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Weekly Rec: Pride, Sweat and Encanto in the Park

Scenes from the African American Parade and Festival from 2019.

Okay, so you’re back from a Memorial Day weekend roaming through Rockland and basking in all the Lower Hudson Valley’s natural wonders. Now, it’s time to sit back and enjoy a show, maybe two or three.

Fortunately, you live in (or near) one of the coolest villages in Rockland (the world?) — Nyack — where you can find compelling local options every weekend. This particular weekend happens to be positively blooming with great shows and prideful events.

Also fortunately, the Weekly Rec is here to point you in the right direction.

On Friday night, go see the 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Sweat” at Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack.

Here’s a synopsis: “It’s the year 2000 in Reading, Pennsylvania and a group of friends who work at the steel mill meet to decompress at the same run-down bar they’ve been coming to for over 20 years. But the steel mill is making changes, setting off a war between community and capitalism which destroys not only jobs but the relationships they thought would last a lifetime. Winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Sweat examines the very personal meaning of America’s key conflicts: the economy, race-relations, and politics.”

The show starts at 8 pm. Click here for tickets. (There’s also a Saturday night showing, but we’ve got other plans.)

On Saturday, start your day with the LGBTQ+ Family Pride workshop (RSVP by Friday, June 3 — quick hurry!). Hosted by Creative Arts Workshop and Joey Gareffa (aka Joey G), the event starts at 10:30 am and will feature crafts, games and Pride fun for all ages.

From there, make your way a just short distance to the African American Day Parade and Festival. The parade starts at noon in Memorial Park, travel up Depew Avenue, then on to Franklin Street, then on to Main Street, then on to Broadway and then will end up back at Nyack Memorial Park with a festival.

At the park, there will be food, vendors, live music and fun kids activities throughout the afternoon as the community celebrates the achievements of African American History and local leadership.

Our very-own Bill Batson will be a parade marshall, along with Dr. Winsome Gregory, and Dr. Lori Martin. Deann Nash is named as an “honorary” marshall.

After filling up on pride in your diverse community, just hang out in the park on Saturday night, where you can chill and watch Encanto, the hit Disney family magical adventure set in Colombia that features one of the most popular soundtracks of all time. I would give you more details, but listen, we don’t talk about Bruno!

A DJ will kick off the festivities at 7:30 pm and the movie will begin at dusk. Brings chairs, blankets, snacks and, of course, feel free to sing along. We dare you not to!

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Nyack Farmer's Market


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