College of Mount Saint Vincent to Host Riverdale RiverFest June 15, 2014
5/5/2014
Riverdale, N.Y. – The University of Mount Saint Vincent will host the fifth annual Riverdale RiverFest celebration from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, 2014 on the Great Lawn of the College’s Riverdale campus. This year’s event, which is free and open to the public, welcomes all to enjoy the festival’s schedule of local musicians and performers, food, crafts, family-oriented activities, boats, and exhibits by local schools and environmental organizations.
This year’s flotilla includes the Mystic Whaler, a reproduction of a late 19th century coastal cargo schooner designed for the passenger trade by Chubb Crockett of Camden, ME, which will ride alongside the John J. Harvey Fireboat. The Mystic Whaler is the sister ship of the sloop Clearwater, which was part of last year’s flotilla. The John J. Harvey Fireboat is a replica of the sloops that sailed the Hudson during the 18th and 19th centuries. Built in 1931 at 130 feet and 268 net tons, it’s among the most powerful fireboats ever in service. She was retired by the New York City Fire Department in 1994 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 2000.
Boat rides on the river will be offered on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15. Space is limited on the boats, but guaranteed reservations for all rides can be made for a small fee on the Riverdale RiverFest website, www.riverdaleriverfest.org.
This year’s Riverdale RiverFest will run from 12 noon to 6 p.m. on the College’s Great Lawn, overlooking the Hudson River, and will celebrate the River and the Greenway in Riverdale. RiverFest will feature music, special activities for children, a greenmarket, and Renaissance-style fantasy battles by the popular Society for Creative Anachronism.
RiverFest will offer a selection of kosher, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options throughout the day. From more traditional festival fare to the exotic flavors of the Caribbean, South India, Mexico and the Mediterranean, and sweet treats such as fresh waffles, artisanal cakes and pastries,
The festival is organized and run entirely by community volunteers and supported by all local elected officials and more than 40 community organizations, including the neighborhood’s schools and religious institutions.
The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the Hudson River and promote the Hudson River Greenway Link, an initiative to extend the Hudson River greenway from its current terminus at the north end of Manhattan through the Bronx along the Riverdale waterfront to Yonkers. A map of the proposed route, along with information about the Greenway, will be displayed during Riverdale RiverFest.
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment and leadership in the 21st century.