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Hundreds Attend Westchester’s Rocktoberfest Music Festival

IRVINGTON, N.Y. -- The rainy gray skies didn’t stop Westchester residents from rocking out on Saturday as hundreds attended Rocktoberfest music and food festival in Irvington.

The sun shinned on Rocktoberfest, Irvington's first food and music festival in Matthiessen Park

The sun shinned on Rocktoberfest, Irvington's first food and music festival in Matthiessen Park

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
The Henry Family of Irvington

The Henry Family of Irvington

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Bono, also known at Tony Russo of the U2 cover band Unforgettable Fire

Bono, also known at Tony Russo of the U2 cover band Unforgettable Fire

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Rocktoberfest memoribilia

Rocktoberfest memoribilia

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Renowned guitarist Gil Parris

Renowned guitarist Gil Parris

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Rocktoberfest 2014 at Matthiessen Park in Irvington

Rocktoberfest 2014 at Matthiessen Park in Irvington

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Food from Zarrilli's Deli in Irvington

Food from Zarrilli's Deli in Irvington

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
A father and son enjoy the music of Gil Parris & Friends

A father and son enjoy the music of Gil Parris & Friends

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Captain Lawrence Brewery's beer test at Rocktoberfest

Captain Lawrence Brewery's beer test at Rocktoberfest

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Rocktoberfest 2014 at Matthiessen Park in Irvington

Rocktoberfest 2014 at Matthiessen Park in Irvington

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Rocktoberfest 2014 at Matthiessen Park in Irvington

Rocktoberfest 2014 at Matthiessen Park in Irvington

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Everyone wanted ice cream from Jimmy's Soft Serve

Everyone wanted ice cream from Jimmy's Soft Serve

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Rocktoberfest 2014 at Matthiessen Park in Irvington

Rocktoberfest 2014 at Matthiessen Park in Irvington

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Organic eats from Skinny Buddha of Mount Kisco

Organic eats from Skinny Buddha of Mount Kisco

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino
Roctoberfest memoribilia

Roctoberfest memoribilia

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino

The event was the brainchild of Irvington Mayor Brian Smith, who came up with the idea just six weeks prior.

“It’s a beautiful park that we don’t, quite frankly, use enough, said Smith. "So I said, ‘Why don’t we bring a little music and a little fun to the park.”

And much fun was had at the Hudson River waterfront’s Matthiessen Park between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, since the rain thankfully stopped just before the event started. 

Dozens of children were running around and playing, while their parents enjoyed the “beer garden,” a roped off area where adults enjoy some suds from Captain Lawrence Brewery of Elmsford.

A line-up of eight bands played, including headliners Gil Parris & Friends and the U2 cover band Unforgettable Fire, while local eateries fed festival-goers.

The Irvington Fundraising and Community Events (F.A.C.E.) Commitee collected suggested donations of $10 per person or $25 per family at the event’s entrance, which will benefit programs of the Irvington Parks and Recreation program.

Platinum, gold and silver sposnors helped to fund the event along with the Village of Irvington and the F.A.C.E. Committee

Village Administrator Larry Schopfer estimated that about 500 people had attended mid-way through the event.

Smith expects the event's costs will in the very least “break even,” and was hopeful that some funds would be raised for recreation department initiatives, like day camp scholarships for children or funding additional use of the senior citizens van.

The mayor was pleased with the turnout considering the poor weather earlier in the day and hoped that attendance would grow close to 1,000 people by the day's end.

“What’s most rewarding to me isn’t the beer garden or people listening to the bands, but I saw hundreds of kids just playing on the playground, it was just so much fun seeing that,” said Smith.

The sun did eventually come out, offering extra warmth to neighbors and families, like the Henry’s who sat on a blanket and enjoyed food from Zarrilli’s Deli of Irvington.

“We came out to support the community,” said Judd Henry, who attended the event with wife Iris and their two children Jordan and Silas.

“We moved to Irvington a year ago and we are very happy. We wanted to come out and enjoy the day with our family and friends. I’m glad the weather cleared up. The band is terrific, and we’re having a blast.”

 

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