Sadly, Sinterklaas 2024 Is Cancelled !!!
But We're Leaving A Light On !
Read Below for Details
2024 Dioramas are installed!
Look HERE to Find them All!
WHAT WAS SINTERKLAAS?
Every year brings new events and characters to dazzle our community, honor our children and bring light to this darkest time of the year.
The Sinterklaas Festivities draw on the Hudson Valley’s Dutch heritage, but with some modern day twists.
Children are the focus — becoming kings and queens for the day, turning the switches of the original story into royal scepters.
Children make scepters and crowns for themselves at the Crowns and Branches workshops.“
But it can’t be about the wanting and having, either.” says creator Jeanne Fleming, “They each have to tie wishes into their branch — one for the community, one for the family, one for the world.
They understand their responsibility to be a good king or queen.”
Sinterklaas Festival Day in Rhinebeck
The day features performances at venues throughout the village: dance, music and theatrics, tightrope walking, even fire juggling!
Strolling musicians, dancing Grumpuses and a variety of colorful characters wander the streets of the village to delight children with stories and treats.
Astride his white steed, Sinterklaas leads the Children’s starlight Parade, which culminates in the center of town with the Sinterklaas pageant, honoring the children and ending with a stirring wish for peace.
At the start, Sinterklaas was a real person. He was born in the 4th century in Myra, Asia Minor, where he became a bishop.
Little else is known about him—except that he loved children.
WATCH THE MOVIE–IT’S STILL GOOD!
Remember the promise of 2020! SINTERKLAAS MOVIE 2020: Leap Year!
Our movie was made for the Covid year, but its promise is everlasting! Make sure the children see it now so they know Sinterklaas is coming back…because some wishes DO come true!
The 10-minute movie tells the compelling story of Frog’s invitation to lead the Sinterklaas Parade, but his appearance had to be postponed by the cancellation of the 2020 event.
Undaunted and committed to the children of Rhinebeck’s joy, the Frog, through magic of a stellar sort, makes his way into Rhinebeck to gift Sinterklaas Stars and let the children know that Sinterklaas will be back.
Based on a story by Sinterklaas creator, Jeanne Fleming, Grumpus choreographer Martha Tobias, and artist Sarah Bissonnette-Adler, the animation was created by artist Liz Howls with music by Dan Dukich. This movie was funded in part by Rhinebeck Responds.
We need a whole host of worker ants!
Volunteers to help us pull off a wonderful celebration with all kinds of new ideas! So, come join our colony!! and Off we go…Volunteer!
There’s a place for everyone, because, as you know, there are all kinds of ants!! To name a few…acrobat, army, bullet, carpenter, crazy, driver, fire, ghost, harvester, honey pots, jumping jack, leaf cutter, pharaoh, queen, thief and weaver.
Here’s how
we are leaving the Light on 2024!
Sadly, we have to cancel Sinterklaas 2024 due to a deficit from 2023 and the loss of a few of our loyal volunteers –Lindy Wright and Harlan Matthews who died within a few weeks of each other this year.
BUT, we ARE doing a few wonderful things to Leave the Light for the future!
The first is…
3 performances of
INTO THE LIGHT–
the moving performance created for Sinterklaas by the Vanaver Caravan! See to the right column to make FREE reservations for these special performances!
And then..
Since there is no Sinterklaas, the Honored Animals of year’s past are staying home. But, like you, they are missing Sinterklaas. So a Magical Sinterklaas is bringing each of them a STAR –so they know we are Leaving the Light on for them too!
18 Artists have created beautiful
DIORAMAS
of the Honored Animals each in their home environment depicting the moment that Sinterklaas brings them thier STAR!
You can see each of them in the WINDOWS of many storefronts in the Village! Have fun finding each of the Honored Animals and enjoy the beauty of these artistic creations!
They will be installed on November 21 and stay up through Sinterklaas Day December 7th.
We were able to do this much this year thanks to donations from a few folks who hope to keep the tradition going. If you would like to do that too, you can donate at the link below. We have ongoing expenses throughout the year and this will help us to continue to discuss plans for the future.
So, help us to
Leave a Light ON!
DONATE NOW!
BUY A STAR / FEED A FAMILY!
Our stars feed both the soul and the body!
We do have STARS this year–illustrating
LEAVING the LIGHT ON
by featuring the sources of light in the dark — Stars and Moons!
In the true Spirit of Sinterklaas, a portion of every STAR you buy will be donated to the food pantries in Rhinebeck to help those most in need in our community!
The 2024 Illuminated Sinterklaas stars can be purchased right here online and shipped to your home until December 15th.
SEE THE PROGRAM
Join us for a full day of great performances and surprises all over town.
FOR A VISUAL TREAT!
INTO THE LIGHT
RESERVE YOUR SEAT FOR OUR
FREE PERFORMANCES
December 7
A favorite presentation of every Sinterklaas returns to help us Leave the Light On!!
A family friendly performance weaves the magic of Arm-of-the-Sea Theater’s giant puppets into The Vanaver Caravan’s global dance repertoire and tells the story of a young girl in search of her community as she visits holiday traditions around the world.
At the Reformed Church
Performances at
1:30
2:45
4:00
“It’s not often that a holiday show can rival the splendor and enchantment of “The Nutcracker.” But … The Vanaver Caravan and Arm-of-the-Sea Theater [have produced] a fanciful, multicultural dance, music, and theater spectacular that has become a Hudson Valley holiday tradition with a staying power all its own.
”
GIANT PUPPET WORKSHOPS
HELP BUILD THE GIANT PUPPETS FOR SINTERKLAAS !!! HELP NEEDED!!! Volunteer HERE!! and NOW!!
Join Sinterklaas puppeteers Alex Kahn and Sophia Michahelles for workday sessions to create a grove of walking trees and glowing porcupines, and to restore beloved favorites for the Starlight Parade!
Workshops are geared towards adults and teens, and older children working with an adult are welcome!”
CROWNS & BRANCHES
Each year we begin the preparations for Sinterklaas Festival Day with fun activities for all. Crowns & Branches as well as the Puppet Workshops begin on November 1 and are open to the community. Children & adults welcome. Lots of fun/
SINTERKLAAS COUNTS ON YOU!
Sinterklaas is donation driven — 75% of our funding is from folks like you. We all love Sinterklaas — our own, hand-made, home-grown, truly one-of-a-kind holiday tradition!
Sinterklaas brings our community together — with joy, magic, creativity, spectacular sights and sounds. And it REALLY all begins with YOU.
HOW CAN IT BE FREE?
We rely on donations from community members, businesses, and institutions —see who has donated! Your support is critical to keeping Sinterklaas a ticket-free event! Consider a donation now.
MEET THE PERFORMERS
Sinterklaas brings over 400 performers to town for its days of celebration.
GETTING THE WORD OUT
Many thanks to Mary Beth Cale and Cale Communications for providing their extraordinary services to help spread the word about Sinterklaas.
SECRET HELPMATES REVEALED
Since 2014 the Sinterklaas Celebration was “adopted” by the Rhinebeck Rotary Club as part of the international organization’s worldwide initiative called “Light Up Rotary.”
