By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
GREENVILLE — Greenville Day — which is actually held over the course of two days — is coming this weekend and the whole community is invited to join in the festivities.
The 16th annual Greenville Day will be held this weekend on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23 and 24, at George V. Vanderbilt Town Park on Route 32.
The event is organized by Community Partners of Greenville and the town of Greenville.
“This means a lot to the community,” said Town Councilman Richard Bear, also a member of Community Partners. “The community gets to come out and enjoy a good time for the kids and come out as a family. The kids have a good time riding the rides and the families get to go around and see all the vendors that are out there.”
Carnival rides will be free of charge. There will also be free pony rides.
“A lot of kids don’t get to ride a pony and this year there will be free pony rides,” Bear said. “It’s all about the enjoyment of the kids and the families.”
There will be more vendors at this year’s Greenville Day events than ever before, Bear said.
“This year we have over 60 vendors. We have never had that many,” the town councilman said. “We have all kinds of vendors that wanted to be a part of this event from all over. They are coming from as far north as Albany and from down towards the city.”
In addition to providing family-friendly entertainment, the annual event also has an added benefit, he said.
“It means a lot to the economy in our community,” Bear said. “It brings people here to the town and shows people what our town is all about and what we have to offer.”
In 2021, more than 3,000 people attended over the two days of the event, according to Community Partners.
In addition to free carnival rides and pony rides, live music will be provided by the Horizon Band, Peaceful Country and Moonshine Mule. There will be a music talent contest with prizes, hayrides, a petting zoo, a tent craft fair and business expo. Town Supervisor Paul Macko will hand out free hot dogs to all comers in the park’s concession stand.
The annual townwide yard sale will also be held throughout the community, and the Greenville Public Library will host a book sale.
Carnival rides begin on Friday at 4 p.m. and continue until dusk, and on Saturday from noon until dusk.
Organizer William Bardel from Community Partners of Greenville said the two-day event is a way for residents to celebrate their town.
“Any opportunity for members of the community to come together is important in reinforcing the bond that makes us all members of Greenville and the surrounding Greene County and regional area,” Bardel said. “It is an opportunity for everybody to meet and to celebrate what it means to be a part of our local community.”
“It’s also a lot of fun,” he added.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the opening of Vanderbilt Park. Community Partners will dedicate signage honoring the history of the park and Greenville Day is another way to celebrate that.
“We are looking for any opportunity to highlight and showcase the park and what it has to offer everybody in the area and to encourage them to use it,” Bardel said.
Greenville Day is funded through a town contribution, a grant through the Wayne C. Speenburgh Greene County Legislature Grant Program, and contributions from local businesses and residents, Bardel said.
“I want to thank all the sponsors that made this happen,” Bardel said. “We could not have done this without them.”
For a full schedule of events on Greenville Day, visit www.cpog.org.
