To My fellow Rhinebeck/Hudson Valley Residents:

My name is Lexie Sullivan (lexiesdaisy_ on instagram), and I am making this petition today to help save a very important piece of Hudson Valley History and Culture. Today, on July 15th, 2024, it was announced by Sinterklaas HV founder Jeanne Fleming that after 15 years of a consistent presence in the village of Rhinebeck (and our hearts), the annual Sinterklaas celebration has been canceled for 2024 due to funding and staffing issues. With a history dating back to the 1980s, Sinterklaas has been a holiday staple in the first weekend of December in the village of Rhinebeck since 2008, but today, the hearts of many, including my own, have been broken by the news of the cancellation for this year. I have been going to Sinterklaas ever since I moved to Rhinebeck eight years ago, and even after moving 15 minutes away, I never missed Sinterklaas. This was a family tradition for me and my parents, the Sinterklaas Stars that we have collected each year that we went have been hanging in our family room for years, we have loved going even during the years it was snowing like crazy, it was a tradition. Not only is Sinterklaas one of my favorite times of the year, but also, it’s the one main event that brings the village of Rhinebeck and people from all over together to celebrate Christmas and all the Dutch traditions that had been celebrated for centuries. Without Sinterklaas, I would feel lost, and I betcha that I wouldn’t be the only one. We have to do something to save Sinterklaas this year, raise money/awareness, spread the word, get the higher ups in charge in NYS/The Hudson Valley involved, we can’t let Sinterklaas go so easily, we won’t! No matter what, we can do this, we can volunteer and make the money to save this irreplaceable holiday tradition. With all of your help, we can save Sinterklaas and keep the holiday spirit alive in Rhinebeck for years to come! But for now, let’s focus on saving Sinterklaas 2024, and to Jeanne Fleming and the Village Board of Trustees, please don’t give up on Sinterklaas for this year, it’s only July, we can do this!! Teamwork makes the dream work Hudson Valley, let’s save Sinterklaas!!