There are lots of great activities hosted by many of the Festival’s partners.
Try to get to as many as possible and see how much Katonah loves the Festival!

Bedford House: Celia Hirsch will be signing copies of her book, available in the shop.

Caramoor:  Jessa Krick, Caramoor’s Director of Interpretation, Collection and Archives has curated a special list of books whose theme and subject matter are inspired by the Rosen House and Caramoor. Many of these titles and more are available at The Reading Room in Katonah.

Katonah Museum of Art: Two activities are set for November 8th at 134 Jay Street, Katonah.

Saturday Open Studio: Bookmaking (10:00am – 12:00pm): Visit The Pollack Family Learning Center on Saturdays for new art projects and activities inspired by the artworks on view. In celebration of the Westchester Book Festival on November 8th, join us for a special hands-on bookmaking activity! Perfect for all ages and abilities. Included with admission. Registration link.

Words in Flow: Ekphrastic Poetry with Pamela Hart (12:00pm): Explore the rhythms, contrasts, and textures of Shen Wei’s art to inspire your own creative writing response in this immersive poetry workshop. Through the lens of language with guided prompts and moments of quiet looking, you’ll discover new ways to translate visual movement into words. Pamela Hart is an award-winning author, poet, and the KMA’s Writer in Residence where she teaches and manages the Museum's Thinking Through the Arts school program and Building Bridges: Prison Arts Initiative. Her book, Mothers Over Nangarhar, winner of the Kathryn A. Morton prize, was published in 2019 by Sarabande Books. Included with Museum admission. Registration link.

Katonah Wine & Liquor: 120 Katonah Avenue in Katonah is recognizing the Westchester Book Festival by pairing featured authors’ books with wine. Think Bill McKibben’s latest, Here Comes the Sun, paired with Sun Goddess, a skin-contact Pinot Grigio. Katonah Wine & Liquor is cross-merchandising with The Reading Room; look for displays of creative pairings in each store leading up to the festival. – and tastings the day of. And in celebration of wine’s role as a welcome participant in book clubs everywhere, the store will also be unveiling their “Book Club Wine Hall of Fame” – a dozen wines that stand out as delicious, affordable crowdpleasers.

Lasdon Public Gardens: 2610 Route 35, Katonah. In partnership with the Westchester Book Festival, Lasdon is offering a walk, read, and write session on a Literacy Trail (1:00-3:00). Practice and enjoy being present and aware in the fresh Autumn air with a gentle and friendly walk. Follow a trail of prompts from ecological writers to appreciate the abundance of the season and to take notice of our natural surroundings, a digest of the Forest Fridays: Write and Be Well Walks. This is an outdoor program. Cancellation in case of extreme weather or school cancellation, wear sturdy shoes. Participants may stop and sketch or write in a nature journal, simple writing materials provided or bring your own. Contact dbnn@westchestercountyny.gov with any questions or special accessibility needs, participants pre-register on Lasdon Events page. Steady rain cancels. Space is limited. Registration required. Literacy Trail begins at the Garden entrance.

LMNOP Bakery: 25 Katonah Ave, Katonah In partnership with Friends of John Jay Homestead. Join Friends of John Jay Homestead at LMNOP Bakery for a special afternoon with local historian Stephen Paul DeVillo, author of Neutral Ground: Westchester County in the American Revolution. From 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., DeVillo will be signing copies of his new book and sharing stories from the turbulent years when Westchester—caught between British and Continental forces—became known as the “Neutral Ground.” After the 1776 Battle of White Plains, the region saw skirmishes, espionage, and divided loyalties that turned neighbors into enemies and gave rise to legendary intrigue such as the Arnold-André conspiracy. DeVillo brings these landscapes and characters vividly to life in his latest work. Come celebrate the enduring power of local history to connect past and present.

Old New House: 33 Katonah Avenue, Katonah. Between 11 and 5, Old New House, in partnership with Inclusive Initiative will have a sensory support calming corner set up in shop that will feature a black-out tent and sensory support tools. No purchase or expectation is required at all, you can come in and take a break any time you need, and you can find out more information about Inclusive Initiative or Old New House while stopping by.

In addition, 11-1, Old New House will be hosting local author Helena Hjalmarsson, MA, LCSW, LP, who is a psychoanalyst and NeuroMovement practitioner. She also does divinations and simple healing rituals that are focused on connecting with one’s soul, beyond personal identity, beliefs and credentials in the formal world. Helena is the author of Finding Lina (2013) Beyond Autism (2019) and Already Whole (2022). She lives in South Salem, NY with her two daughters and pitbull. Hear a bit about Helena and her connection to autism in her writing through this podcast here.

Petite Art Studio: 23 Valley Road, Katonah. We are excited to host a series of 4 hands-on art children’s workshops throughout the day celebrating the beloved author and illustrator Carson Ellis, a native of Westchester County. Each workshop will highlight one of her beautifully illustrated books and pair it with a fine art project. For more info on each workshop, times and to register, click here.

Siegel: 131 Katonah Avenue, Katonah, will sell Hudson Modern, a book by David Sokol, about modern architecture in the Hudson Valley. David Sokol is a Hudson Valley–based journalist who covers architecture, interiors, and sustainability. In addition to authoring Hudson Modern and Hamptons Modern, he has written and edited monographs for multiple artists and architects—one of which David and host Robert Siegel will prototype at this Meet and Greet. Experience this workshop for a unique, immersive introduction to the world of coffee-table books.

Dr. Jeanmarie Sandford: At Tazza, 215 Katonah Avenue, from 11 am to 3 pm. A local Clinical Psychologist and children’s book illustrator, Dr. Sandford will be signing copies of her book, The Star You Are and holding book readings, as well as offering activity books and coloring pages to complete for children of all ages. The Star You Are is a keepsake book that encourages readers to go on a personal journey of remembrance and self-discovery. With dream-like scenes of nature, animal symbolism and powerful prose, readers big and small are free to imagine all that becomes possible when we lead with love. It teaches us to embrace our true essence and playfully demonstrates the benefits of compassionate self-talk and self-acceptance. This book is a treasure, one to be read over and over again with the entire family for years to come. Registration is not required.