Iconic Holiday Celebration in Rhinebeck Will Not Return in 2025

The holiday season will be here before you know it, but one of the more iconic festive celebrations will not be returning this year.

What Is Sinterklaas?

At the beginning of December the Rhinebeck community gets ready to host thousands of guest for their Sinterklaas celebration.

Sinterklaas is a Dutch celebration that made its way to Rhinebeck over 300 years ago thanks to the settlers from the Netherlands.

The Sinterklaas website explains that during the celebration "Children are transformed into Kings and Queens and honored as the bringers of the light at the darkest time of the year."

You won't see your commercial at Sinterklaas, the celebration brings back the "wonders that began the legend," characters like The Good King, the Noble Soul and "the one who brings the light out of darkness, befriends children and animals, and inspires our souls."

Iconic Rhinebeck Holiday 2025 Festival Canceled

Sadly the festival, which has been going on since 2008, will not return for the 2025 season.

In an email sent to friends of the festival from Jeanne Fleming, Creator/Coordinator for Sinterklaas in the Hudson Valley,  writes:

it is our sad duty to tell you that my favorite event and that of many (all the artists to be sure!) is cancelled. 

Sinterklaas has been absent from Dutchess County for 2 years now. In 2024, the festival was also canceled but there was a small celebration held throughout the town.

Why Was Sinterklaas in Rhinebeck, NY Canceled This Year?

Many are wondering why this years Sinterklaas celebration was canceled.

Fleming explains in the email "

As of Friday afternoon, our last hope of saving the event fell through...and so, we have to cancel.  We tried many different avenues all year long, but were not able to get the final amount of money to make it happen.

The festival cites tariffs and the rising cost of decorations as one of the many reasons this years celebration will no longer be taking place. Fleming adds "Our Sinterklaas Stars that are made in India (to benefit an orphanage) and the lights that are made in China—have nearly tripled in price, making them unaffordable for most families"

What does the future hold in store for Sinterklaas?  Hopefully, we'll see it again in 2026, but the tone of the email seems pretty final.

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A post shared by Sinterklaas Hudson Valley (@sinterklaas_hudson_valley)

Revisit Sinterklaas of years past below: