The Foundry announced that the Processional Arts Workshop, the organizers behind Hudson’s Mad Hatters’ Parade, will be involved in Winter Walk 2025. Trixie’s List posed a few questions:
Trixie’s List: Is there a story behind the group, Processional Arts Workshop, coming to Hudson?
The Foundry at Hudson: Processional Arts Workshop is based in Red Hook, New York and although they do work nationally and internationally, they love working locally in the Hudson Valley. It’s their home. As far as them coming to do Winter Walk this year, that’s sort of a bittersweet story. Historically, they haven’t been able to do Winter Walk because in the past they’ve been engaged at the same time to do the Sinterklaas Festival in Rhinebeck. This year, the Sinterklaas Festival has sadly been cancelled, but the upside is that the cancellation leaves them available to help with the Winter Walk procession.
Trixie’s List: Processional Arts Workshop builds their fantastic puppets and parade decorations with the community. How will that work for their work on Winter Walk?
The Foundry at Hudson: Processional Arts Workshop will be holding drop-in puppetry building workshops beginning November 15th and spanning over the three weekends leading up to Winter Walk. Everybody’s invited. No experience necessary. Kids can come and build alongside their parents. The workshops will take place at 405 Columbia Street on November 15, 16, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30th. People can register for the workshops at winterwalk2025.org. Unlike the Mad Hatters Parade, the Winter Walk procession happens at night so people will be building illuminated puppets with the Processional Arts artists. It’s going to be really cool.
Trixie’s List: What can people now expect this year at Winter Walk?
The Foundry at Hudson: Like last year, we’ll have two performance stages, one at the intersection of 5th and Warren which will have two bands performing, and one down near 3rd Street featuring the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus along with a Brazilian percussion band. Of course, tons of stores will be open late for holiday shopping, many of them having special events and performers inside. There’ll be lots of performers outside on the street, dozens of vendors selling yummy food, horse-driven hay rides and a petting zoo. Hudson Hall will have music and a local arts exhibition and the festival will conclude with fireworks.
Trixie’s List: There was an announcement this week that the Foundry as an organization will be discontinuing its operations soon. Does that affect Winter Walk?
The Foundry at Hudson: No, it doesn’t affect Winter Walk. The Foundry is funded by the Galvan Foundation to do Winter Walk and remains committed to producing this year’s festival in partnership with the City of Hudson. After Winter Walk, at the end of the year, The Foundry will wrap up its operations.
Trixie’s List: If someone wants to get involved, what should they do?
The Foundry at Hudson: Community participation is at the core of Winter Walk and so we want everyone to get involved. Visit winterwalk2025.org for all the information and for ways to get in contact with us.
