. | Italian classical piano: Brenda Quattrini | Ossie Davis Theater, New Rochelle Public Library. |
| 4:30–8 p.m. | Colonial Tavern Experience | 18th Ward Brewing. |
| 5–8:30 p.m. | Delano’s Movie Night | New Rochelle Public Library. |
| 5 p.m. | Intended | Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum; ticketed. |
| 7–10:30 p.m. | The Haunt at Wildcliff Mansion | Ticketed; booking details. |
| 7:30 p.m. | America, You in Danger Gurl | Arts and music event at New Rochelle Train Station. |
For history enthusiasts: The Lynx, a replica of a 19th-century privateer schooner, is a centerpiece of the festival’s Revolution on the Sound! programming marking 250 years since the Revolutionary War campaign along the Sound Shore.
Sunday, October 18: Revolution, murals and a waterfront finale
Sunday combines the Battle of Pell’s Point commemoration with concerts, family programming, artist exhibitions and an island closing event.
| Time | Event | Location / details |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. viewing preparations; 10 a.m.–noon program | Battle of Pell’s Point reenactment | Orchard Beach, Pelham Bay Park; Revolutionary War reenactors, narration and scheduled Lynx cannon salute. |
| 10 a.m.–1 p.m. | Outdoor painting | Glenwood Lake Park. |
| 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Kung Fu Panda, sensory-friendly screening | JCC Mid-Westchester. Tickets/details. |
| 11 a.m.–4 p.m. | New Rochelle mural trolley tours | Depart Hotel NoMa; see public art and learn the stories behind the murals. |
| 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Pumpkin Patch and Little Haunters | Wildcliff; $12. |
| 11 a.m.–6 p.m. | Barry Mason and Emlyn Tavares open studios | Mount Vernon. |
| 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. | Jazz Brunch | Alvin & Friends. |
| Noon–3 p.m. | Zahra Jlayer retrospective | Vanda Gallery, 379 Huguenot St. |
| Noon–4 p.m. | Beneath the Visible exhibition | Pelham Art Center. |
| Noon–4 p.m. | Songcatchers Brunch Gala | Davenport Mansion, 400 Davenport Ave.; prices from $125. Tickets. |
| 1–7 p.m. | ArtsFest closing celebration on Echo Island | Echo Bay Yacht Club; ferry boarding requires advance reservation, $5 round-trip, children under 12 free. Tickets. |
| 1–2:30 p.m. | The Art in Revolution: Creatives in the AI Era | Thomas Paine Memorial Building; discussion of artists and artificial intelligence. |
| 2 p.m. | Intended | Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum; ticketed. |
| 2–3:15 p.m. | Young Musicians of Westchester | Ossie Davis Theater. |
| 2–3:30 p.m. | Reception for Art Association juried show | New Rochelle Public Library. |
| 2–4:30 p.m. | Michael Cammer open studio | 9 Vaughn Ave. |
| 3–5 p.m. | All Aboard the Art Express / Todos a bordo del Expreso del Arte | Bilingual children’s art workshop, NRCA office, second floor of New Rochelle Train Station; platform entrance. Tickets/details. |
| 4–6 p.m. | Local artists exhibition | Sushi by Bou, 40 Westchester Place. |
Closing event: Echo Bay Yacht Club
The festival wraps up with Views of the Lynx: ArtsFest Wrap Up on Echo Island from 1–7 p.m. Sunday at the Echo Bay Yacht Club, 22 Pelham Road. The historic stone solarium hosts work by Noreen Dean Dresser. Evermuze, a cello-and-guitar duo, performs from 1–3 p.m. Professional photographer Jim Frank presents a smartphone photography demonstration at 2 p.m.; at 3 p.m., City Historian Barbara Davis discusses Echo Bay history from the Lenape period to the Revolution and Gilded Age.
Transportation matters: The covered launch leaves Dock A at the New Rochelle Municipal Marina, with parking near 2 Pelham Road. It operates every half hour from 1 p.m.; the last departing boat to the club is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Advance reservations are required. The round-trip fare is $5, free for children younger than 12, and the boat is limited to 36 passengers per trip. Refreshments are available for purchase; the brochure specifies cash and Zelle only. Check the official reservations page.
Art and culture you can explore on your own
Not every ArtsFest experience has a designated performance time. The organizers also point visitors to activities that can fit between events:
- NRNY Murals — a self-guided route of 20 major murals across New Rochelle, developed with Street Art for Mankind and supported by the NRCA and the city’s IDA. Saturday trolley tours offer another way to explore them.
- New Rochelle Walk of Fame — interpretive plaques along Ruby Dee Park near New Rochelle Public Library, honoring figures associated with the city’s history.
- E.L. Doctorow’s New Rochelle — start at the writer’s statue in Huguenot Park on North Avenue and discover locations connected to his life and writing.
- Shakespeare Garden — Davenport Park, 300 Davenport Ave.; historic garden dating to 1937, open daily from sunrise to sunset.
- A new mural at the New Rochelle Train Station — visit the NRCA office on the station’s second floor to see work by Fatima Navarro, created with input from youth participating in the New Rochelle Community Justice Center program.
- Songcatchers Community Music Pop-Ups — performances around the city; consult the festival brochure’s QR code for locations.
- Downtown Coffee Crawl — participating cafés host pop-up art and music activities; check the brochure for current details.
- Dance-school drop-in observations — JCC Mid-Westchester; schedules at JCC Mid-Westchester.
Before you go: Tickets, reservations and logistics
Most events are free, but admission fees apply to selected workshops, theatrical presentations, restaurant events, galas and other activities. A free listing does not always mean walk-in admission: for instance, the Town House community mural requires an emailed reservation.
For tickets, use the ArtsFest ticket directory rather than assuming that availability remains open. It links directly to The Moth, Echo Island ferry trips, Wildcliff Haunt, MINGO, Songcatchers Brunch Gala, Intended, the Challah Club, JCC presentations and workshops, the nature walk, the bilingual children’s workshop and other ticketed events.
The festival covers a wide area. It is not a single street fair or centralized campus. Check the official venue map, cluster events by neighborhood, and leave time to get between locations. The schedule includes events in New Rochelle, Pelham, Larchmont, Scarsdale, Mount Vernon and Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx.
Rain dates: The brochure identifies Sunday, October 18, as the rain date for Saturday’s Makers Market and Classic Car Show. Verify whether either rain date has been activated before traveling.
Schedule variations: The brochure and ticket pages are not always worded identically. For example, the brochure’s main heading for the Friday Moth event says 7 p.m., while its expanded description and the ticket directory specify doors at 6:30 p.m. and storytelling at 7:30 p.m. This guide uses the detailed start time. For individual events, the organizer’s booking page is the best final check.
Who puts ArtsFest together?
ArtsFest is organized by the New Rochelle Council on the Arts. The steering committee is chaired by Theresa Kump Leghorn. Its other leads include Maddali Paci Attallah (Makers Market), Marisa Boan (Youth Makers Market and children’s activities), Janine Jones and Selena Evans (dance), Dave Fabris, Lee Hogans and Andrea Alexander (music), Delano Allen (film), Margaret Chadwick (trolley tours), Alan Cohen, Nick Pagani and Michael Dandry (classic cars), Fatima Navarro and Fiona Agababian (artist studios), and Barbara Davis and Lynn Green (The Moth).
The council identifies ArtsWestchester and Westchester County government among its funding supporters, with support acknowledged from County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins and the Board of Legislators. Additional sponsors appear in the printed program.
Sources and further information
This guide was assembled from the official festival website, the 2026 ArtsFest brochure, and the official tickets page. It is intended as a detailed planning resource rather than confirmation that every event remains unchanged, that weather plans are final, or that tickets remain available. Consult organizers for the latest details.