Peekskill Rotary Fall Festival Saturday, October 5th at the Riverfront

On Saturday, October 5, the Peekskill Rotary Club, known for its fun-filled, community-oriented festivals, will be holding its annual Fall Festival at the Peekskill Riverfront Green. In addition to live music, a DJ, food trucks, craft and art vendors, raffles, children’s activities including pumpkin painting, a kids’ maze, and inflatables, this year’s event will include a chili cookoff and a craft beer & wine garden!

Try fall wines selected by Dylan’s Wine Cellar and craft beers chosen by River Outpost. Taste and vote on your favorite chili, too. Not into chili? Nine food trucks, a country kitchen, and Rotarians making fresh grilled cheese sandwiches should satisfy your cravings. Wander through the art and craft vendors, listening to music. Watch children joyfully play. Meet Rotarians, local residents, your neighbors, and student volunteers who are giving of their time to work the festival. See for yourself why Peekskill earned the moniker “Peekskill is a Friendly Town”.

The event runs from 11 am – 5 pm, rain or shine. The chili cookoff is from noon to 4 pm in the gazebo. Admission and parking to the event are free. Peekskill’s Riverfront Green is steps from the Peekskill Metro North Train station, convenient to all.

“This event is designed not only to offer a day of outdoor fun for the community, but to raise money to give back to the local area and to international projects. It is one of our major fundraisers” said Chris Calabrese, President Elect of the Rotary Club of Peekskill, responsible for organizing this year’s event. “Peekskill Rotarians will be on hand to talk about the many scholarships available and grants that have been given out recently, such as to the Peekskill High School Robotics Team, NECS, Black Diamonds, and The Daisy Jopling Music Mentorship Foundation. They’d love to share our story.”

The Rotary would like to thank the many volunteers and the many sponsors whose support makes this event possible, particularly our major sponsors: Diamond Level - Park Ave Building and Roofing Supplies; Gold Level - New York Presbyterian HVHC, LODI Wealth Advisors, Crescent Consulting Companies, Silverton Contracting Corporation; Silver Level – CertainTeed, Edward Jones – Marie Green, Lanza Foundation, PCSB Bank, and Rotarian Mary Foster.

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The Peekskill Rotary Club was founded 105 years ago, in 1919, and has been raising funds to grant worthy causes ever since. There are currently over 80 members from the Peekskill and Cortlandt area who volunteer their time to make the community and world a better place.

Examples of Peekskill Rotary’s giving include:
Cherry Blossom Festival & Plant Sale – Held each year for the past 7 years, the Peekskill Rotary Club celebrates Spring and the flowering of the 100 Cherry Trees donated by Rotary to the Riverfront in honor of the 100 years of the club’s giving. It is a major fundraising and fun event.
Educational Projects – Peekskill Rotary grants over 12 Scholarships to college and technical schools each year, provides funding to allow students to attend camps, music, robotics, and leadership programs. Its “Literacy Lovers” project has given out over 35,000 books to Peekskill children. Local schools and libraries are regularly supported, including “Adopt a Class”.
Food Grants – For years, Caring for the Homeless of Peekskill (CHOP) has received weekly meals prepared and served by Rotarians.

Many Charities – Veteran’s, Cancer Support, Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s Association, Blood Banks, Gift of Life, Peekskill Volunteer Ambulance, and many other local and international organizations have benefited from grants from the Peekskill Rotary Foundation.
9/11 Memorial at the Peekskill Riverfront - On July 4, 2002, the Peekskill Rotary dedicated a monument in memory of the four area residents who perished in the 9/11 attacks, planting a small garden at the Riverfront. Rotarians have gathered there every year since to remember that fateful day.

“Rotary Walk” at the Hudson Valley Hospital Center - In 2008, Rotarians envisioned this nature trail as a place of solace for those visiting a loved one at the hospital, and for those working at the hospital, a stress releasing stroll. The donation took 4-years and restored McGregory Brook, cleaned up wetlands, added a 550’ boardwalk, wood chip trail, benches, and native plantings.
“Healing Garden” at the Montrose Campus of the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System - Completed in 2011, to thank the Veterans for their service, and to allow them to enjoy nature’s beauty, outdoor stone walking paths and sitting areas were funded, designed, and constructed by the Peekskill and Cortlandt Manor Rotary Clubs.

For more information on the Peekskill Rotary Fall Festival 2024, or the Peekskill Rotary Club, visit our website.