Headlining the River City Fair’s main stage on Pier A will be Cherokee Social, the Colorado-based indie pop duo known for its energetic live performances and genre-blending sound that incorporates elements of indie rock, soul, and Indigenous musical influences. Cherokee Social will be preceded by a showcase of local bands.

Sinatra Park will be a dedicated kid’s zone with youth bands performing an area for young vendors, bounce houses, and Dinosaurs Arise.  

“The River City Fair was always about bringing people together to celebrate our waterfront, our arts community, our local businesses, and the people who make Hoboken so unique,” said Mayor Emily B. Jabbour. “By bringing back the River City Fair, we’re honoring an important part of Hoboken’s history, including the community that worked to create a publicly accessible waterfront, while continuing to create opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy live music, discover local talent, and connect with one another.”

The River City Fair was first established on Hoboken’s waterfront during the 1970s, as the city and local advocates were transforming its shoreline and working waterfront into a destination for public recreation, cultural programming, and community events. Organized with support from the Hoboken Environment Committee, the festival brought residents and visitors to the waterfront for a combination of live entertainment, arts programming, environmental activities, local vendors, and family-friendly attractions. 

During the 1970s and 1980s, visitors were invited to board vessels docked along the pier, including the historic Hudson River sloop Clearwater, while enjoying a crafts fair, flea market, food stands, and a fireworks display over the Hudson River. Entertainment included rock bands, jazz ensembles, old-time string bands, steel-drum calypso groups, and other performers representing a range of musical styles as well as dance performances. 

As Hoboken’s waterfront and public event programming evolved, the River City Fair transitioned into the Fall Arts & Music Festival in the mid-1990s. While the name and location changed, the event continued its mission of showcasing artists, musicians, businesses, and bringing neighbors together.  

The return of the River City Fair will continue the tradition of using music, arts, and community programming to bring residents and visitors together while highlighting the city’s waterfront, the Hudson River Estuary and ecology, as well as local businesses and cultural organizations. 

Vendor applications for the River City Fair will launch in August. Additional details, including the full entertainment schedule, will be announced by the City in the coming weeks.  

The River City Fair is organized by the Division of Cultural Affairs and sponsored by the Hoboken Business Alliance.

Sinatra Park will serve as the fair’s youth stage. Performances on the Sinatra Youth Stage will be as follows:  

• 12:15 p.m. – 12:40 p.m.: Interactive Storytime with Raakhee Mirchandani, a local children’s author, sponsored by the Hoboken Library Friends and Foundation.
• 12:55 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.: Garden Street Music‘s dance performance
• 1:20 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: All Saints Bold Dancers?
• 1:45 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Hoboken Dance Academy’s dance performance
• 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.: School of Rock?
• 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.: JAW – A middle schooler indie band with roots in Hoboken and Brooklyn
• 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: BTL – The Hudson School’s rock band Between the Lines

The Pier A main stage will provide expanded space for live entertainment following the success of the Observer Highway stage at the Spring Arts & Music Festival, which drew more than 3,000 concertgoers.

The Pier A musical lineup will showcase local and regional performers as well as headliner Cherokee Social.

Performances on the Pier A Stage are as follows:

• 12 p.m. – 12:20 p.m.: Bateria Fogo Azul – NJ’s women-led Brazilian samba drumline
• 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.: The Maybes – Local band with deep Hoboken roots, blending pop, folk, and rock
• 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.: Bass Envy with Jack Skuller – The new project from local rocker Jack Skuller, featuring his signature good-time, raucous, foot-stomping grooves and melodies.
• 2:45 p.m. – 3:30p.m.: Sed Marsh and Eazier Sed Than Done – The latest project from Sed Marsh, Grammy-nominated drummer who has played with Donnell Jones, Patti Labelle, Angie Stone, and more.
• 4 p.m.- 5 p.m.: Cherokee Social – Colorado-based indie-pop duo blending pop, soul, hip hop, and indigenous influences. River City Fair is part of their nationwide Eeyoko Mataylë Tour. 

Pier A will also feature activities for children including bounce houses and a guest appearance by Dinosaurs Arise from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.  

The festival is sponsored, in part, by the Hoboken Business Alliance.

Some of the above story from the City of Hoboken’s website

Poster: Hoboken Now