June 7 Beacon festival to greet flotilla

On Sunday, June 7, Scenic Hudson will host a waterfront festival in Beacon to highlight its land-preservation initiative Save the Land That Matters. The festival will include live music, other entertainment and outdoors recreation, and the arrival of the Quadricentennial flotilla led by several tall ships.

Here is Scenic Hudson's message:

Fun, Inspiring Celebration of Quad Land Campaign Legacy

Festival with music, games and food also will welcome Quadricentennial flotilla and feature trail dedication to honor Hudson Valley Hero Klara Sauer


WHAT: This year during celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s sail up the river that now bears his name, Scenic Hudson is creating a legacy to benefit communities and residents of the region long after the fireworks have ended. Its campaign to Save the Land That Matters Most is the biggest land-preservation initiative in the valley’s history. Scenic Hudson is collaborating with fellow land trusts, government, individuals and business to protect 65,000 acres. The campaign is saving ridgelines, forests, wetlands, working farms and more – some of which will become new parks – and all will contribute powerfully to the region’s quality of life, economy and health. This Sunday Scenic Hudson will host a fun-packed festival to highlight the urgency of its campaign and will showcase visuals that powerfully convey recent land success stories up and down the valley.

During the festival a Quadricentennial flotilla will reach Scenic Hudson’s property on the Beacon waterfront. The flotilla will be led by several tall ships. Privately owned vessels will join along the way as the flotilla departs from New York Harbor on its upriver journey. The flotilla’s biggest tall ship, the Clipper City, will fly a Scenic Hudson flag to symbolize the group’s Saving the Land That Matters Most campaign and its importance to the river and the valley. To greet the flotilla Scenic Hudson has organized a festival with live music by The Kids from Room 12, nopresha, and The Big Takeover. Hudson Talbott, children’s book author, will provide a storytelling session. There also will be free kayak and bike rentals, volleyball, hula hooping and a community art project. Vendors will be offering a delicious assortment of food and drink – everything else is free.

Scenic Hudson also will dedicate a waterfront trail in Beacon to honor Klara Sauer, who during a 20-year tenure (1979-1999) as Scenic Hudson’s executive director created powerful achievements for the Hudson Valley. Under her leadership Scenic Hudson protected 14,500 acres of awe-inspiring landscapes and created 19 parks for public enjoyment. She also initiated Scenic Hudson’s farmland protection program and was instrumental in securing Congressional designation of the valley as a National Heritage Area. Also during her captaining of Scenic Hudson, the group led efforts with allies to get General Electric to cleanup toxic PCBs it dumped in the Hudson River. That cleanup finally began in May 2009.

WHO: Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson
Klara Sauer, former executive director of Scenic Hudson
Hundreds and hundreds of festival-goers

WHEN: Sunday, June 7; Klara Sauer Trail dedication from 1-2 p.m.; Welcome the Fleet Festival from 2-7 p.m.; Scenic Hudson president Ned Sullivan welcome to guests with land campaign highlights from 3:15-3:25 p.m.

WHERE: Scenic Hudson’s Beacon waterfront property – From Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, 1.8 miles south on Rte. 9D, right on Beekman St., right on Red Flynn Dr. (over railroad tracks), immediate left on Long Dock Rd.
Mass transit – Free ferry service from Newburgh and discounted Metro-North fares. Park is short walk from Beacon train station and ferry landing.