This year’s River Vale Day was a resounding success, drawing hundreds of residents to the Mark Lane Sports Complex for an afternoon of fun, food, and community spirit.
From holding baby chicks at the petting zoo to scaling the rock wall or sampling treats from local vendors, smiles could be seen everywhere.
The warm fall weather set the stage for a lively and welcoming celebration.
Entertainment filled the day, starting with spirited performances by the Pascack Valley Panthers Band, followed by the British pop tribute group The Wankers, who kept the crowd singing along.
On the turf field, the River Vale Raiders Cheerleaders, the Pascack Valley Regional Dance Team, and the Rocker Dance Team wowed spectators with their high-energy routines.
The Pascack Pi-oneers FIRST Team 1676 also impressed attendees by demonstrating one of their innovative creations.
A highlight of the afternoon was the Fifth Annual Chili Cook-Off, where Billy Giordano took top honors, earning prizes from Joy’s Island Spice, Satya, All-Star Swag, and Inserra ShopRite. The Girl Scout troop behind the beloved “Cookie Monster” trunk returned to hand over the traveling GOAT (Greatest of All Trunks) trophy and issued a playful challenge to participants in this year’s Ragamuffin event.
New this year was the River Vale Day Poster Contest, won by Yi-An Jin, who received 20 printed copies of her winning artwork and a $100 gift card courtesy of Platinum Sponsors the River Vale Farmers Market, Balloon Chica, and DART Computer Services.
Jin spent part of the day autographing and giving away posters as souvenirs.
The contest will return in 2026 with a call for fresh designs celebrating the spirit of River Vale.
Visitors also enjoyed the inflatable attractions, the crowd-favorite Mechanical Pumpkin ride, and photo opportunities at the “ I [Heart] River Vale” booth.
Towering above it all was a strolling scarecrow stiltwalker, delighting kids with high-fives.
With laughter, music, and neighborly connection throughout the day, River Vale Day 2025 captured the best of the township’s community pride—and left everyone looking forward to next year.
— Via Skylar Fay, River Vale events intern.
For more photos, visit this story on our website.