Sometimes you are in the right place at the right time and something wonderful and fun happens. My weekend up in the Hudson River Valley was like that when I was on a recent business trip. It was restful and I got my mind off school and work. I had to go to the Culinary Institute of America to talk to one of my old chefs for a project I was working on for my Innovations in Tourism class at NYU.

Roth Hall during Christmas time 2022

It was a step back in time for me walking around campus and talking to students in their chef’s gear. It reminded me of when I was attending the CIA and visitors asking me what it was like to be a student there. Roth Hall where I took all my classes was decked out for Christmas which I never experienced when I was on campus because I left campus in October when it was still warm and worked in Hawaii during the holiday season.

The inside entrance of Roth Hall decorated for Christmas

The outside of Roth Hall decked out for Christmas

While on campus, I noticed in the paper that there was going to be a small Christmas celebration in Downtown Kingston, the “Snowflake Festival” from 6:00pm-8:00pm that evening so I thought I would just visit Kingston after I settled in the hotel.

My chef was not available that afternoon but it gave me a chance to walk around the campus and visit parts of campus that I had not visited since pre-COVID. It got to see some of the new buildings and renovations of the old ones. I forgot how beautiful the campus is on the Hudson River.

The campus was quiet because most of the students were in their night classes so the restaurants were preparing for evening dinner shift. Visitors were taking tours of campus so I took time to explore all the restaurants and see what they looked like. It was a step back in time to see that not too much had changed but the course levels and curriculum kept evolving.

The artwork on campus is interesting

After a long tour of the building, I walked around the grounds of the campus. I visited the new Student Center and the Recreation Building to see all the happenings. They now have more clubs than ever and a series of sports teams. We never had those things when I was on campus. I walked through the “Egg”, which is the big cafeteria for the students and then the path outside the building following the Hudson River.

I knew that it was going to be a long day so I stopped for some lunch at the Apple Pie Cafe, which had not opened until I graduated. The Apple Pie Cafe is a Panera type restaurant featuring soups, sandwiches, small entrees and desserts. It is really popular with all the tourists.

The Apple Pie Cafe on the first floor of Roth Hall

I got there near closing time so the menu was limited. I decided on the Mac & Cheese and an Apple Cider donut. Everything was delicious but then I would not have expected anything else. The Mac & Cheese was made of Cheddar, Asiana and Parmesan. It had been sitting so it was firm on the outside but still tender and cheesy on the inside and the flavor was excellent.

The Mac & Cheese is baked until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside

For dessert, I had one the Apple Cider Cake donuts and it was wonderful. The donut was freshly fried and then it was almost poached in a reduction of Apple Cider so the top was firm and the bottom was dipped in the reduction giving the bottom of the donut a sweeter taste.

The Apple Pie Cafe at 1946 Campus Drive on the Culinary Institute of America campus in Hyde Park, NY

https://www.applepiebakerycafe.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60801-d1929618-Reviews-Apple_Pie_Bakery_Cafe-Hyde_Park_New_York.html?m=19905

The Apple Cider Donuts were excellent

The whole meal was delicious and they let us continue eating after the restaurant was closed. They were just cleaning up the kitchen around us. After I finished that wonderful lunch, I got back to Heinz Plaza as twilight was happening and the sun was receding along the Hudson River. The Christmas trees were lit in the plaza and it looked very festive.

The Christmas Tree in the Courtyard was lit for the evening and the site of the Tree was wonderful.

I went back outside to see the Christmas tree in the courtyard lit. The whole effect was very beautiful.

I left campus that day refreshed after a good lunch and a long walk and wanted to relax at the hotel before I left for Kingston. It was just nice to sink into the bed of the Quality Inn in Hyde Park. The rooms are so comfortable and the beds are soft and firm. I just relaxed in the room for about an hour and just took it easy. It had been a long week of classes at both colleges.

The Courtyard at night

The campus Christmas tree was fully lit when I returned to talk to Chef Zearfoss

I left for Kingston, NY across the river and got to the Stockade section of the City around 6:00pm when things were just starting up. The weather was perfect and it was around 50 degrees when I got there so the streets were really busy with people walking around to hear the bands.



The “Snowflake Festival” in Downtown Kingston, NY

The town had a lot of activities going on that night

I was greeted by this festive sign welcoming people to the festival

Downtown Kingston’s Stockard section was beautifully decorated for the holidays

I got the Stockade neighborhood in the oldest part of Kingston by 6:30pm so people were just starting to arrive when I got there to join in the festivities. The crowds were starting to grow as the evening progressed as it was a crisp but pleasant December evening. It was not too hot and not too cold. It was the perfect 48 degree evening.

People arriving in the Stockage section of the City of Kingston, NY

Snowflakes decorated the whole downtown area

The crowds kept growing through the evening

It was really a fun evening. The City of Kingston had a lot of activities planned all over the downtown and people were walking all over the decorated downtown. All the lights were on all over the streets and the main streets were lined with Christmas lights and snowflakes. The display windows of the business were decorated to the hilt for the holiday season.

Downtown merchant window display

Downtown merchant window display

My favorite window display was a home furnishing store on the main street

The merchants of Kingston really went all out for the holidays

The merchants in Kingston really got into the spirit of it all

I first wondered around the downtown on where to start first and just walked all the streets of the downtown area to see what was going on. My first stop was the Dutch Reformed Church were they were going to have a series of concerts. I had been there many times for Sinterklaas fundraisers in the past but had not been there for this event.

The church was all decked out with garlands and lights for the Christmas holiday season. I love these old churches when they are decorated for the holidays. There is such a beauty to them and so many traditions that they are a part of in the community. This church is in the center of old Kingston and always has such interesting events.

The outside of the Dutch Reformed Church of Kingston at 272 Wall Street was very festive with garland and lights

Home

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48003-d7232701-Reviews-Old_Dutch_Church-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html

The Christmas Tree looked unusual but elegant

I had been in the church before for Sinterklaas fundraisers but never in the main part of the church where services took place. It is one of those old 19th century churches with the wooden pews, the elaborate stained glass windows and the high pulpit above the congregation.

The church was decorated with lights, bows, holly and garland all over the pews and aisles. It is amazing how secular these churches are getting for the holidays. The concert was a lot of fun and very festive. They not only performed classic hits, contemporary music but also some traditional Christmas songs. It really got everyone in the mood for the holidays.

The concerts were very lively

After visiting the church, I walked around the grounds. It is amazing how short the distance is between Halloween and Christmas but the lines are getting more blurred every year. It seems that time is flying by between the two holidays. I even see some of the Halloween merchandise still sitting on the shelves in stores.

I followed the carolers around the downtown area and took several pictures by the Kingston Christmas tree. Their tree was very impressive this year and beautifully lit for the holidays. Downtown Kingston was very beautiful that evening as I admired all the buildings that were being renovated and all the new stores opening up.

The Downtown Kingston Christmas Tree on Main Street

I walked around the streets and I came to the Kingston Volunteer Firefighters Museum that was open and decorated for the holidays. They even had an antique fire engine in the front of the museum decorated with lights.

The Volunteer Firemen’s Hall and Museum at 265 Fair Street

https://kingstonvolunteerfiremensmuseum.weebly.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48003-d3367598-Reviews-Volunteer_Fireman_s_Hall_Museum_of_Kingston-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html

The retired firefighters from the former volunteer companies really did a great job dressing the museum up for the event. In the upstairs Chief’s office, there was garland and a Christmas tree.

All the equipment was shined up for the open house and all the firemen were swapping stories with those of us in the fire service who understood what we were talking about. They had some pretty good stories to tell. What I like about visiting this museum is all the antique equipment they have on display.

I love the parade hose beds that the museum has on display. These elaborate pieces are the pride of these fire companies and were out for every parade.

Before I left though, I had the worst (I mean worst) cup of hot chocolate that I ever drank. It tasted like it was cooked in a burnt pot. I had to throw that out and find something else to drink.

After the fire museum, I turned the corner to see the horse drawn carriage rides that were available. I loved the look of the carriage with the horses decked out for the holidays and the driver in a top hat. The only problem was there was one driver and the line even towards the end of the event was fifty deep. I did not know how they were going to get through all those people before it was time to go.

My last visit for the evening was to the Senate House in the historic area of downtown. The lawn and all the trees were lit with Christmas lights and the buildings covered in garland.

The Senate House Complex at 295 Fair Street was beautifully decorated that night

https://www.senatehousekingston.org/embed/#?secret=VKRWGCYZ84#?secret=6VhLMEcLLG

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48003-d3225491-Reviews-Senate_House_State_Historic_Site-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html

The festive lights on the Senate lawn

The Senate House Museum decorated for Christmas

Here a performer was singing Christmas songs and leading sing a longs while Santa wished everyone well and listened to what everyone wanted for Christmas.

Singer Mark Rust at the Senate House lawn for the Snowflake Festival

The lines to see Santa were also fifty deep as everyone was trying to see Santa before the event ended. I just was a casual observer.

Santa was really busy that night. I don’t know how he handled the crowds

The event winded down rather quickly at 8:00pm and when I started to turn the corners of the downtown again especially on main street, they were starting to pack things up. 8:00pm meant 8:00pm! The strange part was that it looked like all the restaurants were closing at 8:00pm as well. It was as if the whole downtown was rolling up its sleeves. By 8:30pm. the downtown looked like a ghost town.

The Snowflake decorations in Downtown Kingston, NY

Street art in Downtown Kingston, NY by the Christmas tree

In 2023, it was a different story. Though the weather was on the warm side, it was drizzling when I got there at 6:00pm. I had been touring the Ringwood Manor earlier in the day and it was cloudy and miserable when I left. I checked into my hotel, The Hampton Inn Poughkeepsie and then made my way across the river to the Snowflake Festival. It was just getting in full swing when it started a light rain. I walked around for a bit watching the fire eaters and admiring the decorations before I decided to head back to Dutch Reformed Church to relax inside and hear the entertainment. That’s when it started to rain.

The “Snowflake Festival” on Friday, December 1st in Kingston, NY.

In 2023, the weather had been gloomy all day and misty so it was not the best conditions for an outdoor festival. It was to my surprise that when I got there at 6:00pm it was really busy. They may have been a light drizzle but that did not keep people away.

The crowds on that misty Friday night were very large.

I walked all of Front Street in Downtown Kingston Stockade section admiring all the Christmas windows of the merchants and the snowflake decorations all around the downtown.

Downtown Kingston in the rain the night of the 2023 Snowflake Festival

The snowflakes that adorned the downtown.

As I walked through town, I passed crowds of people walking through the drizzle and watching a fire eater perform. So many people did not have umbrellas and the drizzle started to get worse. I figured I wanted to go someplace warm and headed over to the Dutch Reformed Church. I did not have the agenda yet but I wanted to go someplace that was inside.

When I got to the church it was once again beautifully decorated with garland and lights and the stage was rocking with violinists who were performing in sync. The concert was awash with lights and holograms dancing overhead.

The Strawberry Fiddlers performed that evening in the Dutch Reformed Church

The Strawberry Hill Fiddlers performing that night.

I stayed for four songs and it was really nice to just relax and enjoy the music. I really enjoyed the concert and I found it really engaging and entertaining. After this, I wanted to see more of the festival and hoped that the rain had stopped. No such luck as the rain continued and got worse as I left the church. I was able to sneak some Dutch cookies and cider before I left and the sugar gave me more energy.

The irony of it all was as I left the church and the rain continued, over the loud speaker near the picture taking booth, Gene Kelly singing “Singing in the Rain” from the iconic film “Singing in the Rain” came on and it synced perfectly with the rain and I had to take a video of it as it matched perfectly with the rain coming down but people still having a good time.

The video of the rain storm during the festival when “Singing in the Rain” was played on the loudspeaker. Talk about irony:

I walked around the church and was back at the Kingston Volunteer Firefighting Museum and I stopped in as the rain started to stop. I wanted to dry off again. I had toured the museum the last two years and I just took a short tour of the museum. Christmas lights adorned the museum and the antique fire truck outside the museum that the kids were able to climb.

The nicely decorated firetruck outside the museum that evening.

As I passed the museum, I could not believed that people were taking horse drawn rides in the rain but they did and they looked like they were having a good time. I walked down Fair Street where the Senate House was nicely decorated for the holidays to see Santa. That line was the longest as the mist continued. I bypassed even seeing him but I could see him entertaining the families waiting in line to see him.

Even in the rain the lines to see Santa were long and people waited patiently to see him.

The Senate House decorated for the holidays.

I walked around the downtown watching the musicians and entertainers as the rain started to subside later that evening and they had a group of Victorian carolers performing by the bank on Wall Street right by the most beautiful wreath I have seen this holiday season on the historical building. The effect was quite nice.

The Victorian Carolers performing by the old bank building.

The wreath on the bank building was quite spectacular against the stonework.

It was getting colder that evening as I was walking around and the rain stopped and I knew from last year where to get some hot chocolate. So I went over to the Ulster Savings Bank Lobby and had a cup with some cookies that the bank every generously sponsors each year for the event.

While I was there I was listening to Mrs. Claus tell stories to the kids and this woman really looked like Mrs. Claus. While she was telling stories, the Coach Street Players choir was singing Christmas carols. It was a nice way to spend the end of the evening. I was getting hungry after a long trip and even longer day of classes and I wanted to relax.

Mrs. Claus was just finishing to a crowd of children for storytime.

The Coach House Players at the Ulster Savings Bank lobby performing.

By 7:30pm, things were starting the wrap up and the weather was clearing. Most of the bars and restaurants were packed that night or closing for the evening. Wing Shi, the Chinese restaurant I love in Kingston, still does not have any seating inside and there was no place to sit outside so I went to Opa Gyros Greek Restaurant at 333 Wall Street in downtown Kingston. I have wanted to eat here last year watching them serve gyro meat last year on platters but by the time I walked in at the end of the festival last year, they closed at 8:00pm. I went in at 7:30pm for dinner this time and had a wonderful meal.

The inside of Opa Gyros at 333 Wall Street.

https://www.facebook.com/p/OPA-GYROS-100053865739437/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48003-d4450418-Reviews-Opa-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html?m=19905

The delicious Gyro sandwich with Greek fries.

The sandwich was delicious and I really enjoyed the food and service.

After dinner was over, it was about 8:15pm and the festival wrapped up really quickly. By the time I turned the corner, most of the businesses had closed and the people were gone. All the activities were over and even Santa had left by that point. There were some people milling around but by 8:30pm, the town was quiet. I was able to walk around the downtown one more time and then I left for my hotel as I had to be in Rhinebeck early the next morning to help with the Sinterklaas parade. I slept very soundly at the Hampton Inn in Poughkeepsie.

Christmas windows in Kingston, NY in 2023.

Christmas windows in Downtown Kingston in 2023

Downtown Kingston during the holiday season in 2024:

I was not able to attend the Snowflake Festival in 2024 because I was in Salem and Woodstown, NJ for a series of Holiday house walking tours but I went up to Kingston later in the month to see the decorations in the downtown. Here are some of the pictures from my trip to Kingston, NY during Christmas time in 2024:

The beautiful quiet of Downtown Kingston, NY in 2024

A late night in Downtown Kingston, NY during Christmas time

The Kingston Christmas tree

It just felt like Christmas

Passing the Senate House decorations

The decorations around the Senate House

Walking back down the street after visiting the Christmas tree. A light snow fell

The window shopping was fun

Window shopping in Downtown Kingston

All the buildings were so beautifully decorated for the holidays

Kingston Dutch Reformed Church in Downtown Kingston

The beauty of the church after the snow storm. Christmas was coming

The front of the church during the holiday season

In 2022, I tried to find a place to eat that evening but literally most every place was closed and the only Chinese restaurant that was open did not have a place to sit down so I left Kingston to cross the river again. I knew that Golden Wok in Red Hook was open late so I decided to head to Red Hook, NY for dinner.

Red Hook like the other towns in the Hudson River Valley is so picturesque during the holidays and is one town that is not geared towards tourists as opposed to the local citizens. Their restaurants are reasonable and the town is not overloaded with expensive gift shops like Rhinebeck and Woodstock are in their downtowns. It is also so beautifully decorated with garland and white lights all over the buildings downtown.

Downtown Red Hook, NY was decked out for the holidays

Downtown Red Hook, NY decked out for the holidays

Downtown Red Hook, NY

Annabelle’s Village Bake Shop really decorated to the hilt for Christmas

It was also quiet in Red Hook as well and I was the only one walking around the downtown. I walked around for a bit, admiring the lights and looking over their town Christmas tree which just a few weeks earlier had been a Fall display for Halloween.

Downtown Red Hook, NY Christmas tree

Things move fast in these towns.

I was Golden Wok’s only customer at that time so I ate in at the front table and just watched the traffic go by. The food at the restaurant is just amazing. For a small take out place, they do a wonderful job with their dishes.

Golden Wok at 7479 South Broadway in Red Hook, NY

https://goldenwokredhook.uorder.io/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48473-d821529-Reviews-Golden_Wok-Red_Hook_New_York.html?m=19905

I had the most delicious Roast Pork Lo Mein with Pork Fried Rice and an Egg Roll for dinner. Not only was the food good but the portion sizes were very generous. I just sat back and relaxed and ate realizing that I did not have to be anywhere or race to do anything. That was a nice feeling. It was just nice to eat and admire all the Christmas decorations. The restaurant got a little busier as people saw me eating in the front of the restaurant and I guess figured that it was open and started to come in. They got a bit of a rush after that

.

The Roast Pork Lo Mein and Fried Rice are delicious at Golden Wok

Snowflake Festival 2025:

They had to cancel Sinterklaas again this year again, so I rearranged my schedule around it. I decided to come up to the Hudson River again for the Snowflake Festival and for the opening of the BFA/MFA show at the Dorsky Museum on the SUNY New Paltz campus. This afternoon a long day at work. I had my students create the Holiday Project for Bergecco-Parc consulting Inc., my class project. I swear I never sit still.

After another long week at work, it was going to be another long weekend of activities as I had the Snowflake Festival in Kingston, the Cape May Historical Walking Tour and their Christmas Parade and then the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association Christmas Party for the residents followed by a Sinterklaas event at the historical Van Allen House, home to the Oakland Historical Society. I would be in the car all weekend.

After a long day with my students, who did their Bergecco-Parc Consulting Holiday Party project for extra credit. The project is creating a holiday invitation, menu with an appetizer, entree, dessert and signature holiday drink and then film a greeting. We had our share of hiccups in the project but the kids looked like they had a lot of fun with it.

The Holiday Project:

The Holiday Project Presentation:

My Sounds and Subs Team:

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/KtbxLxgRSlKpzWLKwRCmgfsPhfWQXsJLqq?projector=1

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/KtbxLxgRSlKpzWLKwRCmgfsPhfWQXsJLqq?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1

My Farm to Table Farmers Market Team:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-AwqABAVhzAmdATSNccgd__WvFIEls2A_pjMGiL6guU/edit?slide=id.g39163f71228_0_0#slide=id.g39163f71228_0_0

The students really earned their strips with me that day. We had our share of hiccups but that is what a trial run is all about. It was Ann interesting Friday afternoon.

I had gotten an email from the Dorsky Museum on the SUNY New Paltz campus that the BFA/MFA Student Opening Show was going to be that night. I decided to attend before I went to the Snowflake Festival in Downtown Kingston. Don’t ask me how but I attended both events with plenty of time to spare.

I got up to New Paltz in record time and had time before the art opening to visit Historic Hugenot Street, the complex of historic homes in the historic district in the downtown area.

Historic Huguenot Street at Christmas

https://www.huguenotstreet.org/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48245-d288641-Reviews-Historic_Huguenot_Street-New_Paltz_Catskill_Region_New_York.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

Historic Huguenot Street 81 Huguenot Street New Paltz, NY 12561

Some of the homes were decorated with simple wreaths and not much else but the snow from the recent storm offered a picturesque view with a Christmas feel.

The decorations outside the Dubois House

The historic Dubois House

The Janet Hasbrouck House

The historic Presbyterian Church decorated for the holiday

As it got darker, I made my way to the SUNY campus and to the art museum. It really was a good show with a nice reception and interesting art. While the students were devouring the food at reception, I had the whole gallery to myself to look at the art.

The Dorsky Museum on the SUNY New Paltz campus:

https://www.newpaltz.edu/museum/

https://www.newpaltz.edu/museum/exhibitions/bfamfa-thesis-fall-25/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48245-d10130343-Reviews-Samuel_Dorsky_Museum_of_Art-New_Paltz_Catskill_Region_New_York.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art State University of New York at New Paltz 1 Hawk Drive New Paltz, NY 12561

I have to admit that some of the art was quite unusual. The students did have a streak of creativity to them.

The Dorsky Museum Gallery

Some of the unique pieces

Once the students devoured the Reception buffet, everyone came in to see the exhibition

This is the one piece that really stuck with me at the show

The gallery at the museum is rather small do I got through the whole show in less than an hour. I had a quick snack with what was left on the buffet table, which was not much. The food was really good and a snared the final meatball.

Just enough of a snack to get through the next two hours

I only stayed at the Gallery opening for about an hour and then it was back on the road again and up I 87 I went to downtown Kingston to the Annual Snowflake Festival. The weather was cold but at least it was not raining like the previous year. The crowds were beginning to grow that night.

The crowds that evening on East Front Street

The decorations in downtown Kingston, NY for the Annual Snowflake Festival

https://kuba.network/snowflake/

Snowflake Festival 2025

The festive display windows for Christmas

This merchant does a wonderful job every year

They are very creative

The first entertainer at the beginning of the event I saw was the Fire Thrower and she did an amazing job interesting us. She really got the crowd engaged.

The Fire Thrower engaged the crowds downtown

The next group of entertainers I saw was the band on stilts, whom I have seen at Sinterklaas for years. They got the crowd motivated.

The guys do a marvelous job every year

Even their Christmas songs are fun. Here are them performing ‘Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer’

I made my way around the downtown this year to try to enjoy everything in the festival, which meant running from one thing to another.

Main Street where the stage was and the core of the entertainment

My first stop was the bank with all its entertainment and things to do. They really kept the crowds entertained.

There was a group of singers performing Christmas carols. I thought they were the bank staff.

They had all sorts of desserts and hot beverages like Hot Cider and Chocolate for the crowds

Mrs. Claus was entertaining all of us with puppets and stories. There was also crafts for the kids

Mrs. Claus posing for me. It took me a half hour to finally email this picture to here.

Then I headed over to the Dutch Reformed Church to hear the fiddlers. The church is always so beautifully decorated for the holidays.

The Dutch Reformed Church of Rhinebeck

Home

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48003-d7232701-Reviews-Old_Dutch_Church-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

Historic Old Dutch Church 272 Wall Street Kingston, New York 12401

The luminaries lighting the way inside

The inside of the Dutch Reformed Church that evening

The start of the concert with the Strawberry Fiddlers performing

Here you get to see the true beauty of the church

I then got a close up shot of the fiddlers

The Strawberry Fiddlers performing that night. They really got the crowds going. I heard two songs performed before I moved on to the next thing to do.

Walking through the well lit downtown where freshly fallen snow the night before made it look more picturesque.

The downtown was amazing at night

My next stop was the Kingston Volunteer Museum’s display of antique fire trucks.

The Kingston Volunteer Fire Museum

https://www.facebook.com/volunteerfiremansmuseum.ofkingston/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48003-d3367598-Reviews-Volunteer_Fireman_s_Hall_Museum_of_Kingston-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

Volunteer Firemen’s Hall & Museum of Kingston 265 Fair Street Kingston, NY 12402

I didn’t go inside because the crowds packed the place and I remembered from both years how God awful their hot chocolate was and bypassed it this year. Still the fire trucks were the big lure and festively decorated with Christmas lights.

The decorated trucks outside the museum

As the evening wore on, I had never seen an evening fly by. My last stop of the evening was the Senate House, which was closed that evening, but in the barn Santa and Mrs. Claus were receiving visitors and a guitarist was performing.

The Senate House Barn decorated for the holidays

https://parks.ny.gov/visit/historic-sites/senate-house-state-historic-site

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48003-d3225491-Reviews-Senate_House_State_Historic_Site-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

The Senate House 296 Fair Street Kingston, NY 12401

The line to see Santa was about sixty deep and I really did not have time to see them. I had seen Mrs. Claus already.

Santa and Mrs. Claus greeting guests that night

So I listened to the guitarist, who I seen perform before. He performed all sorts of classic Christmas songs.

The singer performing on that cold night. I do not know how he did it.

Here he is performing ‘Dominick, the Italian Christmas Donkey’

The musical performance of ‘Dominic, the Italian Christmas Donkey’

The last thing I did that night after the performance was get in line for the horse drawn carriage around the downtown. The line had been fifty deep most of the night. It ended up I was the last person allowed in line as it was the last ride of the night.

The horse drawn carriage rides that night

Everyone was trying to get on the last ride of the night and begged because they had kids. I love it when parents use their kids as pawns. Even so just as we were to get on the carriage a group of people snuck out of a restaurant and took the spots of the family in front of me and myself and we could not get on.

They were so pissed. The police were just starting to reopen the downtown roads and the carriage guys said he had no control over it. So the carriage guy said he would take us on a ride back to the other side of downtown to load up these very cold horses.

The temperature had really dropped at this point. We got the best ride because we got to see more of downtown and see it lit up for the evening.

The very last ride on the horse drawn carriage through the downtown. It was the best trip of the night!

By this point the event was over. It was past 8:00pm and when this event ends, it ends! The roads opened up and the crowds disappeared. I turned around and everyone was gone.

Like last year, most of the restaurants close at 8:00pm on the dot. I am not sure why. One of the few restaurants open that night downtown was Vincenzo’s Pizza at 305 Wall Street. It was packed when I arrived.

Vincenzo’s Pizza at 305 Wall Street

https://www.vincenzoskingston.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48003-d4647055-Reviews-Vincenzo_s_Pizzeria_Ristorante-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html?m=69573

The inside was crowded as there was barely anything open after 8:00pm

I needed something to warm me up and carry me over before the two hour ride home and pizza would not do. So I ordered a Meatball sub. Was that ever good on a cold night.

The best comfort food that night

Yum!

After dinner was over, the crowds were gone and I had to head home. I stayed for just a little bit longer to admire the decorations one more time and visit their Christmas tree.

This downtown display replaced the Pumpkin man from a month ago

The Kingston Christmas tree downtown

I headed back to the car and managed to get home in an hour and forty-five minutes. There was no traffic on the road that night. I was happy as I had to turn around early that next morning for my trip to Cape May for the Christmas Walking tour. The Sinterklaas Parade had been cancelled for another year (now in 2024 and 2025), so it gave me this opportunity to finally go to Cape May for their Holiday House Walking tour.

My Christmas blog in 2025:

https://wwwbergencountycaregiver.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=14706&action=edit

In 2023, I headed back to my hotel to get some rest. I had to be up the next morning to help with the Sinterklaas Parade. During the Sinterklaas weekend, I always stay at the Quality Inn in Hyde Park, NY which is near the Culinary Institute of America campus. It is the halfway point between all the towns that I visit and not that far from Rhinebeck so it is a quick trip for set up the next morning.

The Quality Inn Hyde Park at 4142 Albany Post Road

https://www.choicehotels.com/new-york/hyde-park/quality-inn-hotels/ny343

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60801-d590312-Reviews-Quality_Inn_Hyde_Park_Poughkeepsie_North-Hyde_Park_New_York.html?m=19905

The Christmas tree at the hotel is always so festive.

Since we had the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association party for the residents on Sunday morning and afternoon in Boonton, NJ, I arranged to stay for two nights. One top of the loads of homework I had for graduate school, I also was taking pictures for my blogs as well and trying to catch up the visuals on my VisitingaMuseum.com site. I had to get settled into the hotel and ended up staying up until almost one in the morning getting work done for school.

The next morning could not have been more miserable. It was cold and rainy when I got up for the Sinterklaas parade. They said it was going to rain all day and that did not make me happy. I had walked in the Sinterklaas Parade in the past in the rain and it is no fun!

I made a big mistake and got up really early and ate my breakfast early and got to the Starlight Library in Rhinebeck by 8:30am thinking I would be late. I forgot that this is when I used to leave home to get to Rhinebeck. The set up was usually at 10:00am and I forgot. So I sat there making phone calls until 10:30am wondering where everyone was that morning. I was not the only one as another volunteer did the same thing. We both ended up back downtown in Rhinebeck asking what was going on.

I ended up that the parade organizers decided to wait until 11:00am to start setting up. By that point, I was starved again and went to Peter’s Famous for an early lunch and decided to go to opening ceremonies before heading back to the library. It was there I heard that they were setting up at the library by 11:00am. I decided to stay and head up after.

I have been participating and/or attending the Sinterklaas Parade since 2010 when my dad and I went up to Rhinebeck, NY when I was interviewing Jeanne Fleming for an article I was working on for the Soup Kitchen. We loved it so much that we continued to go for years even after my father got sick. We made the best of the whole experience.

Since I was not too sure what was going on, I decided I wanted to see the opening ceremony first so I had a quick lunch at Pete’s Famous in Rhinebeck at 34 East Market Street #1. I was in the mood for one of their club sandwiches and ended up indulging in their homemade Chicken Salad Club Sandwiches ($11.99) with French Fries and a Coke

Pete’s Famous at 34 East Market Street in Rhinebeck, NY

https://www.petesfamous.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48486-d823142-Reviews-Pete_s_Famous_Restaurant-Rhinebeck_New_York.html?m=19905

Did that sandwich hit the spot and kept me going for the rest of the afternoon. The chicken salad was delicious and the sandwich was so filling. The French Fries really warmed me up on this cool gloomy morning and the service is always so friendly.

The Chicken Salad Club at Pete’s Famous is a ‘must try’ when dining here

After lunch was over, I headed over to the Beekman Arms where in the banquet room they had the opening ceremony for Sinterklaas.

Sinterklaas Director and founder Jeanne Fleming at the opening ceremony

The Mayor of Rhinebeck, NY welcoming everyone to the event

Jeanne Fleming welcoming the Pocket Lady to the event

Jeanne Fleming welcoming Mother Holly and her story book to the event

Jeanne Fleming welcoming the evil “Gadfly” to the event

The Grove of Trees of the magic forest

The musical polar bear enters the room to bring cheer to the crowd

The meddlesome Gadfly jealous of the polar bear

Hansel and Gretel close the ceremony with a song

The Opening Ceremony was about an hour long and we got to meet all the characters of Sinterklaas. There was the Pocket Lady who shares a gift with all the good little children from her series of pockets, Mother Holly (who is always feeling jolly), the Queen Bee (Oh!), the Dancing Musical Polar Bear and the evil Gadfly. The Mayor of Rhinebeck, NY welcomed everyone to the annual event and wished everyone a happy and safe holiday season.

The Polar Bear danced down the aisle high fiving everyone much to the Gadfly’s dismay and he started to kvetch about it. Only when he was shushed by the crowd did he calm down. Then the dancing trees took their place on stage to be followed by a song by Hansel and Gretel, who closed the ceremony with a lively song. Everyone was wished a Happy Sinterklaas and some people stayed to listen to storyteller Jonathan Kruk tell the story of Sinterklaas while I went out to enjoy the festivities.

When I got outside the Beekman Arms, I saw the first musical group performing on the lawn of the Beekman Arms. I stopped for a bit to watch them perform and then I rushed to the library to see if there was anything left to do for the parade. When I got there, the last touches were being put on the puppets for the parade and there was not much left to do. The weather started to clear so it looked like the parade was on for later that evening.

The first group was performing on the lawn of the Beekman Arms

I looked over all the puppets like they were close friends seeing these puppets over the years and watching them being created by our puppet masters, Alex and Sophia, who have been running this part of the parade for years. Their ingenuity is what creates these masterpieces every year. Everything was wrapped in plastic waiting to see if the rain would clear for the evening (it did and was a clear and starry night).

Mother Holly welcoming children to her story house

With the parade set up wrapped up, I did not have to be back to help until 4:00pm, I decided to head back down the hill and join everyone else in all the celebrations around Rhinebeck. The weather was slowly clearing and I could see some blue peeking out of the clouds.

The Parade under wraps

The Owls awaiting for their parade

Getting ready for the parade

The bees are buzzing for the parade

The Dragon awaits opening

The stars are kept under wraps

When I left the library, the weather report said it was going to clear and when I reached downtown, the blue of the sky was there. More people started to show up for the activities. Not like last year but people were crowding the sidewalks and enjoying the festivities.

I decided to head to the ‘Porcupine Grove’ where a mysterious woman was doing the reading of the porcupine. It was an unusual home and place to visit but the creativity of the person who designed it was immense. We were told the story of the Porcupine, the representative of this year’s parade.

The Porcupine Grove ceiling to his home

The porcupine’s mushrooms were our seats for the talk

Here we heard the tail of “The Porcupine” by a wise woman

I was lucky that I got to the porcupines home first because as soon as I exited the line to get in was twenty deep and counting. It looked like I was the first one there with my group of visitors.

After the talk in the porcupine’s home, I walked all over Downtown Rhinebeck as the festivities were starting and decided my next stop would be at the Reformed Church to see the “Into the Light” show that I had not seen in years. The church location had changed and it was now in the Reformed Church Sanctuary. This is where I met up with my ‘cousin’ Marc Schuyler, who was working the door to control crowds. We got to catch up on the Halloween Parade that I was not able to attend because of classes that night at NYU.

Myself and Marc at the Halloween Parade a couple years ago

I had not seen the show in a couple of years and stared at the girl who was performing the lead role. She a little too developed to play the role of a young girl in the play. Come to find out this was the same girl I had seen in the show ten years earlier and she was still playing it.

The Reformed Church on Route 9

“Into the Light” is the story of a young girl’s journey throughout the world searching for the light. It features giant puppets and music. The kids did a nice job on the show.

The “Into the Light” show

The “Into the Light” show at the Reformed Church

The “Into the Light” show

The cast taking their bows

After the “Into the Light” show, I said my goodbyes to Marc and told him I would see him (if I do not have class that night) on October 31st, 2023 for the next Halloween Parade. I was off walking to my next stop, the United Methodist Church to hear the brass bands play. What was ironic was that most of these groups had been at the Dutch Reformed Church the night before in Kingston so I got to hear them perform again.

People were dancing in the aisles at the United Methodist Church to the brass bands

There were also musical groups outside the church as well

As the weather cleared during the afternoon, outside the church got lively.

I was only able to stay for two shows and then I had to head back up to the Starlight Library to help with the set up of the parade route and help get volunteers to where they needed to go. The streets got more lively as the weather got sunnier and clear. There were all sorts of musicians walking around, the Gumpuses were performing before the crowd (many of these guys I have seen over the years), angels on stilts dancing to the bands, our friend, the Polar Bear, was dancing around everyone. It really lively on the Main Street.

The Gumpuses dancing around town

The Polar Bear dances to the musical beat

The Angel’s on stilts lead the magical forest around town

Musical bands played all over the main street

Different bands were playing all over the downtown area as the weather cleared

I walked up to the library after watching all the bands perform and every one was having such a nice time. As the weather got better, the crowds really started to arrive and I guest people figured with the weather getting better and the parade night clearing up, it is a perfect time to come out and see it.

I loved how decorated the town was for the event. Downtown Rhinebeck is one of the most beautiful downtown’s during the Christmas holidays. All the merchants and home owners decorate to the hilt and the whole town is covered in garland, bows, white lights and Christmas decorations that give it a festive appearance and put you in the holiday spirit.

The homes and businesses were beautifully decorated

I always admire this house on my walk back up to the Starlight Library

When I got to the Starlight Library, all the volunteers were preparing for the rest of the parade volunteers to arrive. We got to eat some dinner provided by the Parade committee and then we had to get to work making sure everyone was where they needed to be. People wanted to test out their puppets and walk around. I have never seen an evening zoom by so fast and soon it was time to start the parade and get lined up and ready to go. It is always exciting to take that trip down the hill.

The Angels on stilts were exciting about leading the parade

As darkness came, it was time to light up the puppets and get the parade started. It is the most exciting time of the night as the puppet prepare for the lineup.

The Star Puppets lead the way each year and light the path of the parade

The Christmas Dove in the parade

The serpents leading the way both at the Halloween and Sinterklaas Parades

The Dragon lighting the way

The Bees have been lighting the way for years

The wise old owls enter the parade route

Miss Mouse enters the parade

The Star puppets lead the way down the hill to Downtown Rhinebeck, NY

The Start of the Parade at the Starlight Library. You can see me holding the banner at the end of the parade.

Because of the weather earlier in the morning, we did not have the crowds we had last year and in 2019 but still everyone lined the Main Street on the way to the community parking lot on our way to the Closing Ceremonies. People were so excited when the parade came down the hill. It is quite a event with all the lights and music and puppets dancing around the streets.

I was behind the stars and the dove and had the drummers behind me. I could not hear for most of the parade.

The parade moving down the hill towards downtown

The parade in the heart of Downtown Rhinebeck, NY is really exciting!

The parade slowed down as we entered the Community Parking lot as the puppets were being dropped off and the Closing Ceremony started. By the time I got to the parking lot, everyone had pretty much dropped off their puppets but the Stars and Bees who lingered a bit longer.

Than we started the Closing Ceremonies where all the main characters are introduced one more time before they make their exit from the parade awaiting next year. Everyone was so excited and the stage really breamed with artists having a good time.

The closing ceremony with Sinterklaas and his court of people helping him that day.

The Grumpuses perform their last dance of the day on stage.

The Polar Bear was leading the dance at the end of the parade

Hansel and Gretel singing and dancing at the parade.

The band plays on at the closing ceremonies

The flame throwers performed at the end of the Closing Ceremonies.

The stage after the performances were over. It was really creatively done.

After the Closing ceremonies, I walked around the downtown area and spent time admiring the window displays at the stores and admiring the artwork around the trees. It got very quiet in Downtown Rhinebeck. Within an hour of the parade, you would have never known there was a parade.

The merchants in Downtown Rhinebeck really decorated their stores to the hilt for the holidays

The display windows in Downtown Rhinebeck were amazing

Merchant’s window at Christmas

Merchant’s windows at Christmas

Merchant’s windows at Christmas

The night had cooled down but you could see all the beautiful stars in the sky when the weather cleared and in the background I could hear the saxophonist who always plays at night. The Christmas songs he was playing really put me in the Christmas spirit.

I ended the evening with a couple of slices of pizza at Village Pizza. I can’t tell you how good that pizza tasted at the end of the evening. I was talking with the staff there and they said they were consistent that day but not like the two previous years when they did not sit still. The rain at the beginning of the day put a damper on everything.

Village Pizza at 19 East Market Street in Rhinebeck, NY during Sinterklaas

https://www.facebook.com/RBKVP/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48486-d818463-Reviews-Village_Pizza_of_Rhinebeck-Rhinebeck_New_York.html?m=19905

The pizza is excellent at Village Pizza. My Sinterklaas dinner every year.

After dinner, I walked around Downtown Rhinebeck, which to me outside of Cape May, NJ is one of the beautiful town’s to spend Christmas in. The whole downtown was beautifully decorated and the Christmas tree was amazing.

Downtown Rhinebeck, NY after the Sinterklaas Parade

Downtown Rhinebeck, NY at Christmas time

The Christmas tree in Downtown Rhinebeck, NY

The angels in the alleyway

The angel in the alleyway

I got back to the hotel and went right to bed. I slept so soundly that evening. Between the heat of the room and how comfortable the bed was I got one of the best night’s sleep in a long time. With all the stress of school and having to bring work with me, I just needed this evening to relax.

The view from my room the next day. It was sunny and warmer.

The waffles at breakfast are always a treat at the Quality Inn in Hyde Park, NY.

In 2023, there was a threat of rain too but by noon time the sun started to peek out from the clouds and it cleared for the rest of the day. The weather became a balmy 53 degrees which is unusual for this time of the year and we had a nice day for the event. I got to the Starr Library at 10:00am on the dot to start set up for the parade and it was a nice morning. We had plenty of people and we got the job done in about an hour. Set up was easy when you have the same people to help every year.

We started to unload the puppets at 10:00am.

Unloading the puppets took about 45 minutes.

The Owls are like old friends to me

The Four Seasons standing guard

The Sweepers were new puppets this year.

Setting up the serpent was my first job that morning.

I have been setting up the stars since my first year in 2014 helping out with the parade.

We were done setting up for the parade by 11:30pm and we had to meet back at the library by 3:00pm for the parade staging and get the volunteers to their puppets. That’s when the fun begins with that. I walked downtown to go to the Opening Ceremony which had started at noon and was able to watch the last 45 minutes of the Opening Ceremony at the Beekman Arms Ballroom. That is always interesting.

The Opening Ceremony in 2023 with the Anteater and his court.

The Opening Ceremony at the Beekman Arms with Coordinator Jeanne Fleming.

The Opening Ceremony at the Beekman Arms

The ‘evil’ anteater was the ‘Gadfly’ last year.

The Anteater on the prowl at the Opening Ceremony.

The Anteater at the Opening Ceremony

The video of the “Evil Anteater”:

After the Opening Ceremony was over, I stayed to hear story teller, Jonathan Kurk, tell the story of Sinterklaas and the story of the miracle of Christmas.

Storyteller Jonathan Kurk entertains at the Opening Ceremony

After the Opening Ceremony completed, I decided to explore the town. I walked around downtown Rhinebeck which is always amazing at Christmas time. It is a wonderland of lights and sounds and delicious smells as all the charities and local organizations try to sell baked goods and hot dogs all over Main Street to raise money of their organizations.

The musicians on stilts are always a favorite at Sinterklaas.

The video of the band in action:

The musicians are out in full force playing on stilts and walking around the town engaging the crowds of people. Since it was a nice day this year, the downtown was getting packed earlier than it had in previous years. After listening the musicians on stilts, I figured I should go visit the Ant Queen before it got too busy. I visited her just in time as after I left the line, it got even longer behind me.

The Ant Queen on her hill in the Courtyard.

The Courtyard got really busy when I was finished visiting the Ant Queen.

The Ant Queen in the Courtyard with the crowds growing that afternoon.

After I left the Courtyard, I walked around for a bit and then realized that I had to get checked into my other hotel that night so I walked back to the library, got my car and left to go to Quality Inn in Hyde Park where I was staying that evening. After I checked in, got my room and settled in I headed back up to Rhinebeck. The crowds grew even larger in the hour that I left and all the parking spots by the library were now gone as well as most spots in the downtown. I had to park six blocks into town near the exit to the fairgrounds. That would be fun when the parade was over walking back to that.

As I entered the downtown, the Gumpuses started their dance.

The Gumpuses dancing down the Main Street.

The Gumpus dance

The Gumpus Dance

The Gumpus Dance

After I saw the Gumpus dance in the downtown, I was able to walk around for a bit before getting back to the library. I saw some of the roaming musicians, the Dancing Bear and the Pocket Lady roaming around the Downtown. Between checking into my hotel, looking for parking and just walking back to the Main Street, I did not have much time to enjoy the entertainment this time around.

Downtown Rhinebeck got busy during the day.

Downtown Rhinebeck got busy during the day.

Admiring the Christmas windows at the stores.

The Christmas Tree by day

After I got back from the hotel and parked some nine blocks away. I walked through the town again looking at the all the performers and bands going in and out of the now closed Main Street. The crowds had really grown once the clouds cleared and it was sunny again. As the last of the sunshine disappeared by 5:00pm, the lights came on and that is when Rhinebeck truly shines. This started with the town Christmas tree which lit brightly by the main parking lot.

The Christmas tree was brightly lit when I left the downtown area for the library.

I made my way back to the Starr Library and that is where the real magic starts. Getting ready for the parade. Every year, I come back to the library at 3:30pm and help get everyone to their puppet. The parade line up starts at 6:30pm and then the parade heads down the hill. It is the most magnificent site.

The Snow Angel on stilts.

The Stars always start the parade.

The video of the parade:

The Turtle entertains the crowds in Downtown Rhinebeck, NY.

The Mouse and the Frog couple in the Sinterklaas parade as we entered Downtown Rhinebeck, NY.

More of the parade:

The Geese and Bee puppets as we enter Downtown Rhinebeck, NY.

The parade in full swing in Downtown Rhinebeck, NY.

The crowds were huge the night of the parade.

The whole town comes out for the Sinterklaas Parade.

As we entered the parking lot to end the parade, the crowds arrived to the main stage where the Closing Ceremony takes place. I could not believe that another parade had ended. I will blink my eye and it will be here again. It is so funny how fast it all goes.

The Closing Ceremony with Sinterklaas.

The Closing Ceremony.

The Closing ceremony song:

The backdrop of the stage after the Closing Ceremony was over.

All the puppets walked by the main stage and we dropped them off with Alex and Sophia. I then watched the rest of the ceremony and then the closing remarks. Another parade was over. The fire throwers came on and did their routine and that ended the parade. I said my goodbyes until next year and then proceeded to Village Pizza for a slice before I went back to the hotel.

The owner I could tell was exhausted. He waited at the door of his restaurant and asked people what they wanted to order. I thought that was rude but figured he was protecting his bathrooms. The restaurant was still busy almost 45 minutes after the parade was over and remained busy throughout the time I enjoyed my pizza. They limited the slice menu to just plain and pepperoni so it made it an easy choice. I was exhausted by the time I got back to my hotel, took a quick shower and had the best night’s sleep in weeks. I was tired!

After breakfast the next day, it was off to Boonton, NJ to the New Jersey Firemen’s Home to volunteer for the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Christmas Party. It was the first time in three years we had had the full party with entertainment and dropping off presents. The members had time before the party to socialize with each other and I even got better acquainted with the Firemen’s Home resident dog, Wells.

Our article on the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association website:

https://wordpress.com/post/tbcfha.wordpress.com/631

The Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association Executive Board, Tom Simpson, George Heflich, Justin Watrel, John Kinner.

Vice-President Justin Watrel with resident dog, Wells.

Member Jerry Naylis’s daughter and grandchildren were part of the entertainment again this year and really charmed the residents.

The members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association gathered together for our annual membership picture after the party was over.

After the entertainment was over, we handed out our presents to the residents which was a beautiful red fleece jacket with the residents name on it. I could tell that all the residents were touched by the gift and it really meant something to all of them to be remembered at the holidays.

Our Christmas present to the residents

While the entertainment carried on for the next 45 minutes, some of the members stopped for dinner at the Columbia Inn in Montville, NJ and just relaxed. It had been a long day for everyone and a good meal was a nice way to end the day. I had the most wonderful Chicken Rollatini special that really warmed me up on this cool early evening. It was nice to catch up with the other members before the holidays went into full force.

The Columbia Inn at 29 Main Road in Montville, NJ

https://www.thecolumbiainn.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g46639-d639843-Reviews-Columbia_Inn_Restaurant-Montville_Morris_County_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

It had been a long weekend and when I got home, it was getting ready for classes again, finishing my White Page for my Trends in Tourism class, my Metaverse paper for Innovations in Tourism class and our Mapping project for my Data Analytics class. This on top of all the work I had to finish in my own classes at Bergen Community College. It was going to be a long next three weeks before Christmas and both colleges would keep me busy.

In 2023, we did the same thing without masks and both the guests and all of us enjoyed it more. It made for a more engaging environment. It had been a long evening the night before with the end of Sinterklaas and that very busy parade. I slept so soundly at the hotel that I felt refreshed and ready to go.

After having my waffle breakfast at the Quality Inn, which is my tradition every year, it was off to the NJ Firemen’s Home again. It was a really gloomy day and I had to spend my morning wondering why the WIFI was not working.

When I got to the home, it really got dark outside and rainy. Talk about no fun being outside. Inside though, the NJ Firemen’s Home was decked out beautifully for the holidays. Talk about festive and jolly, with several Christmas trees all over the home and garland everywhere.

One of the many Christmas trees at the NJ State Firemen’s Home.

We enjoyed Sweet Rolls and Crumb cake for a late Continental Breakfast before the entertainment and had a nice time just catching up with one another before the craziness of the holidays started. Everyone was running around at parties and get togethers.

Signs of the season were everywhere as the home was decorated to the hilt for the holiday season. This was our last event of the season as the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association held its Annual December Meeting and Entertainment afternoon at the NJ State Firemen’s Home in Boonton, NJ.

Even the fire hydrant display was decorated.

The sign welcoming people to the party.

We had our annual Christmas Party at the NJ State Firemen’s Home and it was nice to be back. Masks were a thing of the past and we were able to see everyone again. It made for a more engaging afternoon.

The home’s Christmas tree with our gifts to the residents, a embordered jacket.

We started our day with a get together of the members before the entertainment began. It was nice to just sit back and talk to the other members before the entertainment began. Our President brought us the most delicious crumb cake and glazed raison buns and these devoured very quickly by the members.

We even got a chance to bond again with the resident dog of the NJ State Firemen’s Home, Wells, who was a former seeing eye dog that has now found a home here keeping our retired firefighters comforted and engaged. He walks around having everyone spoil him with petting and treats. Even he has to watch his weight at the holidays. All I know is that he loves being loved by everyone and likes to spread that love.

NJ Firemen’s Home resident, Wells with BCFHA Vice-President Justin Watrel.

Our entertainment for the afternoon was Dana and Daddy O, a singing duo who sang Christmas songs and told jokes. They were were good.

Dana and Daddy O performed that day for the residents and us.

Member Jerry Naylis asked his daughter and grandchildren perform again this year (Jerry was away on a conference). Daughter Stephanie Naylis-Quirk and her daughters, Regan and Riley Quirk , played the piano and sang to the residents of the home. The children sang lively Christmas songs and led the room in a sing a long with favorites “Jingle Bells” and Regan’s solo, “Silent Night” and Riley’s solo, “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus”.

Stephanie Nayles-Quirk with daughter Riley and Regan, who sang so nicely that afternoon.

After the ladies took their bows, it was time to hand out the Christmas presents from the Bergen County Firemen’s Home to the residents. This year the gift to the residents of the home was a beautiful ‘firemen’ blue jacket that had each resident’s name on it. It was a very personal and touching gift to our fellow retired firemen who we wanted to remember at the holidays. They were very touched by this.

BCFHA Vice-President Justin Watrel with NJ State Firemen’s Association President and BCFHA member Bob Ordway handing out gifts at the Christmas Party.

While members were handing out gifts, other members were serving desserts and other refreshments to the residents. Everyone had a delicious treat that afternoon after they had their lunch. The home provided delectable cupcakes both regular and sugar free to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

BCFHA members Peter Devries and Glenn Corbet serving desserts to the residents.

After the day of entertainment was over, the members got together and took our annual member group shot. It was a fun afternoon for everyone involved. We have managed to provide the residents with all sorts of entertainment, barbecues and special events while never losing the spirit of helping our fellow fire fighters.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our firefighters, retired and still active from the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association!

In 2025 The Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association Party:

In 2025, we were back at the home again for one of our best Christmas party’s for the residents that I can remember. We had such a good time.

The weather had gotten cooler and Halloween was behind us. The smell of pine is in the air and it seems the holiday decorations are coming out quicker and quicker even before Halloween is over. It was time for the members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association to host our annual Christmas lunch and resident party at the NJ State Firemen’s Home in Boonton, NJ. This is our most popular party of the year and an event that the residents of the home look forward to every year.

The NJ State Firemen’s Home Association in Boonton, NJ decorated for Christmas

The home was decorated so festively and put everyone in the mood for this afternoon. Is it what the holidays are all about?

The decorations around the home to create a festive environment

The holiday cheer around the building

In December our organization does not have a formal meeting but rather a members lunch shared by both the members and the staff so that we all could share in the successes we had this year. It was a productive and profitable year of fundraising and that will help us sponsor more programming at the home for our fellow firefighters who reside here.

This afternoon buffet is a way for members and their family and for the hardworking staff at the home to know how much we care for all their love and support of the residents who live here. None of us could do what we do without them.

Our buffet luncheon cooked by the Home’s in-house chef Prince

The delicious sandwiches and salads at lunch

After lunch was over, we joined the residents in the main recreation room for entertainment and our visit from Santa.

The recreation room decorated for the holidays

Our DJ and Master of Ceremony for the event, BCFHA member John McLoghlin was who was joined with the musical talents of member, Jerry Naylis’s granddaughters and resident favorite, Gigi in an afternoon of Christmas carols and songs.

Entertainer Gigi with Master of Ceremony BCFHA member John McLoghlin

Jerry Naylis’s granddaughters are a big favorite with the residents

Accompanied by their mother on the piano, it was a festive afternoon of songs and hymns

The girls singing “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer”

The girls singing “Walking in a Winterland”

The girls singing “Silent Night”

The girls singing “We wish you a Merry Christmas”

After the girls performance, entertainer Gigi rocked the room with a series of popular Christmas songs and warm holiday wishes to all the residents and their family members in the audience.

Gigi performing for the residents

In the middle of the concert, we had a quick pause as a very special visitor arrived from the North Pole as Santa led our break in the concert for gift gifting.

Santa arrived to help us distribute gifts to the residents

As the afternoon rolled to a close, we were treated by both Gigi and Santa a sing a long of ‘I’m dreaming of a White Christmas’.

The sing a long lead by Gigi and Santa with the song “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”. There was so much energy in the room!

All good things come to an end plus Santa had to make his trip back to the North Pole and the afternoon wrapped up. The membership of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association took our annual group picture. I couldn’t ask for a greater group of men who are so dedicated to making the lives of our Brothers at the home so comfortable. We never want to forget the firefighters who came before us and set the tone for the Brotherhood!

The membership at the end of the festivities

We could not do all of this without the best Executive Board who are so dedicated to this organization. Thank you guys for everything!

The Executive Board of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association

John Kinner, Tom Simpson, Justin Watrel and Roy DeYoung

Merry Christmas everyone and a very Happy New Year!

It was another wonderful weekend in the Hudson River Valley. Merry Christmas everyone!

Places to stay:

Quality Inn Hyde Park

4142 Albany Post Road

Hyde Park, NY 12538

(845) 407-0936

https://www.choicehotels.com/new-york/hyde-park/quality-inn-hotels/ny343

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60801-d590312-Reviews-Quality_Inn_Hyde_Park_Poughkeepsie_North-Hyde_Park_New_York.html?m=19905

Hampton Inn Poughkeepsie

2361 South Road

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

(855) 605-0317

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/pounyhx-hampton-suites-poughkeepsie/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g48443-d1026267-Reviews-Hampton_Inn_Suites_Poughkeepsie-Poughkeepsie_New_York.html?m=19905

Places to Visit:

The Historic Old Dutch Church

272 Wall Street

Kingston, New York  12401

(845) 338-6759

Home

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48003-d7232701-Reviews-Old_Dutch_Church-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/1710

The Senate House

296 Fair Street

Kingston, NY  12401

(845) 338-2786

http://www.palisadeparksconservancy.org

Home

Open: Sunday 1:00pm-5:00pm/Wednesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm (April 15-October 31). Open by Appointment only (November 1-April 14)

Fee: Adults $4.00/Seniors (62+) $3.00/Children under 12 and under Free

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48003-d3225491-Reviews-Senate_House_State_Historic_Site-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/3634

Volunteer Firemen’s Hall & Museum of Kingston

265 Fair Street

Kingston, NY  12402

(831) 331-0866

https://kingstonvolunteerfiremensmuseum.weebly.com/

Open:  The hours vary by the season so please look to the website for the openings. School groups please call for an appointment.

Fee: Free but donations accepted

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48003-d3367598-Reviews-Volunteer_Fireman_s_Hall_Museum_of_Kingston-Kingston_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/3627

Places to Eat:

Apple Pie Bakery Cafe

1946 Campus Drive

Culinary Institute of America

Hyde Park, NY 12538

(845) 908-4500

https://www.applepiebakerycafe.com/

Open: Sunday Closed/Monday-Tuesday 8:00am-4:00pm/Wednesday-Thursday Closed/Friday 8:00am-4:00pm/Saturday Closed

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60801-d1929618-Reviews-Apple_Pie_Bakery_Cafe-Hyde_Park_New_York.html?m=19905

Golden Wok

7479 South Broadway

Red Hook, NY 12571

(845) 758-6868

https://goldenwokredhook.uorder.io/

Open: Sunday 12:00pm-9:30pm/Monday 11:00am-9:30pm/Tuesday Closed/Wednesday-Thursday 11:30am-9:30pm/Friday-Saturday 11:00am-10:30pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48473-d821529-Reviews-Golden_Wok-Red_Hook_New_York.html?m=19905

Pete’s Famous Restaurant

34 East Market Street

Rhinebeck, NY 12572

(845) 876-7271

https://www.petesfamous.com/

Open: Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm/Monday-Saturday 8:00am-8:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48486-d823142-Reviews-Pete_s_Famous_Restaurant-Rhinebeck_New_York.html?m=19905

Village Pizza of Rhinebeck

19 East Market Street

Rhinebeck, NY 12572

(845) 876-9676

https://www.facebook.com/RBKVP/

Open: Sunday 12:00pm-9:00pm/Monday-Thursday 11:00am-9:00pm/Friday-Saturday 11:00am-10:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48486-d818463-Reviews-Village_Pizza_of_Rhinebeck-Rhinebeck_New_York.html?m=19905

Columbia Inn Restaurant

29 Main Road

Montville, NJ 07045

(973) 263-1300

https://www.thecolumbiainn.com/

Open: Sunday 12:00pm-8:00pm/Monday Closed/Tuesday-Thursday 11:30am-9:00pm/Friday 11:30am-10:00pm/Saturday 12:00pm-10:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g46639-d639843-Reviews-Columbia_Inn_Restaurant-Montville_Morris_County_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

Opa Gyro Greek Restaurant

333 Wall Street

Kingston, NY 12401

(845) 338-4976

https://www.facebook.com/p/OPA-GYROS-100053865739437/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48003-d4450418-Reviews-Opa-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html?m=19905

Vincenzo’s Pizzeria

305 Wall Street

Kingston, NY 12401

(845) 331-0600

https://www.vincenzoskingston.com/

Open: Sunday-Monday Closed/Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-9:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48003-d4647055-Reviews-Vincenzo_s_Pizzeria_Ristorante-Kingston_Catskill_Region_New_York.html?m=69573