Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Pinkster Festival is on Saturday, May 3, 2025

 

Celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Pinkster at this year’s Pinkster Festival hosted by the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, Van Cortlandt House Museum, and Kingsbridge Historical Society. Join us on the picturesque lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum for a day filled with vibrant festivities, live music, engaging performances, and immersive experiences. 

  

Join us on the picturesque lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum for a day filled with vibrant festivities, live music, engaging performances, and immersive experiences. 

  

Live Music with Chief Baba Neil Clarke, Master Percussionist 

Story of Pinkster with the Pinkster Players 

Stories with April Armstrong, Master Storyteller 

Tours with Carla & Keyes, History Interpreters 

Make Art with Tijay Mohammed, Artist 

Afro-Dutch Cooking Demonstration with Cheyney McKnight 

PLUS: African food from Voila Afrique and crafts for sale! 

RSVP Now.

WHAT IS PINKSTER?  

  

Once a major holiday in 17th century New York, Pinkster is the Dutch name for the Christian event of Pentecost. For enslaved and free people of African descent, Pinkster morphed into a unique holiday that incorporated African rituals, traditions, and pride. It is considered New York’s first African American holiday! 

  

To learn more about Pinkster watch this video of captivating discussion with local historians, Lavada Nahon and Chief Baba Neil Clarke, as they unravel the significance of Pinkster, exploring its cultural, social, and historical importance. 

Our Contact Information
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Ste. E1
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org

Speaker Adrienne Adams Responds to New York State Supreme Court’s TRO Ruling to Block Mayor Adams’ Executive Order Inviting Trump’s ICE to Set Up Office on Rikers

 

Today, New York State Supreme Court Judge Mary Rosado extended the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) blocking Mayor Eric Adams’ administration from implementing Executive Order 50 that would facilitate the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency reopening an office on Rikers Island. The decision comes after Judge Rosado previously issued an interim TRO on April 21 prohibiting the execution and negotiation of any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to the executive order. In response to the court’s ruling, Speaker Adrienne Adams issued the following statement.

“Today’s court decision to grant our request and stop Mayor Eric Adams’ illegal order to allow ICE onto Rikers protects public safety and Constitutional rights in New York City from the Trump administration’s attempt to seize power over our city at the expense of New Yorkers. The Trump administration has shown its willingness to violate the U.S. Constitution by unlawfully disappearing people from our country without due process or justification. Mayor Adams’ attempt to fulfill his end of the corrupt bargain by handing the keys to Rikers over to Trump’s ICE would make our city and New Yorkers less safe. With today’s decision, the court has now ruled twice against Mayor Adams’ illegal executive order that conspires to sell out New Yorkers, and we look forward to the court’s consideration of our request for a preliminary injunction.”