Pleasantville Music Festival returns on Saturday, celebrating 20 years of rocking out
The Pleasantville Music Festival returns to Parkway Field this Saturday, celebrating 20 years of rocking out with the community.
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It’s New York’s backyard jam.
The Pleasantville Music Festival returns to Parkway Field this Saturday, celebrating 20 years of rocking out with the community.
"Over these 20 years, it's become a piece of our brand," said Pleasantville Mayor Peter Scherer. "So many people in the community think it's the best day of the year."
That sentiment is shared by Bruce Figler, who’s been the festival's executive director for nine years and was on the original committee in 2005. He says the festival has drastically grown over the past two decades.
"The first couple of years, you could count the number of people here by the hundreds," Figler said. "Now, it's in many thousands, which makes it a bigger operation...we have so many volunteers who put in an awful lot of time."
For local volunteers, one thing has remained the same throughout all those years.
"The community spirit, I think, definitely has translated from back then, before I even lived here," said Sophie Worley, stage manager for the "Chill Tent" at the Pleasantville Music Festival.
This year, world-class headliners, breakout stars and local artists will make their way to the stages. That includes boy band Dream Street, who are not only celebrating their own milestone, but also are thrilled to bring their music to a spot that means so much to them.
"Today's actually the day that our album [was] released 25 years ago, so it's a very nostalgic experience," said Greg Raposo, an original member of Dream Street and a current resident of South Salem.
"I was born here, raised here [and] I'm back here now," added Matt Ballinger, another original member of Dream Street and a Pleasantville native. "So, I'm totally excited to have my kids see us perform, and even all the friends and neighbors."
To round out the experience, the festival will also offer food, drinks, vendors, and activities for all attendees, allowing them to relax, make memories, and rock out no matter their age.
"Who doesn't want to feel like a teenager again?" asked Raposo.
Tickets can be bought online on the Pleasantville Music Festival's website throughout the day on Friday. Anyone can also buy them in person at the Pleasantville Recreation Department on Friday or at the festival gate on Saturday.
