BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

RENSSELAER FALLS -- Since 2017, the village has celebrated its heritage and sense of community with a festival - aptly called the Falls Festival.

This year’s edition will be held Sept. 10 and 11 and will feature lots of live music and fireworks.

“A centennial event that brought locals together to celebrate a local milestone inspired a group of volunteers to establish a committee that would keep the village’s Street Festival alive,” said Mayor Michael Hammond,. “As the future committee came together others within the village organically committed to the cause.”

Hammond applauded the involvement of the village Historical Society, Playground Fund and fire and rescue departments, saying the festival would no longer exist without their assistance.

Hammond noted that over the past four years, the committee has kept two goals in mind - generate an atmosphere of fun and entertainment through family values and strong community spirit; and support the growth and development of local businesses, community committees and local non-profits.

“These objectives the Falls Festival committee endorsed and promoted over the last four years have laid the bedrock for our Festival’s success,” Hammond remarked.

The growth of the festival can also be attributed to the financial support of area businesses and civic organizations.

To date, this year’s sponsor roster includes Doug’s Tavern, State Street Deli, Top of the Hill Mattress and Furniture, Top of the Hill Sealcoating, Collins Hammond Electric, Losurdo Foods, Inc., Potter’s Industries, Inc., Coakley’s Home Hardware, Jenessa Fenton Services, Oxxshire Creamery and Food Specialties, and Lena the Lizard Lady.

Also, The American Pub, Green Machine Hydroseeding, E.B. Spray Foam, Rensselaer Falls Historical Society, Rensselaer Falls Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, Rensselaer Falls Fire and Rescue Department, St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union, Heuvelton labor Day Committee, Tradesman Contracting, LLC, Canton VFW Post 1231, Village of Rensselaer Falls, North Country Savings Bank, and S.H. Electric.

There are three levels of sponsorship - Level 1 is $500, Level 2 $300 and Level 3 $100. If interested, contact Shelly Sanderson or Jolene LaSiege.

The Street Festival will have multiple food vendors and a large variety of craft and specialty vendors, bounce houses, and a children’s fishing derby. A tentative list of food trucks includes GT’s GrubHub Concessions, Tabs Taco Truck, Cam’s Pizza, St. Lawrence Sandwich Co., River Myst Wine Slushies, the Rensselaer Falls Fire Department food shack and Nibbles Snackery. 

The list of craft vendors can be found on the village website or Falls Festival Facebook page.

Seven live bands will be performing over the two days, capped off Saturday, Sept. 11, by a pre-fireworks performance by the Waydown Wailers from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and post-fireworks show by Double Axel from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Other bands include Kane, the Fulton Road Band, Moura, Steelin’ Country, and Shawn Stoddard.

Falls Festival Schedule

Friday’s Street Festival

Live Music

5 to 8 p.m.: Kane

8 to 11 p.m.: Fulton Road Band

Vendors

4 to 10 p.m.: Falls Festival merchandise sale - craft and food vendors

4 to 10 p.m.: River Myst Winery - wine slushies

Family Fun

6 p.m.: Cornhole and Texas horseshoe tournaments (registration at 5 p.m. or online)

Saturday

7 a.m. Kids Fishing Derby for ages 3-15. Registration from 7 to 7:55 a.m. when rules explained; fishing begins at 8 a.m. 

9 a.m.: Falls Festival Fun Run starting at the playground (food or cash donation).

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Live music by Moura

11 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Bounce houses, kids games, merchandize sale, raffles, 50/50s, Lotto boards, and Lina the Lizard Lady.

4 to 10 p.m.: Craft and food vendors; River Myst Winery - wine slushies.

1 to 3:30 p.m.: Live music by Steelin’ Country

3 p.m.: Cornhole and Texas horseshoe tournaments

3:30 p.m.: Cake Walk

3:30 to 5:30 p.m.: live music by Shawn Stoddard

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Live music by Waydown Wailers

9 p.m. to midnight: Live music by Double Axel