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Trustees discuss 2026 event calendar: Dine Out, Halloween timing and waterfront proposals
Summary
Dobbs Ferry trustees reviewed the 2026 recreation calendar, debated moving the downtown "Dine Out" from Saturday to Sunday to benefit restaurants, discussed downtown Halloween/trick-or-treat timing and agreed to list a Friday date on the draft resolution for public feedback, and asked staff to coordinate with vendors and public safety.
At the Jan. 20 workshop the Dobbs Ferry Board of Trustees reviewed proposed 2026 recreation and downtown event dates and debated changes intended to support restaurants and downtown retailers.
Trustees discussed moving the annual Dine Out street-closure event from Saturday to Sunday so restaurants and small retailers could benefit from a less-competitive evening and to reduce clashes with Saturday retail traffic. Several trustees asked staff to survey restaurants and to return data on overtime costs for police and DPW staffing before a final decision; the board did not adopt a date at the workshop but directed staff to solicit business input.
On Halloween and the downtown trick-or-treat event trustees weighed whether to keep the downtown celebration on Saturday (the holiday) or to move programming to an adjacent day (Friday) to reduce impacts on Saturday retail. The board agreed to place a Friday date on the draft resolution and to accept public comment and feedback ahead of a vote; trustees noted coordinating with school parades and other towns ffects scheduling.
Trustees also asked staff and downtown committees to develop a fuller plan for a proposed night market or waterfront—oncert pairing, to provide a clear statement of benefits and logistics, and to return a fully formed proposal for board review. The board tasked staff with getting vendor and permit details for Wicker's Creek and other summer events that require street closures.
No final resolutions were adopted at the workshop; staff were directed to present restaurant and staffing cost data and to include the draft downtown-trick-or-treat date on the next meeting agenda for public feedback and a formal vote.
