Pinkster Spring Festival at Historic New Bridge Landing
Location: Historic New Bridge Landing 1201 Main Street River Edge NJ 07661
Time: 1:00pm
Description: Oh, lift your spirit with a joyous celebration of Pinkster, a spring festival at Historic New Bridge Landing on Sunday, May 17th, 2026, 1 to 4:30 p.m., and imagine you are back in the days when country folk celebrated greening woodlands and flowering meadows with a dance around the Maypole and sporting contests.
BCHS Trustee Muriel Roberts** at 1:15 pm and 2:15 pm for a pouring ceremony that honors and remembers the ancestors that have departed. Muriel will then give a talk at 2:30 pm on how a Jersey Dutch Celebration became the first African American holiday.
The Tricorne Dance Ensemble under the direction of dance mistress Denise Piccino will then be dancing around the Maypole at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. They will also be performing a collection of 18th century dances throughout the day. Musical accompaniment for the dancers will be provided by Ridley and Anne Enlsow on the fiddle and hammered dulcimer.
Join the Tricorne Dancers at 3 pm as they invite children to dance with them around the Maypole.
• On display for viewing in the state historic 1752 Steuben House for Dutch paintings and Jersey Dutch artifacts and Revolutionary War artifacts from the society’s extensive collection. For children, a large-scale map of NJ with toy soldiers teaches the geographical problems facing Revolutionary War generals
• Be sure to check out Beth Harpell of The Lost Art Lacers demonstrating her craft of lacemaking on the porch at the Steuben House.
• Stop by the Westervelt-Thomas Barn to see a broom making demonstration.
• In the out-kitchen visitors can see BCHS interpreters in th Society’s authentic Jersey Dutch out-kitchen where BCHS interpreters will be firing up the outdoor bake oven (weather permitting) to make Ludwick’s gingerbread, berry galette, and a cheese cake using a recipe from 1682.
• Refreshments including strawberry desserts and lemonade will be available for purchase inside the tavern and the gift shop will be open as well.
• Activities for families include a take home craft, colonial games, and the society’s QR Code cell phone-based scavenger hunt.
• Ticket reservations are encouraged: $12 adults, $7 students, BCHS members free.
• Free parking available on site or take the NJ Transit’s train to “New Bridge Landing” train stop on the Pascack Valley line and walk one block north and east.
• Dogs are permitted on site on a leash but not in the houses.
• For ticket reservations available here on this page.
Email contactbchs@bergencountyhistory.org with questions, or call 201-343-9492 and leave a message.
The event is subject to change.
Muriel Dorothea Roberts** Family Historian and Geneologist, attended Jersey City State College as a Performing Arts/Theater major. A fourth-generation resident born, raised and educated in Jersey City, New Jersey with ancestral locations in Colonial New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.Organizations: AAHGS Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (New Jersey Chapter former President, New York Chapter member; New England Chapter member), BCHS Bergen County Historical Society, Trustee; BAR Brigade of the American Revolution; Lincoln Association of Jersey City, Past President; SDUSMP Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage; SOFAFEA Society of the First African Families of English America; Manhattan Chapter DAR Vice- Regent; Associate member of Bergen -Paulus Hook Chapter NJ, Duxbury Chapter Massachusetts, and Attucks-Lee-Banneker Chapter Ohio. She became a DAR member on April 5, 2021, honoring a new to DAR Forgotten Patriot, Plato Turner of Parting Ways, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Cost: See website for details
https://www.bergencountyhistory.org/event-details/pinkster-spring-festival-at-hnbl