5 Reasons We Love Pleasantville

By Kathryn Sheridan March 2, 2017

The appropriately named village has the charm of a small community with the benefit of being a train ride from Manhattan.

The appropriately named village of Pleasantville in Westchester County has all the charm of a small community while having the benefits that come from being a train ride away from Manhattan. Pleasantville is familiar worldwide to the subscribers of Reader’s Digest, which made the village its headquarters and maintains a presence there. The village was noted in GQ’s list of "Top Ten Best Smelling Cities in the World". They write, “If Normal Rockwell's paintings emitted a scent, this is what it would be.”

Here are 5 reasons we love Pleasantville.

Jacob Burns Film Center

Credited with putting Pleasantville on the cultural map, the nonprofit Jacob Burns Film Center draws moviegoers in for screenings of indie, foreign, and documentary films. Film industry powerhouses such as George Clooney, Woody Allen, Robert Redford, and Stephen King have made guest appearances and speeches at the landmark theater. Programs and classes are offered for kids and adults of all ages to learn about film, storytelling, and production.

Pleasantville Farmers Market

Since 1998, the Pleasantville Farmers Market has provided year-round access to healthy, locally grown food. Today, it is the largest farmers market in Westchester County and attracts upwards of 3,500 people each week. Its website allows visitors to check when their favorite vendors will be at the market each Saturday. During the winter, the market is housed in the local middle school.

Pleasantville Music Festival

Every year on a Saturday in July, thousands flock to the village for the Pleasantville Music Festival. The all-day event features a mix of established musicians and bands and newcomers on two stages. Families can bring blankets and chairs and enjoy a day of live rock and blues tunes.

Village Bookstore

Located just around the corner from the Pleasantville Metro-North station, the Village Bookstore is an old-fashioned wonderland of good reads. The store also hosts author readings and poetry contests. Its most famous customers might be Bill and Hillary Clinton, who live in nearby Chappaqua and adopted the store after their local bookstore closed.

Rockefeller State Park Preserve

Offering hiking trails, fishing, and panoramic views of the Hudson River, the Rockefeller State Park Preserve is a favorite outdoor destination of Pleasantville residents. The park consists of more than 1,000 acres of picturesque land donated by the Rockefeller family. The system of carriage roads created by John D. Rockefeller, a horse-lover, remains in use in the park.

Main image: Jacob Burns Film Center offers a variety of film screenings.
Courtesy Jacob Burns Film Center

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