POUGHKEEPSIE – The City of Poughkeepsie closed out a pandemic-stalled summer with a fireworks display on Sunday evening. The “end-of-summer” pyrotechnics followed the “Upstate Immersive” art event held at Dongan Park and near the site of the former Pelton Manor.
Upstate Immersive featured a special curatorial collaboration with River Hill Art Residency, co-founder, and curator Zahra Sherzad, and was a part of Upstate Art Weekend 2021 made possible by the support of the City of Poughkeepsie and the Poughkeepsie Public Arts Commission.
The event was free and open to the public and featured more than a dozen sculptural works by emerging artists, music, and food vendors.
The fireworks display was presented by the City of Poughkeepsie, Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Vassar Brothers Medical Center, M&T Bank, CPL Architecture, and the Walkway Over the Hudson.
City Administrator Marc Nelson said “This year’s fireworks display was as much about Poughkeepsie and all we’ve been through the last year-and-a-half, as it was a COVID-delayed celebration of our country’s Independence. We’ve been very fortunate to have had a series of terrific community events this summer, all throughout the city.” Watching the display with his wife and a few friends, Nelson added “Tonight’s fireworks put a wonderful exclamation point on a summer vastly different from last year, and for that our entire community is grateful.”
