Nyack’s Famous Events Are Back!

From VisitNyack

NYACK, NY — Indulge all that pent-up desire to get out and play by choosing from a full roster of family-friendly events running throughout the summer, into the fall and during the winter holidays.

Signature events including Nyack’s July 4 fireworks, street fairs and Halloween parade — among the early casualties of the pandemic — are now back on the agenda.

Events are supported by the Village of Nyack, the Nyack Chamber of Commerce, Nyack Merchants United, the Antique Art, Craft & Antique Dealer’s Association of Nyack (ACADA), Visit Nyack, Inc. and Rockland County's Office of Economic Development and Tourism. Highlights are listed below; additional details are available at VisitNyack.org.

“Working alongside the village of Nyack, local business groups and civic organizations, the Nyack Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to support a full program of events for summer 2022 and beyond,” said Roger Cohen, President of the Nyack Chamber. “The calendar includes street fairs, classic car night, concerts, film and theater festivals… And yes, the Halloween parade will return in its full glory.”

“After two years of near-complete lockdown, we’re excited to get back to what Nyack is all about – enjoying life,” added Nyack Mayor Don Hammond. “We made it through the tough times. We protected the health and safety of our residents and visitors during the pandemic. We managed to get the fireworks off last summer and we’re happy to be back again this year. ”

In addition to events, Nyack offers a rich array of cultural and recreational opportunities, including history tours, art museums/exhibitions, hiking, biking, river sports and access to the bridge path with sweeping views of the river and the Hudson valley to the north and south. The village is also a gateway to the many river towns in Rockland also coming back with full schedules of activities and events – Piermont, Haverstraw and Stony Point to name a few.

Another bonus: Nyack’s bustling community of world-class restaurants, night spots, live music venues, one-of-a-kind shops and top-flight personal service businesses – all located within just over one walkable square mile. So it’s easy to combine tours or events with shopping, dining, a visit to the spa, barber or salon…or for those who are game, a quick spin at the riverside skateboarding park, recognized by ‘skaters’ as one of the best in the region.

Visitors have plenty of new places to explore. Expanding the roster of stalwart business veterans, more than 40 newcomers have put up shingles in Nyack in past months, just before and during the pandemic. (See the list of recent arrivals below under “more to explore.”)

"New challenges bring new solutions," said Hammond. "The pandemic experience prompted us to create a platform to help existing businesses weather the storm, and help new businesses get a foothold in our village.”

The initial band of volunteers has now become an organized Nyack Business Council that aims to bring energy, creativity and solutions to the village's ongoing economic development needs and opportunities.

Among local leaders spearheading Nyack’s comeback and program of events is Maria Luisa Whittingham, co-founder of Nyack Merchants United and owner of Maria Luisa boutique at 77 South Broadway in Nyack. Whittingham is celebrating her 35th year as a business owner in Nyack.

“We’re now able to get to a new normal,” said Whittingham. “We wouldn’t be in this position of strength if it hadn’t been for community efforts during the difficult times. We’ve learned a lot about teamwork. We’ve also found new ways to connect with our loyal patrons and new customers – and to bring back the events we all love.”

With customers and visitors top of mind, Morgana, owner of Modern Druid boutique at 60 South Broadway, pitched in by working with graphic designer Scott Hodgson to create a new map of the Nyack business district -- now published on Visit Nyack.org at Nyack Business Zone Map

“The map shows a clear footprint of the village, including key landmarks,” said Morgana. “It shows how easy it is to navigate our village, and how much we have to offer in a compact space.”
A new parking map created by the village is also available online.

“Tools like these add to the mix of events and programs we’re providing to support local business owners, our customers and visitors,” added Whittingham. “We’re back better than ever.”

Support for Nyack events, and for tourism more broadly, is provided by Visit Nyack, Inc., a non-profit marketing organization that has served the village and the county for over a decade.

Under the banner Enjoy Life. Enjoy Nyack, the summer marketing campaign launches this week, inviting visitors from the tri-state area and beyond to enjoy Nyack’s special blend of memory-making experiences. The campaign includes print, digital and broadcast advertising, featuring posters in the New York City subways, a social media campaign and radio spots on local Hudson Valley stations. Here’s the summer poster: Enjoy Life, Enjoy Nyack Summer 2022 Poster.

The program is generously supported by local businesses, non-profits and by Rockland County's Office of Economic Development and Tourism. Notably, Visit Nyack has been a leading recipient of tourism grants since the county, along with NY State, began the tourism program in 2014.

"The county is pleased to continue investing in Nyack's marketing programs and events," said Lucy Redzeposki, Director of Economic Development and Tourism. "The goal is to extend our reach beyond the boundaries of our close-by communities.”

“For many visitors, Nyack’s events open the door to Rockland County’s rich array of attractions and community life. We welcome everyone to enjoy everything the county has to offer, come back to enjoy more -- and possibly make Rockland their home.”