Waterfront Wednesdays
Seven Weeks of Free Community Programming at the Hudson Waterfront Wednesdays July 9 – August 20, 2025 | 4:00 PM – Sunset
Waterfront Wednesdays returns for its sixth season of free, family-friendly programming on the banks of the Hudson River. Held weekly from July 9 through August 20 at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, this vibrant celebration of community, creativity, and river life runs from 4:00 PM to sunset and features a dynamic lineup of performances, workshops, river activities, local vendors, and community partners.
Presented by Hudson Sloop Club and Operation Unite NY, and made possible through a wide network of regional collaborators and sponsors, Waterfront Wednesdays invites residents and visitors of all ages to come together in the heart of Hudson for music, learning, food, and fun.
The Wednesday Farmers Market, which has already begun for the season, joins the festivities each week, bringing fresh produce, baked goods, handmade items, and community resources from regional growers and makers to the waterfront. Please note: the vendor list may vary week to week.
Programming begins at 4:00 PM, including community drumming with the Ujima Community Collective African Drum Circle, and performances begin at 6:00 PM. The 2025 lineup features:
● July 9 – Beautiful Racket ● July 16 – Brasskill ● July 23 – Pulso De Barro ● July 30 – Vanaver Caravan ● August 6 – Operation Unite NY, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus & Social Justice Leadership Academy ● August 13 – LETZ ● August 20 – Wyld Blu
Special Program Highlights:
On July 9 and August 13, Waterfront Wednesdays welcomes the return of The Fix-It Picnic: Community Dye Baths by LikeMindedObjects. Guests of all ages are invited to experiment with natural dye techniques by bringing light-colored, natural-fiber clothing or fabric to dip into community dye baths. There will also be space and supplies for sewing, t-shirt weaving, mending, and craft projects. No registration required—just show up between 5:00 and 7:30 PM. Supplies are limited and available on a first-come basis. This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Bindlestiff’s Cirkus After School adult and teen teaching artists offer mentorship at Hudson Juggling Club each Wednesday. Free and open to all levels of learner, Hudson Juggling Club provides equipment to try, including juggling balls, juggling clubs, diabolos, etc. Youth under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Weather permitting in the north end of Hudson’s Riverfront Park. during Waterfront Wednesdays.
On-the-River Experiences
Waterfront Wednesdays features extensive river programming made possible by Hudson Ferry Co. (HFC), the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society (HALPS), the Schooner Apollonia, and the Sloop Clearwater.
HFC provides free ferry service between Hudson and Athens at 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM (from Hudson), and at 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM (from Athens). Two scenic pre-sunset cruises also depart from Hudson at 6:00 and 7:00 PM, lasting 45–60 minutes. Advance sign-ups are available at www.hudsonferry.co; cruise sign-ups are offered in person at the Hudson Sloop Club tent or via FareHarbor.
HALPS, in partnership with Catskill Charters, offers 30-minute boat tours around the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse every half hour between 5:00 and 7:00 PM. These narrated trips explore the history of the lighthouse, its keepers, and its ongoing restoration efforts. Tours do not enter the structure. Sign-ups will take place in the park on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Schooner Apollonia will be docked at Waterfront Wednesdays every week, offering three 50-minute sails at 4:30 PM, 5:30 PM, and 6:30 PM, with space for 14 passengers per trip. Participants can sign up at the Nack Center in the park. Powered by wind, tide, and muscle, Apollonia is a working sail freight vessel transporting shelf-stable goods along the Hudson River and offering hands-on education about sustainability and estuary systems.
The Sloop Clearwater joins Waterfront Wednesdays on July 9 and July 30 for two special two-hour sails. The 106-foot wooden sloop, with a 108-foot mast, is the last full-sized Hudson River sloop in active sailing, carrying forward the legacy of 19th-century river commerce. Clearwater’s educational programming reaches over 5,000 students each year. Twenty tickets for each sail will be sold in advance at clearwater.org/public-sails, and twenty-five free tickets will be distributed at the Waterfront Wednesdays info table. Clearwater’s participation is supported by a $1,000 contribution from the Hudson Sloop Club.
Please note: all boat schedules are subject to change due to weather and river conditions.
Each week also includes youth activities, food vendors, and a rotating cast of local makers and organizations. Past participants include Muscle Man Farms, Lulu’s Charcuterie, EdieArt, Laws of Seven, Nix Design Co, Biti Besha Jewelry, Laiken Mae Handmade, Columbia-Greene Addiction Coalition, Peta’sPocket, Miss Moon and Friends, Camphill Community Triform, Larynx Jewels, Columbia Children’s Center, Hudson Youth Bike Coop, LemonHeads, Sky’s the Lemonade, SunDog Printmaking, Hudson Conservation Advisory Council (CAC), The Olana Partnership, and Common Hands Farm.
Waterfront Wednesdays 2025 is made possible with support from: The Fund for Columbia County of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation The Schlather Family Fund The City of Hudson
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CREATE Council on the Arts.
With additional generous support from: Clever Property Management Friendly City Creative Club Hudson Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society Hudson Clothier Hudson Ferry Co. Rebus Rivertown Lodge Schooner Apollonia SPARK of Hudson The Spotty Dog Books & Ale This Old Hudson Clearwater
Waterfront Wednesdays 2025 is guided by a dedicated Board of Advisors: Adam Weinert, Sarah Van Buren, Elena Mosley, Sam Merrett, Selha Graham, Stephanie Monseu, Danny Amend, Kate Treacy, Pseudomnesia, Susannah Lescher, Tracy Robinson, Elise McMahon
Join us at Waterfront Wednesdays 2025 to celebrate the richness of our riverfront community. All events are free and open to the public. For weekly updates and a full schedule, visit www.waterfrontwednesdays.org
