The rest of October in White Plains comes down to four weekend dates. Two are Sundays downtown, where the city's biggest crowds gather. Two are Saturdays out at the parks, built for an hour outside. The City of White Plains events calendar lists the Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 18, the Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf fall nature walk on Saturday, October 17, and the Howl-o-Ween Bash on Saturday, October 24. The Downtown White Plains BID has Oktoberfest on Sunday, October 11.
Some of it is already over. The Halloween Pumpkin Patch at Gillie Park on Gedney Way was October 4. On the same day, residents could help paint a new White Plains mural. The Oktoberfest Pre-Party was Friday, October 2. What's left starts this Sunday, on a downtown festival that takes up more space than it did last year.
Oktoberfest needed one more block
The Downtown White Plains Oktoberfest runs Sunday, October 11, from 1 to 6 p.m. on Mamaroneck Avenue between Maple Avenue and Quarropas Street. It goes on rain or shine. Music comes from the Oompah band Melina & the Oompahs. Along with the Bavarian dishes, the BID lists two local food names, Sundance Kitchen and Walter's Hotdog Truck.
The new piece this year is the Oktoberfest Alpine Village, a family zone open from 1 to 5 p.m. The BID says the festival is "expanding beyond East Post Road into the next block on Quarropas Street" to fit it. Plans include free kids' crafts, performances, games, local vendors, mini golf and an all-ages DJ. So families get their own block next to the beer tent, and it closes an hour before the rest of the festival.
The beer tent has rules of its own. They're short, but they're easy to miss:
- Wristbands are for anyone 21 or older who plans to drink under the tent. Everyone needs a valid state ID at pickup. No refunds are given on pre-purchased wristbands if the ID is missing.
- Buying ahead costs less. Wristbands are $12 online before the event and $16 on the day.
- Day-of wristbands are card only. You buy them at the check-in tents at Mamaroneck Avenue and East Post Road, or at Mamaroneck Avenue and Maple Avenue.
- Purchases under the tent are cash only. That's the reverse of the wristband rule, so bring both a card and cash.
- Drinks can't move between the festival and nearby bars in either direction.
Bags are checked at entry. Leave the folding chair and the umbrella at home, since the BID allows clear ponchos instead. Backpacks aren't allowed at all. Bags larger than 18 by 14 inches are allowed only if they're clear. Coolers, glass, bicycles, skateboards and drones are also banned.
Two newer kitchens on the same avenue
Mamaroneck Avenue has also changed since last fall. Two restaurants opened this summer, and the BID's festival page doesn't say how either one fits into Oktoberfest. Treat them as stops before or after the festival, or on any other weekend this month.
Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, 27 Mamaroneck Avenue. Westchester Magazine reported on August 13 that the Queens restaurant had opened in White Plains. It started in Flushing in 2006, now has more than a dozen locations across nine states, and has been Michelin-recommended for nine straight years. The Downtown White Plains BID says this is the first Westchester location. The menu has nine soup-dumpling flavors. Co-owner Michael Ma told the magazine that each one is filled and pleated by hand, then steamed to order in an open kitchen where diners can watch. For a first visit, he suggests the Pork or Crab & Pork Xiao Long Bao, or the Lucky Six basket, which has six fillings. Pan-fried pork buns are next on his list.
One thing at this location sets it apart from the chain's others:
"The core menu is consistent with the Nan Xiang experience guests know from our other restaurants. What is unique to White Plains is the full bar. We're currently developing a signature cocktail menu for the location, with drinks designed to pair well with our food."
Michael Ma, co-owner, speaking to Westchester Magazine
Drunken Taco Bar, 91 Mamaroneck Avenue. Lohud reported that this modern Mexican restaurant opened July 17 in the former Little Drunken Chef space. It's under new ownership with owners Carlos Garcia and Fredy Duarte, and has a refreshed interior and a Miami- and New York-inspired atmosphere. The restaurant's own site features a Maduro lasagna made with plantains and mozzarella, pork osso buco over green risotto, and a steak rice bowl with beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, chipotle mayo and queso fresco.
Saturday, October 17: the Gedney Way side of town
The next weekend starts on the west side of town. The Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf fall nature walk runs from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, October 17, on the Jack Harrington Greenway on Gedney Way. Gillie Park, which hosted the pumpkin patch two weeks earlier, is also on Gedney Way, at number 85. Between the two events, the city has run both of its October family events on that stretch so far.
The walk lasts an hour, and the next day has the bigger downtown event.
Sunday, October 18: the parade ends where the market sets up
The city's Halloween Parade runs from 3 to 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, October 18. It starts at Library Plaza and ends at Court Street. The calendar doesn't list costume categories, participating businesses or a rain date. Check the city's listing again closer to the day.
The finish line is a familiar spot. Court Street is home to the Court Street Market, which the city lists every Wednesday in October with a variety of vendors. Its listing gives an 8:30 a.m. start, with closing times of 3:00 or 3:30 p.m. depending on where you look. The starting point is just as familiar. The White Plains Public Library at 100 Martine Avenue hosts a Home Energy Savings Workshop from the city and Sustainable Westchester on Thursday, October 22, at 6:30 p.m. The same few downtown blocks fill up on a Sunday afternoon for the parade and stay busy on weekdays.
Saturday, October 24: dogs first, then downtown
The month's last Saturday has two events in two settings. The Howl-o-Ween Bash runs from 11 a.m. to noon at Bark Dog Park on Brockway Place, with prizes for dog costumes. Like the nature walk, it's a one-hour Saturday morning event.
That afternoon, the city lists a Family Fun Wellness Festival as part of Red Ribbon Week. It runs from noon to 4 p.m. at White Plains City Center, on the third floor at Apple Cinemas. It's the only Saturday event on the October calendar held downtown, and it's indoors. On Friday, October 30, the city holds a Hispanic Heritage Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the White Plains Community Center, 65 Mitchell Place.
The rest of October, in order
- Sunday, October 11, 1 to 6 p.m.: Oktoberfest on Mamaroneck Avenue. The Alpine Village family zone is open from 1 to 5 p.m.
- Wednesdays, October 14, 21 and 28, from 8:30 a.m.: Court Street Market
- Saturday, October 17, 11 a.m.: Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf walk, Jack Harrington Greenway
- Sunday, October 18, 3 p.m.: Halloween Parade, Library Plaza to Court Street
- Thursday, October 22, 6:30 p.m.: Home Energy Savings Workshop, White Plains Public Library
- Saturday, October 24, 11 a.m.: Howl-o-Ween Bash, Bark Dog Park. Then noon to 4 p.m., Family Fun Wellness Festival, City Center
- Friday, October 30, 11:30 a.m.: Hispanic Heritage Luncheon, 65 Mitchell Place
Looking past October, the city's November calendar lists Santa's Mailbox at 255 Main Street. It runs from November 25 through December 13.
Daniel McKeon has lived and worked in these Westchester neighborhoods for more than 20 years and keeps up with weekends like these. If you're curious which White Plains streets sit close to Mamaroneck Avenue and which are closer to Gedney Way, schedule a consultation and we'll go through it together.
