ON SATURDAY, JUNE 18, the annual Newburgh Illuminated Festival will be held from noon to 10pm. The festival, where guests can explore food, music and art takes place on Liberty Street and Broadway in downtown Newburgh. Admission is free and open to the general public.

Guests can sample local ethnic food from area favorites like Eddie’s Churros & Empanadas food truck, Caffe Macchiato and The Wherehouse, while they enjoy live music from dozens of local bands. Neil Alexander and the Funk Junkies are among those that will grace the stage, along with festival headliner, Living Colour’s lead singer Corey Glover.

Aboard a West Point Tours bus there will be tours of historical and architectural highlights in the city, accompanied by views of the Hudson River. A variety of children’s activities like candle-making and jumbo bowling will also be offered throughout the day.

Newburgh Illuminated has helped to foster a renaissance in Newburgh. Last year’s festival drew an estimated 5,000 people. The city has attracted growing artists, restaurateurs, musicians and businesspeople that are passionate about the city’s diversity, talent and art. The festival celebrates all of those aspects by bringing them together to show off the culture and vitality of the historical city.

This will be the fourth year the community-based festival will return to Newburgh. The brainchild of Newburgh Mayor Judy Kennedy, the festival is made possible by an active group of volunteers with support from sponsors including Crystal Run Healthcare, Safe Harbors of the Hudson, SUNY Orange and many more. This year, The Valley Table joins the event sponsors as a concert spotlighter.

For more information about the Newburgh Illuminated Festival, visit www.newburghilluminatedfestival.com.

Read on about the revitalization of Newburgh in our 2008 article here.