2022 Sinterklaas Festival

A rodent with quills and hairless soles on its feet, a round body with small ears and a small head that lives amongst the coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests around us will be the Honored Animal for the annual Sinterklaas Day Festival in Rhinebeck on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

“We chose the porcupine after these past years when so many folks seemed soooooo prickly,” organizers said. “But after we did, we learned the porcupine is not a symbol of stick-in-the-mud grouchiness! Far from it! The porcupine is the symbol of innocence. The child. For play! And for protectiveness, for who does not put up their quills when they feel threatened or afraid … as many of us did during these last couple of years.”

The tradition of Sinterklaas was originated in the Netherlands and brought over by the Dutch who settled in the Hudson Valley over 300 years ago. Sinterklaas, known as the “patron of children and sailors,” is celebrated with a day-long, non-denominational holiday festival throughout the Village of Rhinebeck.

Beginning at 10am on Saturday, December 3, 2022, the children will become the Kings and Queens of the day, adorned with self-made Crowns and Branches to revel in live music and entertainment all day long – from the always-popular Bear Beauty Contest at Samuels, the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, to learning how to speak porcupine with YouTube star Teddy the Porcupine, in The Grove and culminating with the enchanting Starlight Parade down Market Street. An opening ceremony will take place at noon at the Beekman Arms.

“It can’t be about the wanting and having,” says Jeanne Flemming, the creator behind Sinterklaas in Rhinebeck. “[The children] each have to tie wishes onto their branch – one for the family, one for the world … They understand the responsibility to be a good king or queen.”

Click to download the full program for the 2022 Sinterklaas Day Festival

Sinterklaas Sensory Safe Space

Need to step away from the overload of Sinterklaas festivities? Individuals  of all abilities and ages are welcome to visit the Village of Rhinebeck’s Sensory Safe Space located in the Beckmann Arms Library Room at 6387 Mill Street in Rhinebeck during Sinterklaas Festival Day on Saturday, December 3, 2022. The space will be open from 5:30-7:30pm. 

Help Light up the night for a neighbor in need

Buy a star and support a local family. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of every Sinterklaas star is donated to the food pantries in Rhinebeck. Buy your star at various shops in the village or online: https://sinterklaashudsonvalley.com/stars/

PARKING info …Win a spot!

Let’s face it, the porcupine is a great mascot for anyone trying to park in the Village of Rhinebeck during Sinterklaas weekend (or any weekend, or during the farmers’ market … but I digress...) Both north and south of the center of town on the neighborhood streets watch for posted NO PARKING areas. There will be several No Parking areas just for Sinterklaas Day.

Parking Lots (within a few blocks walk of the main festivities):

• Dutchess County Fairgrounds* (But please note the Wonderland of Lights begins at 5:30pm)

• Rhinebeck High School – 45 North Park Rd., Rhinebeck.

• Rhinebeck Town Highway Department – Rhinecliff Road, just west of the parade line up starting point at the Starr Library.

Road closures:

Beginning at 2:00 PM, East Market St will be closed from Center St to the traffic light.

West Market St from Starr Library to the light, Montgomery St from Livingston St. to the light, and Route 9 from South St to the light will close at 5:30 PM. The parade will begin at 6:00 PM.

No parking all day :

•  North side of South Street from Route 9 to Route 308

• South side of South Street across from church – approx 60 feet in from Rte 9

• South side of Livingston Street from Center Street to Mulberry Street

• Both sides of West Market Street from Oak Street to the Town Highway Garage

• West side of Center Street from Livingston Street to South Street

• West side of Lorraine Drive

• Both sides of South Parsonage Street from South Street to North Park

• East side of Oak Street

• Both sides of West Chestnut Street

• South Side of Chestnut Street from Route 9 to Mulberry

• Both sides of Traver Lane from the entrance to the parking lot

No parking after 2PM :

• Both sides of East and West Market Streets from Center Street to Oak Street

• Both sides of Route 9 from Chestnut Street to South Street

The Rhinebeck Bank parking lot will close at 1:00 PM.  The drive-thru ATM will remain open until 3PM.

The Municipal Lot will close at 12PM-Incoming and outgoing traffic prohibited

The CVS Lot will close at 1:00PM – Incoming and outgoing traffic prohibited

All Vehicles in No Parking Zones will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Parking is available at the Rhinebeck High School, Chancellor on Livingston, Northern Dutchess Hospital Lots E&F and in the field lot at Platt Ave and Mulberry St.

Handicapped parking is available at the Rhinebeck Town Hall for free and at the American Legion for $20 per vehicle.

The EV Chargers at the Village Hall will not be accessible from 12/2 at 6:00 PM - 12/4 at 6:00 AM and the EV chargers at the Municipal Lot will not be accessible from 12/3 at 12PM - 12/3 at 9:00 PM

Keep in mind that the Wonderland of Lights event will also begin at 5:30 PM at the Duchess County Fairgrounds. Expect heavy traffic surrounding the fairgrounds.

Also remember: Don’t block driveways, don’t park within 30-feet of an intersection or stop sign and don’t be a … total porcupine.

Even better: Organizers are raffling off a parking spot for Saturday’s festival. Park all day and evening, come and go as you please, if you win the raffle. $5 per chance, $20 for five chances. Drawing for the raffle takes place on November 30.

Enter, here: https://sinterklaashudsonvalley.com/sinterklaas-parking-raffle

See more photos + videos from last year’s Sinterklaas Festival Day: https://hvny.info/events/2021/sinterklaas

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