Yonkers Riverfest 2023 Postponed As Forecast Turns Ugly

YONKERS, NY — Riverfest gets more popular each year, but does the event that brings the Hudson Valley together get better each year? There's only one way to find out.

UPDATE: The Yonkers Riverfest has been postponed to a date to be determined.

The Yonkers Downtown BID announced that it's time to "get ready for the most fun event of the fall with an electrifying Riverfest lineup that will rock the waterfront!" The organizers say that this year’s festival, taking place on Saturday, from noon to 7 p.m., promises an unforgettable day of music, food, arts and culture for attendees. This year’s lineup includes three stages of live music, a Kids Zone, attractions, an Art Stop Area, an Environmental Area, a Wellness Area, food vendors, local vendors, and the new Bacon Egg and Cheese Cook-Off Competition.

Riverfest will showcase a diverse array of musical talents, with both local and national acts. There will be something for every music lover, from rock, salsa, and pop to jazz and blues:

• Spanglish Fly: "part band, part celebration... the premier band of the Latin boogaloo revival, bringing Latin and soul/R&B music to life"
• Lulada Club: "captivating rhythms of an all-women salsa band that has set the New York City music scene ablaze"
• Leon & The Peoples: "NYC's award-winning Reggae Soul band led by the multi-talented performer Leon. Their chart-topping hits will have you dancing the day away."
• Philadelphia Freedom: "features Doug Delescavage, who embodies Elton's iconic style and energy"
• Double Vision: "authentic enactment of gratitude to Foreigner, performed by top NYC rock musicians"

"Yonkers Riverfest is a true celebration of our vibrant downtown community," Sara Brody, Executive Director for the Yonkers Downtown/Waterfront BID, said. "It's an event that brings our residents and visitors closer to the heart of Yonkers – our downtown waterfront. With its outstanding music, delicious food, and incredible arts, this festival is a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of our city. I'm thrilled to see Yonkers Riverfest return each year, providing unforgettable moments for families and friends to cherish. Join us on September 23rd, and let's make this year's Riverfest the best one yet!"

Hosts @snacktimeny’s Fran (@francisvolpe) and Nicky (@livinglikesmalls), and @its_hector_the_connector, will lead the five contestants in the first-ever Westchester County Bacon, Egg and Cheese Cookoff Competitition. You can watch the competition for Westchester's Best Bacon, Egg and Cheese between 2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Another new addition this year is the limited edition Yonkers Riverfest swag. Attendees can stop by the Yonkers Downtown BID booth and check out custom-designed mugs and tote bags for sale only at Riverfest.

"Yonkers Riverfest is a time-honored tradition, celebrating our city’s diverse, vibrant, and beautiful waterfront," Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said. "I encourage all to join in on the fun, food, and entertainment and see first-hand how our downtown is transforming itself into the heartbeat of our city. Thank you to the Yonkers Downtown BID for elevating Riverfest each year in becoming one of Westchester’s best festivals."

Current Sponsors include:

Presenting Level: City of Yonkers, Yonkers IDA, Yonkers EDC, City of Yonkers Parks Department

Main Street Stage: Great Point Studios

Gold Level: Arts Westchester, Bruni and Campisi, Domino Sugar Yonkers Refinery, MVP Health Care, Westchester County Board of Legislatures, Win Waste Innovations

Bronze Level: 66 Main, Aetna, AMS Acquisitions, Con Edison, NY Presbyterian Hospital, Park Square Yonkers LLC, RXR/Sawyer Place, ShopRite

Supporting Level: Rat Trap Distribution, Affinity By Molina Healthcare, BIRD, Crestwood Lake Apartments, Cross County Shopping Center, Delbello Donnellan Weingarten Wise & Wiederkehr, LLP, NY State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart–Cousins, Ginsburg Development Corporation, Healthfirst, JPM Chase, Miroza Towers, MOMs Organic Market, PS&S, Rising Development, Rose Associates, St. John's Riverside Hospital, Valley National Bank

For more information, visit the Yonkers Riverfest website. You can also follow @YonkersDowntown on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

About the Yonkers BID:

The Downtown/Waterfront Business Improvement District, Inc. of Yonkers, NY, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that maintains the economic vitality of the district by providing the local business and residential community with a variety of services, such as beautification and maintenance, increasing visitors to the businesses and restaurants and new renters to our residential buildings by presenting year-round special events for the entire family and helps to bring new businesses and residential dwellings to the downtown area. For more information on happenings in Yonkers, visit the Yonkers Downtown website.