Gardiner Day, the annual community celebration of “Family, Friends & Fun” in downtown Gardiner, will celebrate its 35th anniversary on Saturday, September 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event didn’t happen in 2011, in the wake of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, and skipped two years during the Covid pandemic. But other than that, it has been a reliable source of joy for residents and visitors alike for decades — and remarkably, admission and all activities and entertainment remain free. There will be live music, dance, magic, yoga, karate, a SCUBA tank, photo booth, psychic readings, games, face-painting, henna tattoos, a bounce house and inflatable obstacle course, not to mention plenty of food trucks and local crafts vendors.
The way the Gardiner Day Committee is able to pull this feat off, year after year, involves a core group of committed volunteers who meet at town hall on the first Monday of every month. The end-of-summer outdoor party isn’t the only thing they organize; there’s a series of fun fundraising events spaced throughout each year, part of whose proceeds go toward the Gardiner Day budget while part are donated to some other worthy local cause. Back in May, for example, a sold-out Women Helping Women dance at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in New Paltz raised more than $3,500 for Washbourne House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence. A barn dance held inside the pole barn at Majestic Park last October brought in $1,877 toward the completion of that building’s renovation.
It’s the recent improvements to the park facilities that have made it possible for all Gardiner Day activities to be hosted in Majestic Park. For a few years, the committee tried spreading the fun throughout downtown, but according to organizer Christine Desmoni, “We only expanded it because the bathrooms were closed in the park. It was great, but we became exhausted and depleted, volunteer-wise.”
In fact, facilitating the event on the actual day calls for more bodies than the Gardiner Day Committee can muster up, so they’ve put out a call for volunteers. Visit https://tinyurl.com/GDC2024Volunteer to find out the various ways in which you can lend a hand. Want to become a vendor? Find out how at http://tinyurl.com/GDC2024NonFoodVendor and http://tinyurl.com/GDC2024FoodVendor.
In addition to live performances, this year’s Gardiner Day will feature on-air radio coverage by WALL radio deejay Michelle Taylor, simulcast on FM 94.1, 94.9, 105.7, 101.5, 106.5 and AM 1340. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Taylor will be doing live interviews in between broadcasting music from the site.
The music lineup this year includes rock from Damian Ecco in the Gazebo and acoustic sounds from Ron Forte near the Pole Barn, both doing sets all day. The Gardiner Fire Department will conduct an Opening Ceremony at the Flagpole at 11:30 a.m. The Basketball Court will start off the day with a stretch yoga class at 11 a.m.; dance performances from Take the Leap Dance Studio at noon and again at 2:30 p.m.; a magic show by popular illusionist Ryan Dutcher at 12:30 p.m.; and a martial arts demonstration by Fighting Spirit Karate at 1 p.m. Local kindie-rock superstars Ratboy, Jr. will be making their Gardiner Day debut with a full hour of music for the younger set at the Basketball Court beginning at 1:30 p.m.
After a couple of years off, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department will be setting up its portable SCUBA tank to demonstrate underwater rescue techniques. Craft vendors and informational booths will be clustered around the Pole Barn. Kids will be able to get their faces painted and folks of any age can get henna tattoos from the Tipsy Turtle, at no charge (expect to wait in line, though). A new feature will be a free photo booth, where you can show off your new temporary body art.
This year, says Desmoni, the interior of the pavilion will be devoted to “seating for food, not vendors. The food trucks and vendors will be set up outside.” She’s excited about some of the new purveyors of tasty treats who will be participating for the first time, including the Gardiner Bakehouse: “Her real passion is sourdough delish big round loaves.”
The entrance to George Majestic Memorial Park is at 40 Murphy Lane, just off Farmers’ Turnpike. Since attendance at Gardiner Day typically exceeds the capacity of the parking lot at Majestic Park, a portion of it will be set aside specifically for handicapped access. Overflow parking at the Gardiner Reformed Church will be serviced by a free shuttle. Attendees are asked to leave their pets at home. For updates on Gardiner Day 2024, visit www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064858265623.
Join the family! 
