Sinterklaas Kingston Arrival Day
November 24, 2012
The famed Sinterklaas Celebration that has drawn thousands to Rhinebeck is going Bi-coastal for the second year and coming to Kingston to thrill and delight the children and the young at heart of Kingston. In the story, Kingston will play the role of Spain as a procession of giant puppets, stars, fish, flags, boats, and the great Hudson River itself will travel down Broadway participating in the story of Sinterklaas’ arrival in the Hudson Valley. Kingston’s Rondout plays a major role in the story of Sinterklaas! According to Legend, Sinterklaas came to Holland from Spain. In our HISTORIC RE-CREATION of the Sinterklaas myth,Kingston will play the role of Spain and Rhinecliff the arrival point in Holland!
What is Sinterklaas
We are honoring our Dutch heritage by recreating customs that the settlers from Holland brought to the Hudson Valley. The Dutch people who came to here over 300 years ago brought a celebration with them that was already a deeply rooted part of their traditions.
The ritual was simple enough. Each year on December 6 (that’s the Dutch tradition, ours begins the first Saturday after Thanksgiving as we bid farewell to Sinterklaas sailing off to the Netherlands from Spain), a town resident dressed up as Sinterklaas (that is, elegantly garbed in a bishop’s tall hat, red cape, shiny ring, and jeweled staff). Mounted on a white steed, this Sinterklaas would ride through town knocking on doors late at night. He would be accompanied by his long-time sidekick, the Grumpus. Also known as Black Peter, the Grumpus — a wild looking half-man, half-beast character — rattled chains and threatened to steal away the naughtiest children in his big black bag. And for those “less bad” he had switches for exacting lesser punishments! And for the good children — Sinterklaas and the Grumpus would deliver a bag of goodies.
Over the years, as towns developed and houses grew closer together, Sinterklaas’ ride turned into a Parade that still happens in Holland to this day, and is the most popular of all Dutch holidays.
***SINTERKLAAS SCHEDULE***
Crowns & Branches Workshop
Friday, November 23, 1-4pm
Saturday, November 24, 11am-3pm
Where every child becomes a King or Queen as they create their own crowns and branches.
Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing
Museum open TreeSpecial donation tree. Bring new mittens to decorate the tree
Saturday All afternoon
11:00am-5:30pm:
Kingston Catholic School Carolers , Mid-Hudson Juggling Club, Grumpuses cavorting about, the Pocket Lady in her mysterious treasure-filled coat, face-painting, photo booth, music, and vote for your favorite decorated tree in the Rondout Tree Trail (look for the Tree Trail Handouts with a ballot to vote for your favorite tree!).
Noon -3:15pm Performances/Events/Happenings
Noon-5:00pm: Trolley & Maritime Museum
1:30-3:30pm: Roam the streets and meet Carolers, grumbling grumpuses, the town crier, pocket lady and more
3:30pm: Parade Steps off as we escort Sinterklaas down, the hill, accompanied by sparkling stars, wind wheels and undulating waves on our magical journey. Kids: wear your
Crowns and carry your Branches. Grown-ups: illuminate their way with your Sinterklaas stars! At the end we’ll bid farewell to Sinterklaas as he is launched across the mighty HudsonRiver and is taken to the Arrival Procesion in Rhinecliff!
5:15pm: Tree Lighting at the Visitors’ Center.
Open Houses, Business Specials, and Rondout Tree Trail
Agustsson Gallery, 176 Broadway
2-6pm The Unveiling of our Large Scale Chess Set & Tree Trail
Arts Society of Kingston, 97 Broadway
1:30pm Storytelling by Karen Pillsworth
2:30pm The music of Los Viejos de la Torre
The Storefront Gallery, 93 Broadway
Noon-3:30pm Say Cheese at The Storefront Gallery – Open house serving Dutch Cheese and get your photo taken in a vintage style Photo Booth & Tree Trail
Don Vito’s Pizzeria, 83 Broadway
Noon-1:00pm Build a Cupcake Bar by JJ’s Rockin Cupcakes
At Home Antiques, 81 Broadway
At Home for the Holidays:
Noon-2:00pm Family Cookie Decorating with a Pro (bring your creativity to our gallery, we’ll supply the rest!!)
Noon-6:00pm OPEN HOUSE with delicious treats—Holiday Gift Sale (with something for everyone at every price range) Find antique presents with past! & Tree Trail
Mezzanine Antiques, 79 Broadway
11am-5pm Open House and Stocking Stuffer Sale & Tree Trail
TheGreenSpace, 73B Broadway
11am-5pm Open House & Tree Trail
Karmabee, 73A Broadway
11am-5pm Open House and Holiday Card Sale & Tree Trail
Madden’s Fine Wines & Spirits, 65 Broadway
3-5pm Spanish Wine Tasting
Pat’s Tats, 4 West Union Street
noon-4pm Open House & Tree Trail
On the Hill Antiques @ Skillypot, 41 Broadway
11am-5pm Open House & Tree Trail
Dolce, 27 Broadway
8am-4pm Restaurant open serving homemade hot cocoa, espresso drinks, homemade baked goods & more.-Tree Trail
Vetere Real Estate, 37 Broadway
11am-5pm Open House serving light pastries of Dutch delights and Netherlands Spirits! & Tree Trail
Hot Towel Barbers, 33 Broadway
11am-5pm Open House & Tree Trail
Rondout Music Lounge, 21 Broadway, 12-6pm Tree Trail
4:30pm Music by the Momma’s Boys & Tree Trail
Savona’s Trattoria, 11 Broadway
noon-5:00pm Gift Card Promotion. Buy first gift card regular price second one half off.
Visitors’ Center, 20 Broadway
5:15pm Tree Lighting Ceremony/Tree Trail and Raffle winners announced. Tree donated by David and Barbara Loeding. Lighting donated by Herzogs. Cut and hauled by Joe Russello.
Trolley Museum, 89 East Strand
Noom-4pm Museum Open and limited trolley rides 12:30-1:15pm The Old Double E performing in #358 Trolley Car at the foot of Broadway
Special Thanks to: The Old Dutch Church of Kingston sponsors the Scions of Patria as the Rondout Grumpuses! Greet the roaming grumpuses for your gift of gold – if you’ve been good.
