Hundreds of Costumed Riders Float Down the Hudson

The festival puts hundreds of costumed paddlers on the Hudson at Kingsland Point Park, launching in waves through the early afternoon. Boards go out in pointed hats and full capes, and the fleet stays within sight of the shoreline the whole time. The 2026 paddle runs from noon to five in the afternoon, with the largest group on the water in the first two hours. Spectators watch from the seawall without needing a board of their own.

On land, the park fills with live music, local food vendors, and a costume crowd that photographs well against the river. People stake out the grass near the seawall early, then move between stalls between paddle waves. Kingsland Point Park sits directly below the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse, which gives the whole afternoon an obvious backdrop. Families bring blankets and stay for hours, and plenty of visitors arrive in costume without ever getting on the water.

Saturday, October 10 runs from noon until five in the afternoon at 299 Palmer Avenue in Sleepy Hollow. Parking at the park fills early, and the Metro North Philipse Manor stop leaves a short walk to the entrance. Paddlers register in advance and supply their own boards, while watching from shore costs nothing. It fits people who want an outdoor afternoon with a costume element. If you were hoping for an indoor Halloween party, this is not that.