Despite ongoing rain showers, the Weekend of Wallkill celebration returned for its ninth year on Saturday, September 23. Families and residents of the hamlet and surrounding areas browsed homemade goods, took part in family activities and enjoyed time with one another.

The Weekend of Wallkill, founded by the Vision of Wallkill, has been an annual event bringing together families and neighbors to celebrate local businesses, first responders, local community organizations and an overall fun family orientated day. It is open to the public with mostly free events for all ages to enjoy.

“The Vision of Wallkill does such a beautiful job of bringing the community together, it’s wonderful for our kids to be able to come to something like this,” said parent Kristen Thomas.

“It’s [a family orientated community] probably one of the most important things. We actually moved to Wallkill because of that community feel and what they offer in terms of family and belonging to a community,” said parent Camaron Croce.

The weekend celebration kicked off on Friday evening with a Lego building contest, an art show, a story time period with a Harvest Egg Hunt and finally a chair yoga class to end the evening. Saturday festivities officially kicked off on the Wallkill Library Grounds at 10 a.m. Events during the course of the afternoon included a book signing opportunity with local author Chris DiLeo, the return of Wonka’s Wonder Show, a pickleball demonstration and a History of Wallkill talk by Bob Mooney of the Historical Society of Shawangunk and Gardiner. The Weekend of Wallkill was held on the grounds of Marion Borden Park, named after Marion Borden, daughter of founder John Borden.

For the Weekend of Wallkill, this year’s vendor lineup and management was also managed by the Vision of Wallkill as previously it was managed by the Wallkill St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. Several vendors included in the lineup were returners from the previous year, new entirely or not able to make it due to the weather. Either way, residents continued to browse and stop by the booth.

“Wallkill is very welcoming, they’re a close knit community,” said Travis Decker, Assistant Manager of Beck’s Hardware in Wallkill. “It is an honor to go to events like this and be asked to attend these events. I can’t wait for next year.” Beck’s Wallkill, located directly across the street from the library lawn, has partnered with the Wallkill Little League and proceeds from a raffle they were hosting during the afternoon would be going towards that organization.

A new event held at the weekend this year was the Political Potato Peeling which featured several Shawangunk candidates such as current Ulster County Legislator and Town Supervisor Candidate Ken Ronk Jr, Joseph LoCicero, Richard Blazeski, Brian Amthor, Jane Rascoe and Adrienne Gelfand-Perine. Rascoe was declared the winner of the contest.

Other events throughout the afternoon included Billy Goat Bingo, a Dog Costume Contest, Beaded Bracelet Workshop, Remote Control Car Race and other smaller family activities. The Wallkill Women’s Club, the Wallkill Lions Club, the Wallkill Fire Department, the Wallkill Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Wallkill Youth Lacrosse Club all offered their own festivities and activities for families to take part in.

“I am thoroughly surprised with the number of community residents and neighbors that have come. They’ve weathered the weather,” said Donna Barczak, President of the Vision of Wallkill.

The evening concluded with a celebratory steak dinner held at Popp Park hosted and run by the Wallkill Lions Club. Families were able to eat peacefully and out of the rain under the pavilion. Fireworks were to make a debut after the dinner, but due to the rain they were taken off the schedule.