After a two-year hiatus, Nyack once again welcomes fall and launches a new season of fun for all ages with the SeptemberFest street fair on Sunday, September 11. The Nyack Chamber of Commerce’s legendary fair runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm — rain or shine — in the heart of the village on Main Street and Broadway.
The fair invites families, friends and visitors to browse a rich array of jewelry, clothing, accessories, art, crafts, gifts and great food offered by 200+ vendors and scores of local businesses – a day to enjoy simple pleasures that for two years have been out of reach.
“The Nyack Chamber of Commerce is pleased to once again host our SeptemberFest fair,” said Roger Cohen, President, Nyack Chamber. “The fair is in many ways an introduction to our village. We welcome everyone to SeptemberFest to enjoy a special experience, come back for more, and stay – for a lifetime.”
In addition to sampling wares from hundreds of fair vendors, Fest-goers can enjoy the many boutiques and restaurants that reside year-round in the village. Notably, more than two-dozen local businesses are newcomers who have bravely put down stakes in Nyack just before and during the pandemic.
“The hard times of the past two years toughened us up,” said Maria Luisa Whittingham, co-founder of Nyack Merchants United and owner of Maria Luisa boutique on South Broadway in the ‘So-Bro’ section of the village. “Our small businesses are back even stronger than before, with many new establishments already operating, and new doors ready to open in coming months.”
“This year’s SeptemberFest celebration will showcase everything Nyack has to offer — great shops, great food, outdoor dining, live music and more,” added Mark Reed, Nyack Chamber Board member and fair organizer.
The fair’s live outdoor entertainment roster gives Fest-goers a Nyack ‘sampler’:
— All day: Main and North Broadway
Maureen’s Jazz Cellar presents: The David Budway Quartet featuring Ron Affif, Cameron Brown and Tim Horner
— 1:00 – 2:30 pm: Gazebo on Main
The Scoop: Original Rockland-based band plays fun, timely tunes that will get the crowd moving
— 3:00 – 3:30 pm: Gazebo on Main
Nyack’s Elmwood Playhouse: Singer actors perform a preview of Cole Porter songs from the inaugural show of the theater’s 75th season: Night and Day—Love Lost and Found
— 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Gazebo on Main
Bulletproof Heart: Bandchannels the grit of the ‘90s, with covers from Nirvana, Alanis Morissette, Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, Weezer, and more
“SeptemberFest is an event, but it’s also an invitation tovisitors and residents to sample the village’s special blend of memorable experiences,” Reed continued. “We want people to come back after our events to enjoy shopping, dining, music, art, theater, hiking, biking and river recreation. Nyack offers it all — in an intimate, safe, walkable riverside community.”
Nyack’s one-of-a kind retailers offer unique merchandise across a broad spectrum of hard-to-find treasures, from antiques, custom jewelry and original art, to hand-made clothing, crystals, vintage vinyl, specialty eyeware and other products — many imported from sustainable sources in the U.S. and around the world.
Among the attractions for shoppers who like to marry a good deal with a good meal is the tempting array of casual eateries and fine dining establishments that put Nyack on the map as a haven for food enthusiasts.
“Nyack is becoming a top destination for great dining in the Hudson Valley,” said Mark Davidoff, Chamber Board member, and director, Rockland Community College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center. “Our village is a hub for both culinary arts education, and for the final product — the best food on the plate for the discerning diner.”
“For people who want to live, work and spend leisure time in a community that offers great restaurants, unique shops, education, recreation and entertainment, Nyack fits the bill,” said Cohen.
“The 2022 fall fair is in many ways a celebration of our collective resilience,” added Cohen. “Despite the tragedies and challenges we’ve faced in recent years as a community and a nation, we’re looking ahead and building for the future.”
In this context, the village acknowledges the significance of the 9/11 anniversary for so many. After the fair closes, the Village of Nyack will hold its annual Hometown Heroes Remembrance in Memorial Park (6:30 – 7:00 pm). Among the honorees will be the ‘man in the red bandana’ ─ Welles Remy Crowther, the Nyack native who gave his life to save the lives of more than 20 others.