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Lisa LaRocca

619musicfest_2026-06-19-05-10-29

Well, a beloved music festival with a focus on the environment is returning this weekend. Lisa LaRocca is at Croton Point Park this morning with what you need to know if you want to go. Lisa, what a gorgeous spot here. Uh, is this not an amazing venue? It is so gorgeous. We're of course talking about the Hudson River Music Festival. Some of you may remember it as the Clearwater Festival, uh, started by legendary, uh, folk artist, the late Pete Seeger and his wife, and since 1978 it's been here at Croton Point Park, one of the oldest music and. Environmental festivals in the entire country. It is back this weekend. So let me introduce you to Mitzi Elks, who's president, co-founder of the festival. Great to have you back again this year. Uh, what an amazing spot. So you gotta be excited about this year. We are so excited. Uh, we have, we're bigger and better than last year, and, uh, we just had such a great, uh, community outreach last year, and we expect the same this year. Uh, we. Have a wonderful lineup of Jesse Wells as our headliner and Graham Lesh is returning with Warren Haynes and Daniel Donato and we're kicking off the main stage with Toshi Reagan who was phenomenal and um we have legendary Tom Chapin, David Amram. Uh, we have Lizzie, uh, Leah's song. Lizzie No is kicking off the Rainbow stage, which is new. Well, right, I was gonna say you have now you have 3 stages, 3 music stages going on, uh, food trucks and all kinds of activities too, yeah, yeah. So, uh, the main stage is now called the Hudson Stage, which we're really excited. Excited about it and then the Rainbow stage which is really in uh when revival was here that that was the main stage and so we're having great acts there speakers uh in between acts from all kinds of environmental organizations, um, you know, mental health and, uh. So and food trucks galore and food trucks galore. Good. Well, listen, we have, we're gonna tell you all about it. We're gonna be here all morning telling you about it. Uh, it's this Sunday and the gates open at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are still available. It is an amazing event and can you ask for a better venue while we go, I'm gonna have John Pan over. You have to see this sunrise. Look at this, guys. Is that not amazing? We have the best assignment today just getting to be here. We're in Croton, Westchester County. Let's go back to the studio.

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619musicfestupdate_2026-06-19-06-45-40

A beloved music festival with a focus on the environment is returning this weekend as well. Lisa La Rocca is at the beautiful Croton Point Park this morning with everything you need to know if you want to go. And Lisa, that view is definitely inspiring us to get out and enjoy some great music. This is really one of the most beautiful parks, I think in Westchester County. It's a little windy this morning, but that's OK. And this has been home to the Hudson River Music Festival, uh, since, well, 1978. It's one of the oldest music and, uh, and festivals. In the country and was started by legendary folk singer, the late Pete Seeger. So that's happening this Sunday. It's an amazing event. Let me introduce you to Mary Benjamin. She's director of volunteer programs for Westchester Parks Foundation. Thanks for being out here this morning. Is this not, this has got to be one of your favorite parks. Uh, yes, it is. Our volunteer program works in over 30 sites, um, within the 18,000+ acres of Westchester County's park system. And, well, this is one of my top 3 for sure. Yeah. So you actually, you and a bunch of volunteers, you, you came out to kind of help get ready for this weekend's festival, yeah, yeah. Work with our partners at the CAPARS, the community outreach arm of the Capitol Theater, and we're so proud of bringing hundreds of volunteers to this park and others over the season with them, uh, to, you know, get the park ready for the festival so people can enjoy not only the festival but this beautiful green space. Yeah, yeah, it's, it's really gorgeous, and that's, you know, a big the environment. and especially the Hudson River is a big part of this festival. It's a big focus, so it's nice to get people out to really see why it's so important to, to be good to our parks and to be good to our environment, and people can get involved if they want to volunteer. Yeah, yes, with, um, Westchester Parks Foundation, you can check out our direct our um. Our volunteer calendar on our website, we have something for everyone. You can sign up for just one. You can sign up for every week if you want to, but we're here, we're in the southern part of the county, we're everywhere and you bring all the tools and everything, you just need to show up, right? That's right, gloves, tools, instruction all provided, and we would love to see you come out to give back to the parks that give so much. To us. Beautiful. All right, so we're gonna be talking a lot more about the festival. It is this Sunday. Gates open at 10. Last year. They got 5000 people to come. It's music, it's food vendors, it's panels. It's just a really great day. So stick with us. We'll tell you a lot more about it coming up. We're in Croton, Westchester County. Let's go back to the studio.

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619musicffest3_2026-06-19-07-24-38

Another big event to tell you about this weekend, a beloved music festival with a focus on the environment is returning. Lisa LaRocca is at the beautiful Croton Point Park this morning with everything you need to know if you want to go. Oh, what a good morning it is, Lisa. Oh my gosh, and how could you not want to come spend a day here at Croton Point Park? And this is one of the oldest music and environmental festivals in the entire country, and it has been here since 1978. They have quite a lineup, quite a day. So let me introduce you to Benji Birchfield. He's the guy who comes in and gets everything all set up, so you are crazy busy the next couple of days. Yeah, very busy, yes. Been hard at work this week. Uh, super excited for this year. We have 4 stages, so there's gonna be, uh, music all day throughout the grounds. Um, there's far too many to list, but you know, we have Margo Price, uh, Jesse Wells, um, a cool trio with Warren Haynes, Daniel Zenonnato, and Graham Lesh. But, um, Lisa, it's not just the music. Part of our mission is to honor the legacy of Pete and Toshi Seeger who were lifelong activists, so we. Also have a number of environmental groups, activist organizations, so you can, um, educate yourself on environmental stewardship, um, but also learn how to get involved. Uh, in addition to that though, this is an event that's for the whole family. Kids 12 and under are free. We've also got music for the kids, two sets of Rock and Roll Playhouse, we've got Bash the Trash, um, yeah, so for anyone out there looking for last minute Father's Day plans, bring the family, bring the kids, bring the grandparents, it's gonna be a. Great day. The weather's going to be great. So we're just really excited. It's going to be a great second year. Yeah. And you know what's so nice is that you've really kind of held on to, uh, you know, what this was all about, what this was all creating. I mean, they created this back in the 60s and you know, the big focus was the Hudson River, keeping it clean, the environment, and, and you've kind of held on to that legacy, which is nice. Exactly. Yeah, it's, it's big shoes to. But we're really grateful and fortunate to, um, you know, start this new era of what was once Clearwater and, you know, enter into the Hudson River Music Festival phase. So, you know, shout out to everyone involved. The crew has been hard at work, um, the teams have been great, so we're just really excited to put on this event for everyone. Yeah, it's going to be a great Sunday. So the gates open at 10. If you want more information, go on to our website news12.com. We have a link for you. I mean, again, look at this place. Could you not figure out a better place to spend a Sunday? And it's Father's Day, and it's the first day of summer, and the weather is gonna be great. So what's the, what, what's even a question? Carl, let's go back to the studio. Gotta channel those vibes, Lisa, during the winter months when you're stuck in the snow and cold. All right, thank you so much for that. Now to another room where you can enjoy some live music.

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619musicfeststef_2026-06-19-08-10-32

And a beloved music festival with a focus on the environment is also returning this weekend, so Lisa La Roca is at Croton Point Park this morning with everything you need to know if you want to go with a big smile on her face because of, uh, just a gorgeous view. Oh yeah. Yeah, this is without a doubt one of the most beautiful parks here in Westchester County, Croton Point Park. Of course we are talking about the Hudson River Music Festival, one of the oldest music and environmental festivals in the entire country. It's just a really great time happening this Sunday. So let's chat here with Steph May. She's on the festival team. Thanks so much for being with us. You guys are gonna have great weather this weekend, so it's really looking good. Yes, thank you. Thank you so much for being here. We are so excited. We have the most incredible lineup. Jesse Wells is headlining. He has been referred to as like a modern day Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie. He is out here singing the news. He's absolutely incredible. If you can check him out. Um, we also have Warren Haynes from the Allman Brothers Band and Government Mule will be playing with Graham Lesh, who is the son of, uh, Phil Lesh, the founding bassist for the Grateful Dead. They'll be playing in a trio with Daniel Donato. We have Margo Price, Chaparral, Snack Time, which is like a huge funky band. There's music of all genres. And you have 4 stages this year. You have like 20 different acts and the music's going on all day. Yes, we have another stage that is going to have the Rock and Roll Playhouse, which does a family friendly concerts for kids. There's a climate change panel. We have actors. There's so many activities for kids. Kids 12 and under are free, so it's the perfect Father's Day activity, and the weather is going to be perfect festival weather. It will be like 79 and sunny, and you can see the breeze coming off of the water. Maybe not, hopefully not quite as windy as it is this morning. It feels good. It's, it's great and like you said, there's a really family friendly event. What's so great is that, you know, as we've said. This was founded by legendary folk singer Pete Seeger and his wife, and the big focus was on the environment, the Hudson River, and you've kind of really tried to keep that core, that tradition alive. We have volunteers all over the festival that will help you, um, with recycling and knowing composting where everything needs to go, um, and you know, Pete and Toshi Seeger were all about participation, so coming out here and supporting the festival. The love for the river and the environment and just being together is what it's all about. So we really hope that everyone will come out and have just like a magical, beautiful day. Absolutely great time. So again, this Sunday gates open at 10. If you want more information, just go onto our website news12.com. We have a link, everything you need to know. It's going to be a great day, and you can't ask for a better backdrop than this. Just gorgeous. We're in Croton. Let's go back to the studio.

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619musicfestroyvolpe_2026-06-19-08-42-05

A beloved music festival with a focus on the environment is returning to the Hudson Valley this weekend, and Lisa LaRocca is at Croton Point Park with what you need to know if you want to go. Good morning, Lisa. Good morning, Julie. Good morning everyone. What a beautiful spot, Croton Point Park, and of course we're talking about the Hudson River Music Festival. It is an iconic festival, one of the oldest music and environmental festivals in the entire country. So let me introduce you to Royval. He's been working on the festival since 1984, right? Good morning. Yes, yeah, so, um, like we said, there's so much history that is connected with this festival. Lots of history, you know, uh, over 1000 volunteers work in the festival. Pete and Toshi, who. We did it for them and they did it for us. They created, well, for people who don't know, Pete, we're talking about Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi. They created this festival back in the 60s and the focus, a big focus was on the Hudson River, cleaning up the Hudson. That's where their main focus was, including. Working on all kinds of peace and justice issues and supporting organizations in the Hudson Valley and beyond that, um, and of course music, great music all day a little bit of music, yeah, they, they did a lot of music, uh, yeah, and they brought a lot of people up. People started with them and, uh, they've been doing music today because of Pete and Toshi. Yeah, yeah, so just a great, so it's this weekend, Father's Day. It's always Father's Day. It's gonna be a great family fun event, yeah. Yes, it's got to be family. That's what Pete and Toshi always aimed at. It's got to be children and family, so that's what we're doing. Very good. Thanks so much. So they really, thank you, and you know they've really just kind of kept the tradition going, which is so nice. So, and again, the backdrop, you can't ask for anything. Better a little windy, but that's OK. So gates open at 10 o'clock on Sunday. Uh, you can go on our website, news12.com, click on the link. It gives you everything you need to know about the festival this Sunday. We're in Croton Point Park in Croton, Westchester County. Let's go back to the studio.

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News 12’s Lisa Larocca is at Croton Point Park with everything you need to know.

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Festival president and cofounder Mitzi Elkes

Westchester Parks Volunteer Programs Director Mary Benjamin

Benji Birchfield, festival site operations

Stef May of the Dayglo Presents festival team

Founding Riverfest member Roy Volpe

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