Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and the City of Hoboken invite residents to the Hoboken Fall Arts & Music Festival on Sunday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The festival, featuring displays and sales by artists, crafters, food vendors, and local businesses, will occur on Washington Street between Observer Highway and Seventh Street.
“I am glad to support our local arts and business communities with the return of the Hoboken Fall Arts & Music Festival this October,” said Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla. “This fun, outdoor event is a staple in our community that will go a long way to help our artists and businesses continue to recover from the financial impacts of the pandemic. I strongly encourage those who choose to attend to get vaccinated if they haven’t done so already or wear a face mask. Thank you to our sponsors for working with my Administration to once again make this festival possible.”
Families and festival goers will once again enjoy a special children’s section of family fun activities this year at Third Street in the Capital One Bank parking lot with games, craft activities, and more.
There will also be three stages of live musical performances located on Washington Street between Newark Street and Observer Highway, Third Street and Washington Street in the Capital One Bank Parking Lot, and on Washington Street between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.
This year’s headlining performance will be The Smithereens with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw.
Founded in New Jersey in 1980, The Smithereens have been creating electrifying, original rock’n’roll for 41 years. Jim Babjak (guitar,) Dennis Diken (drums,)and Mike Mesaros (bass) grew up together in Carteret while lead singer, the late Pat DiNizio, hailed from Scotch Plains.
The Smithereens have been called the architects of the alternative scene. Their music has inspired and influenced generations of musicians, including the late Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, who cited The Smithereens as a significant influence in his diaries.
Since the passing of Pat DiNizio in 2017, the surviving bandmates have used a rotating list of guest vocalists, including longtime friend Marshall Crenshaw.
Other performers this year include Freedy Johnston, Karyn Kuhl Band, Tape Hiss, Manouche Bag, Swingadelic, Milton, Orquesta La Experiencia, Tony Corrao, Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band, Little RocknRollers, Music with Corey, School of Rock's Hoboken House Band, Garden Street School of the Performing Arts, and more.
The Hoboken Fall Arts & Music Festival is funded in part by a grant from the NJ Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism and sponsored by Burgiss, Citi Bike, Ironstate, Kundert Cars of Hasbrouck Heights, Pegasus Partners, Suez, The Taurasi Group, Wonder Lofts, and some very dear friends. Additional support is provided by Capital One Bank, Marchetto Higgins Stieve Architects, Nastasi Architects, and WFUV. Special thanks to Anthony David’s, Choco Pain, Dunkin Donuts, Shop Rite, and Starbucks for their support.
For a performance schedule and more information about this year’s festival, go to www.hobokennj.gov/events/hoboken-arts-and-music-festival.
