'Summer Of Soul' Event In Nyack On Sunday

NYACK, NY — The Summer of Soul Event coming to downtown Nyack Sunday is a celebration of music, culture, and community.

Inspired by the acclaimed documentary "Summer of Soul", the event will pay tribute to the rich legacy of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, with live performances, food vendors, and art installations set against the backdrop of Nyack’s beautiful Hudson River views.

An outdoor screening of the Academy Award-winning documentary "Summer of Soul" presented by Rivertown Film will take place at the Artopee Way Municipal Parking Lot in the heart of Nyack, transforming it into a pop-up drive-in theater for the night.

The evening kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with the opening reception of "My House Once Stood Here," a multimedia exhibit by Kris Burns at Hezekiah Easter Square. This exhibit features archival images of the Black neighborhood that once flourished in Nyack before it was demolished in the name of urban renewal. QR codes on each image will link to video and audio excerpts from the documentary "What Happened to Jackson Avenue: A Story of Urban Renewal."

At 7:30 p.m., join the Community Soul Sing-A-Long organized by Mary White and the non-profit mentoring program Diamonds & Pearls Inc. This joyous gathering will set the perfect mood for the screening, bringing together voices and spirits in celebration of soul music.

At 8:30 p.m., settle in for Summer of Soul, directed by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. This documentary showcases the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a vibrant celebration of Black music, art, and culture, featuring legendary performances by Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Sly and the Family Stone, Nina Simone, B.B. King, The Fifth Dimension, Mahalia Jackson, and more. The film will be projected onto a four-story wall, and viewers can tune into a radio station for audio or enjoy it from a viewing area with surrounding speakers.

Bring lawn chairs! For more information, visit the Rivertown Film website.

SEE ALSO: New Documentary Captures Human Impact Of Nyack's Urban Renewal Program