The Dyson Foundation and the Bardavon are throwing a party on Saturday, August 8 at Poughkeepsie’s Upper Landing Park. It’s the second annual Community Celebration, and it will feature lots of music and family activities. And don’t forget the elevator that lifts off from the park to the Walkway over the Hudson towering above; it’s as thrilling as a carnival ride, and it’s free.
At ground level, performances will hold forth on two stages. On the main stage, Uncle Rock will start the morning rockin’ at 10:30 a.m., to be followed on the hour by Miss Saturn Hula Hoop, Arm-of-the-Sea Theatre with Hook, Line & Sinker, Mariachi Flor de Toloache and the Myles Mancuso Blues Band. Spirits of Unity will kick things off on the second stage at 10 a.m., followed by Mariachi Flor de Toloache at 11, POOK (the Percussion Orchestra of Kingston) with Drew and ENERGY at 12 noon, Roger the Jester and lastly, the ever-itchy, ever-talented Dog on Fleas.
And if that’s not enough to take your mind off the heat (or the rain, as this is a rain-or-shine event), a slew of others will be wandering around the park, including Paris the Hip Hop Juggler, members of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus – stiltwalkers, unicyclists and roaming jesters – plus the Imagination Playground, the Two by Two Petting Zoo and the Zero Waste recycling group to keep us all in ecological order.
Lots of affordable food options will be available for purchase from Azteca Mexican, Soul Dog, Chilly Willy Ice Cream and Ma & Pa Kettle Corn. Those attendees who just don’t want to go home Saturday night should plan to come back to Upper Landing Park at 7 p.m. for the free Movies under the Walkway screening. This week’s selection will be the 1978 classic Grease, with a pre-screening concert of oldies-but-goodies provided by the Greyhounds.
Free parking will be available at the Metro North and Waryas Park parking lots, or park inland and take the down elevator from the Walkway. There is limited parking along Water Street in the City of Poughkeepsie, but no dedicated parking at the Upper Landing Park, so those wishing to attend are encouraged to walk to the event from nearby neighborhoods or utilize public transit options.
Community Celebration, Saturday, August 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., free, Upper Landing Park, 83 North Water Street, Poughkeepsie; www.upperlanding.org.
Join the family! 
