Don't Miss Nyack's Winter Wanderland

NYACK, NY — Undaunted by the coronavirus or the frosty weather, Nyack community and business leaders invite friends and families to stroll the village and enjoy its many delights in a warm – and safe – activity that starts with the holidays and spans the winter months.

Winter Wanderland is a continuation of Nyack’s Safe Haven activities, which began last spring as the initial coronavirus outbreak subsided and the evenings grew warmer, with street closures for outdoor shopping and dining.

Wanderland now invites visitors to 'wander' through town to enjoy seasonal pleasures — sidewalk shopping and winter markets, hearty food and hot drinks, festive lights, the warmth of fire pits, and the joy of beautiful music — all with a backdrop of breathtaking views and access to the Hudson River.

"Nyack is a special place to spend time during the holidays and winter months,” said Nyack Mayor Don Hammond. “The village offers so much to see and do in a comfortable, walkable space – safely. So we’re doing both – offering a Safe Haven for great experiences, and keeping protection for the public as the bottom line."

Nyack and its businesses have built safeguards for residents and visitors against the spread of the virus, with strict enforcement of mask and social distancing requirements for indoor and outdoor shopping, dining and service establishments.

Nyack’s Wanderland is open now and runs on Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 28. Parking is free in Nyack’s municipal lots every Saturday through Dec. 19, and every Sunday year-round throughout the village. Masks and social distancing are required at all times.

“As we move into the colder months, Nyack’s Winter Wanderland offers a festive outdoor experience, coupled with an invitation to sample and enjoy indoor activities, all as permitted by state guidelines,” added Visit Nyack Board Member Thomas Schneck.

Nyack’s shops, restaurants and service establishments are delivering the magic every day. There will be special activities, too. Here’s a sampling:

Winter Delights Market — Strollers looking for unique shopping experiences (maybe even a partridge in a pear tree) can do their “12 days of Christmas” and Hanukkah nights shopping at Hickory Dickory Dock’s Winter Delights market at 43 South Broadway. This outdoor garden market is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm through December 20. Go to Hickory Dickory Dock’s Winter Delights for more info, and the Nyack Sketch Log essay on Nyack News and Views.

Breakfast With Santa — Families can join Santa and his helpers for a pancake and waffles breakfast at the Hudson Market on Main at 5 North Broadway on Saturday, December 12. Kids pay $10, Adults $15, kids under 2 are free. Enjoy photos with Santa, holiday music and fun-filled activities including letter-writing to Santa. Seating times are 9:30 am and 11:00 am. Make reservations by calling 845-875-7559. Masks and social distancing are required.

Young entrepreneurs pop-up shop — Move over adults, there are new makers in town – and they’re kids! A young entrepreneurs pop-up shop will be hosted by Maria Luisa Boutique at 77 South Broadway on Sunday, Dec. 13 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. A great place to find creative holiday gifts crafted by up-and-coming business leaders. For more details, visit Facebook at Jr. Entrepreneurs Holiday Pop-Up Shop

Fire pits and warm refreshments — For shoppers and diners who want to pause, warm up and enjoy the holiday vibe, live music, and refreshments will be offered outdoors every Saturday and Sunday at fire pits located at the Veteran’s Park Gazebo on Main Street and in front of the Nyack Library at 59 South Broadway.

Storefront decoration contest – Nyack businesses are lighting up the holidays, having gone all out on festive decorations this season. Decoration aficiondos can vote for their favorite storefront displays on Facebook at Nyack Wanderland Decorating Contest Facebook Group. It’s fun – and a great way to support small local shops. The businesses who win get valuable prizes to help sustain them – such as free advertising, promotional photography and membership in the Nyack Chamber of Commerce.

Holiday tree and menorah – Visitors, and especially the kids, won’t want to miss the Nyack holiday tree, menorah and light display at the Veterans’ Park Gazebo on Main Street. Generously sponsored by Nyack’s Pickwick Book Shop.

Live music – Live entertainment outdoors will be an ongoing Wanderland feature. As an example, on Dec. 18, youth band Bus 11 will kick off the music at 5:00 pm on South Broadway with modern and classic rock. Bus 11 is a powerhouse rock quartet of 7th graders that initially got together in second grade. The band name comes from the bus they take to middle school.

Hudson Valley troubadour Tom Chapin, Michael Mark and the Chapin sisters will pick up the gig at 6:00 pm. Three-time Grammy winner Chapin maintains multiple careers as a respected contemporary folk artist, pioneer in the field of children's music and advocate for environmental causes. Michael Mark is a Drama Desk award winning singer and actor, composer, and long-time collaborator with Tom Chapin. Michael is also the President of the Nyack School Board.

Note that South Broadway will be closed to vehicular traffic for this event starting at 4 p.m., so pedestrians can safely enjoy the music and holiday cheer offered by local merchants.

Nyack Fan Card – Shoppers and diners should be on the lookout for the Nyack Fan Card, a $20 card that gives residents and visitors access to special deals offered by more than 15 participating businesses. A great stocking stuffer, the Fan Card is now available at local establishments and on the Visit Nyack website.

Nyack Farmers Market — Although not part of weekend activities, visitors and residents can “wander” through the Nyack Farmers Market, outdoors every Thursday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Main Street parking lot through Dec. 17. The Market offers a cornucopia of the best local produce and handcrafted goods ready to fill holiday tables, stockings and gift baskets. After a brief hiatus in late December, the Market will reopen in January with shorter winter hours from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. See Nyack Farmer’s Market.

Looking ahead. Nyack’s Winter Wanderland extends past the traditional December holiday weeks to offer a rich variety of special events through the end of February as the season unfolds.

“We’re ready for Winter 2020-21,” said Maria Luisa Whittingham, President of Nyack Merchants United. “We’re banding together to offer our residents, visitors, customers and businesses safe, enjoyable opportunities to weather the storm. There’s so much more to come.”

Winter Wanderland is sponsored by the Village of Nyack; the Nyack Chamber of Commerce; the Art, Crafts and Antiques Dealers Association (ACADA), Nyack Merchants United; Visit Nyack, Inc. and the more than 100 business establishments that make up Nyack’s special village.

Visitors can view Visit Nyack’s directory of retail shops here. Find a list of restaurants here: Restaurants! And find an updated list of events here: Holiday Fun events here!