Walkway launches its second annual world record attempt with help from several volunteers, including dancers from The Vanaver Caravan dance troupe. (Photo courtesy of T. Middlebrook/Walkway Over the Hudson)
The nonprofit group Walkway Over the Hudson kicked off its drive to break another Guinness World Record this week by opening registration for people to participate in a May 4 effort to establish a new world record on Walkway Over the Hudson State Park. Organizers said the event, which coincides with New York State’s I Love My Park Day, will result in a rollicking line of participants stretching over a mile long with thousands wearing iconic “I Love New York” T-shirts.
At a press conference held last Friday at the park’s western entrance, Walkway Executive Director Elizabeth Waldstein-Hart explained that the fundraising event will attract thousands of contestants of all ages and abilities from the Hudson Valley and beyond. She was joined by Mary Kay Vrba, chair of Hudson Valley Tourism, and other area tourism representatives, who were on hand to support the Walkway’s latest attempt to draw worldwide attention to the Mid-Hudson Valley region. I Love New York, the tourism arm of New York State, has agreed to provide T-shirts to all participants in honor of I Love My Park Day.
“We’re hoping this will be even more of a success than last year, when we broke the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest line of dancers doing the Hokey Pokey,” said Waldstein-Hart, noting that last year’s successful world record attempt drew 2,569 participants. “We want everybody to visit our website at www.walkway.org to sign up and join us to break another world record on Saturday, May 4!”
A line of dancers, including several representatives from The Vanaver Caravan dance troupe, provided a demonstration of the type of dance routine that might be performed by participants at the May 4 event. Choreographer Livia Vanaver, co-founder of The Vanaver Caravan of Rosendale, has agreed to develop a routine that is sure to be a big hit with the more than 3,000 people expected to participate.
Online registration can be accessed by visiting www.walkway.org. Registration will cost $15 per person. For more information about participating in this event and sponsorship opportunities, contact Ellen Henneberry at 454-9649.