Fourth of July Fun in Bedford and Beyond

Bedford was a Revolutionary War stronghold, Westchester's county seat till Redcoats torched the town, turning it to ash. This weekend, in observances ranging from spontaneous backyard barbecue to well-rehearsed performance, many in Bedford will mark the day 234 years ago when militant patriots declared 13 colonies free forever of Great Britain's rule.

The celebrations—private and public, free and paid admission—will include patriotic ceremonies Sunday afternoon at John Jay's Homestead and a concert-cum-fireworks later that day at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts.

While the Town of Bedford does not formally observe the Fourth of July, Supervisor  Lee V.A. Roberts said town parks and pools will be open. "We hope all our residents have a safe and happy holiday," she added.

Nationally, Independence Day is being observed on Sunday, so Monday will be a national holiday. Most public offices, banks, stock exchanges and schools will be closed. Westchester Bee-Line buses will operate on a Sunday schedule, as will Metro-North trains, although the Metropolitan Transportation Authority promised extra service, both on getaway day Friday and again after Sunday's Manhattan fireworks.

Pack a picnic lunch and find a place on the front lawn at the John Jay Homestead. Patriotism surely will be in the air, with music by the American Colonials fife and drum band and lyrics by Thomas Jefferson. The Friends of John Jay Homestead promise a "spirited reading" of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson's soaring assertion of unalienable human rights, written a year into that shooting war with the mother country.

John Jay would be proud of the day. A key figure in the fight for independence, he served as a wartime president of the Continental Congress and later helped negotiate the war's end with the Treaty of Paris. He went on to become, among other things, the first Chief Justice of the United States and governor of New York before retiring to his Katonah farm in 1801.

Sunday's program runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free and picnickers are welcome. After the reading, tours of the Jay home will be available for the usual fees: $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, free for children under 12 and members of the Friends of John Jay Homestead. The historic home is on Route 22, just over a mile and a half south of Route 35.

Another mile or so farther south, the gates to Caramoor will open at 5 p.m. Ninety acres of lush gardens and trails and home for an annual International Music Festival, Caramoor will greet visitors with grilled hamburgers and hot dogs on the Picnic Lawns and later send them home with multicolored memories of a fireworks spectacular under the stars.

In between, in the Venetian Theater, Caramoor's chief executive and general director, Michael Barrett, will lead the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever" and Ferde Grofe's "On the Trail" are among the stirring standards scheduled for this 1,700 seat open-air venue. A traditional concert setting, it's also the main stage for the International Music Festival and comes equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting.

Tickets start at $30 (children under 12 half price) and are required for admission to the post-concert fireworks.

If you'd like to venture beyond Bedford borders here are some other options, courtesy of neighborhing Patch towns:

POUND RIDGE

There's a fireworks display on Saturday, July 3, with picnicking beginning at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and will be held at the Pound Ridge Town Park. Fireworks set to go off at dusk.

SCARSDALE

Fireworks display at the Scarsdale Pool on Friday, July 2, at 9:15pm. It is open to the public. Admission will begin at 6:00pm. Take note, there is a $2 fee charged for entering the pool after 5:00pm. Picnicking is allowed, but do not bring alcoholic beverages and do not smoke.

VALHALLA

Kensico Dam music festival and fireworks with band The Wanderers will start the night right, and the Gerard Crelli Orchestra will follow. Gates open at 5 p.m. for picnicking, with music starting at 6 p.m.The fireworks display begins at 9:15 p.m.

WHITE PLAINS

Fireworks display at White Plains High School at 550 North St. on Thursday, July 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It is advised that you park at Memorial United Methodist Church at 250 Bryant Ave. and walk over to the high school's 75-acre campus.

NEW ROCHELLE

The Westchester Chamber Orchestra will perform a free Independence Day concert, featuring works by American composers Leroy Anderson, Aaron Copland, Victor Herbert, and others on Saturday, July 3 starting at 5:00 p.m. at the New Rochelle Public Library, 1 Library Plaza, between Hugenot and Main Sts.

Enjoy jazz and a fireworks display at Five Islands Park on Lefevre Place on Sunday, July 4 beginning at 9:00 p.m.

MAMARONECK

Fireworks display at Harbor Island Park on Sunday, July 4 (rain date July 5) at 9:00 p.m., sponsored by the Village of Mamaroneck Volunteer Fire Department. Be advised that parking is limited.

The 63rd Annual Firemen's Carnival began on Tuesday, June 29 and will run until Monday, July 5 also at the park. The carnival opens at 7:00 p.m. and closes at 12:00 a.m., midnight. There are rides, food, and games.

Dinner and fireworks display with Singles Gourmet - Metro NY at Molly Spillane's, 211 Mamaroneck Ave. on Sunday, July 4. Enjoy a cocktail hour with passed appetizers, a three-course dinner, and then as a group walk over to the fireworks presentation at Harbor Island Park. All while mingling with other singles.

LARCHMONT

Enjoy races, games and free hot dogs at Flint Park, off Hommocks Rd., sponsored by the Larchmont Fire Department. The fun begins on Sunday, July 4 at 10:00 a.m.

Free Manor Park Concert at 99 Park Ave. on Sunday, July 4 from 7:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. featuring a patriotic performance by the Dixie Dandies. No picnics allowed. It is sponsored by the Committee on the Arts.

To satisfy your appetite, try the Outdoor Band BBQ Tent Party at Plates Restaurant, 121 Myrtle Blvd., on Thursday, July 1 starting at 6:00pm. Enjoy an outdoor bar, live music and the BBQ tent. Food includes pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, brisket, bratwurst dinner plates, and home-made ice cream. Dr. D and the Jammers will play blues and rock with a side of Harmonica. No reservations necessary

TARRYTOWN/SLEEPY HOLLOW

Celebrate Independence Day 1850-style at Washington Irving's Sunnyside on Sunday, July 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Attend informative educational events, and dramatic presentations, including costumed guides, focusing on Independence Day. Picnics are welcomed.

Fireworks display on Sunday, July 4 starting at 9:00 p.m. Watch the show from either Tarrytown's Pierson Park or Sleepy Hollow's Kingsland Point Park. Rain date is Monday, July 5.

Visit Striped Bass at 236 W. Main St., for its 15th annual July 4th Lobster Bake on Sunday, July 4 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Prices are $64.90 a person. Enjoy Maine lobster with unlimited beer, wine and soda. Also on the menu are steamers, clams, mussels, shrimp, ribs, roasted chick, and desserts. Jimmy Coyle and the Bad Habits will play a mix of calypso, reggae and soft rock all night. Everyone will receive a Striped Bass t-shirt. Reservations are required. Need to RSVP by Saturday, July 3.

The Philipse Manor Improvement Association and the Sleepy Hollow Manor Association are hosting the annual Fourth of July Parade and Picnic on Saturday, July 3 at 10:00 a.m. (rain date is Sunday, July 4). Parade begins at Bellwood and Highland Avenues and ends at Peabody Field. Children can participate in games, contests and pony rides. Live music and the annual patriotic cake contest is for everyone to enjoy.