Sinterklaas in Rhinebeck

So, if Sinterklaas was a Turkish bishop whose name day became a festival in the Netherlands, what is he doing in Rhinebeck, a small town on the Hudson River in New York State!

Well, the answer is that Rhinebeck has a rich heritage of Old Dutch customs brought over from Europe by the early settlers. The Dutch people who arrived in Rhinebeck over 300 years ago brought the Sinterklaas tradition with them.

Today in Rhinebeck the myth of Sinterklaas is rewritten for modern times. A major feature of the parade, and a great favorite with the children, is the inclusion of so many puppets. The contemporary Rhinebeck celebration revives the underlying beliefs of goodness and a good person who brings light and happiness especially to children and innocent creatures. The hope is that as the community unites in preparing for and participating in this celebration, they experience a spirit of unity, of community, and hope for a world of peace and harmony - the true spirit of Christmas really!

Sadly, Sinterklaas 2024 is canceled! But there is hope for future years - the light will be on, with Honored Animals of previous years displayed in storefronts, waiting to receive a star. They will be installed on November 21 and stay up through Sinterklaas Day December 7th.

The original Sinterklaas came to Holland from Spain. Now Sinterklaas travels to Rhinebeck from Kingston, on the other side of the Hudson River! After much celebration and parading through the streets, he embarks on his boat journey across the river and arrives at the Rhinecliff dock. 

The Procession then makes its way from the Rhinecliff Dock to the Center of Rhinecliff ending at The Rhinecliff Hotel where a wonderful reception, including a performance of St. George and the Dragon and other entertainment and festivities, is held.

Typically held in Kingston on the last Saturday in November, it is a day of open houses, workshops, musical performances, and a parade to escort Sinterklaas to the waterfront where he embarks on his journey across the Hudson River. 

The main Festival Day takes place a week later in Rhinebeck. There are festivities all day, and then, beginning at 6pm, the Sinterklaas parade begins. Puppeteers arrive at the Starr Library at 5 pm to be assigned their puppets. Everyone participates! 

The parade is very special. It is a recreation of the Dutch parades with Sinterklaas on his White Horse, the Grumpuses (crazy sidekicks who carry out Sinterklaas' judgment on the children, either switches for the bad or candies for the good), the Wild Women, Dancing Bears, Grandmother Earth, the Seven Sisters (Stars from the cosmos that look down on us from afar and allow us to look up and dream), Giants, Snow Geese, and more! When the parade reaches the Municipal Parking Lot the stage is filled with celebratory dances by many of these characters, music, The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance performed by the Pokingbrook Morris Dancers, and much more. The conclusion is the appearance of the Peace Dove - a wish for Peace in a world of harmony where we all live in community with each other, enjoying and celebrating our differences.

For more information and photos: Sinterklaas website

• Photos of Sinterklaas in Kingston and Rhinebeck 2011
  Slideshow of local photographer's images of the 2011 Sinterklaas parade in Kingston and boat trip across the Hudson River to Rhinebeck
• Photos of Sinterklaas celebration in Rhinebeck 2011
  Slideshow of local photographer's images of the 2011 Sinterklaas celebration in Rhinebeck
• Photos of Sinterklaas celebration in Rhinebeck 2012
  Slideshow of local photographer's images of the 2012 Sinterklaas celebration in Rhinebeck