Join singalong, see 'Summer of Soul' and learn about Black experience in downtown Nyack

NYACK - A slew of Sunday events in this riverfront village offer the chance to sing and dance in the streets, see a drive-in movie and reclaim forgotten history of the Black experience in 1960s Rockland and New York.

On Aug. 18, the three-part event jams in fun, entertainment and education into the evening that will take place in and around Hezekiah Easter Veterans Memorial Park (and the adjacent municipal parking lot) at Main and Cedar streets in downtown Nyack.

The night culminates with a free screening of the Oscar-winning documentary, “ Summer of Soul ( ... Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised ).” The concert film, directed by Snedens Landing resident Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, celebrates the music and art of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Long-lost footage demonstrates the cultural significance of the historic gatherings.

Questlove, during a Q&A after a virtual Sundance Festival screening in 2021, said even he, a music historian, was gobsmacked by archival footage of the festival in Marcus Garvey Park. "Once they showed me raw footage, I just sat there with my jaw dropped, like, 'How has this been forgotten?' "

Former Nyack resident Sam Waymon, who is seen in the documentary with his sister and showcased singer Nina Simone, will be a special guest at the screening, which takes place on Waymon's 80th birthday.

Here's how the evening unfolds:

6:30 p.m., "My House Once Stood Here": This multimedia exhibit showcases the recently released documentary, “What Happened to Jackson Avenue: A story of Urban Renewal” by Hakia Alem and Rudi Gohl. The exhibit, by Nyack artist Kris Burns, provides historic images of the Black neighborhood that once stood at the site. Takes place in Hezekiah Easter Square.

7:30 p.m., Community Soul Singalong: Sing and dance along as a DJ spins soul, and get in the mood for the main event. It's coordinated by former Nyack Village Clerk Mary White and the nonprofit mentoring program Diamonds & Pearls. Takes place in the municipal lot behind Hezekiah Easter Square.

8:30 p.m., "Summer of Soul" screening: The Artopee Way Municipal Parking Lot will be converted into a pop-up drive-in theater. “Summer of Soul” will be projected onto a six-story building across from the parking lot. You can view from your vehicle (a radio station will carry the movie audio) or bring lawn chairs/blankets and view from a designated area.

The night is sponsored by Rivertown Film and funded via Arts Alive , an ArtsWestchester initiative with state support. Additional sponsors include the village of Nyack, Wright Bros., Nyack NAACP, Nyack Center and Angel Nyack. Rain date Aug. 25.

USA Today reports contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Join singalong, see 'Summer of Soul' and learn about Black experience in downtown Nyack