Rhinebeck’s Sinterklaas Celebration Canceled for 2024, Small Celebrations to Continue

A holiday festival, that brings thousands to a small Dutchess County town, won't return this year.

With that being said, they're "leaving a light on" for the future.

Magical Rhinebeck Holiday Festival Canceled For 2024

Back in July 2024, when we're supposed to be celebrating Christmas in July, we learned that a magical Hudson Valley holiday festival would not return this year.

On Instagram, HVNY reported that the Sinterklaas festival would be absent from the Rhinebeck roads this holiday season. At the time, the Sinterklaas committee said they would take time to "reach out, rethink and reimagine" the Sinterklaas Festival.

In an email sent out earlier this week, the team behind Sinterklaas explains they had to cancel the festival this year "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."

While they haven't found a way to bring Sinterklaas back fully, they have come up with some ways to "Leave the Light on for the future."

"Leave a Light On" For Future Sinterklaas Celebrations

The Sinterklaas team shared a list of events that will occur this holiday season in Rhinebeck, in hopes to keep the spirit of Sinterklaas alive.

The infamous Sinterklaas Stars will return this year in a different form than years past. The email explains the stars will illustrate "Leaving a Light On" to feature a source of light in dark times.

2024 Illuminated Sinterklaas stars can be purchased now online and will be shipped by December 15th.  A portion of the star you purchase will be donated to food pantries in the Rhinebeck area.

Every year an animal is honored during the Sinterklaas celebrations, since the 2024 festival is canceled there is no Honored Animal. With that being said there will be dioramas on display by 18 talented artist that depict the Honored Animals in their home environment "the moment that Sinterklaas brings them their star."

The dioramas will be on display in local Rhinebeck shop storefronts and will be installed on November 21st. The displays will stay up until Sinterklaas Day, December 7th.

Lastly, there will be 3 free performances of Into The Light created for Sinterklaas by the Vanaver Caravan and Am, of the Sea Theater. Reservations are needed for the 3 free shows at 1:30 pm, 2:45 pm and 4 pm at the Reformed Church.

Why Does Rhinebeck, New York Celebrate Sinterklaas?

According to the Sinterklaas website, Sinterklaas is a celebration that made it's way to Rhinebeck some 300 years ago thanks to the Dutch Settlers from the Netherlands.

Sinterklaas, according to the festival website, the celebration made its way to Rhinebeck 300 years ago with the Dutch settlers from the Netherlands. During the festival "Children are transformed into Kings and Queens and honored as the bringers of the light at the darkest time of the year."

The website explains further writing "We move away from the commercial Santa and back to the wonders that began the legend—The Good King, the Noble Soul, the one who brings light out of darkness, befriends children and animals, and inspires our soul."

Here's to hoping Sinterklaas brings the light back to Rhinebeck in 2025.