Soaring motor-free down the Rondout

A City of Kingston police officer watched as the Titan, a replica of OceanGate’s ill-fated underwater vessel, raced down the Rondout, weaving in and out of the lane, perilously close to the sidewalk at times. Then came a giant slice of pizza, complete with a glass of red wine, that wizzed by the thousands lined-up on Broadway. There were even unicorns, Magritte, and a real life game of MarioKart. This was, of course, all during last year’s Kingston Artist Soapbox Derby.

What’ll be soaring, motor-free down the Rondout this year? Find out on Sunday, August 18, 2024 beginning at 1pm. And if you want to join the spectacle, day-of registration begins at Spring and Broadway at 11am.

A wacky and entertaining awards ceremony will follow in TR Gallo Park, where participants receive prizes and one-of-kind artist designed trophies, and spectators have the opportunity to get last looks at their favorite soapbox cars parked on West Strand Street.

The rules to join the derby are pretty simple: The “non-motorized kinetic sculpture” entry must:

Be able to steer and stop, and be capable of keeping the entry in place on an incline. Entries determined to have insufficient breaking will be required to go down the hill with a rope attached and a trailing person to keep the car from speeding away.
Be able to fit in the road. No longer than 15ft. x 6ft. wide and no taller than a 10ft.
All drivers must wear bike or riding helmets.
You may re-enter a past entry, but you will not be eligible to win a prize.
Pay a $25 registration fee

Follow a how-to video, here: https://kingstonartistsoapboxderby.com/how-to/
Get more info + register, here: https://kingstonartistsoapboxderby.com