The start of fall is just about a month away (yes, we’re wondering how summer has gone by so fast, too) — and while the weather may be cooling off over the next few weeks, the start of fall means there is another Hoboken program to look forward to. Hoboken Summer Streets and Fitness in the Park may be dwindling down, but on Sunday, September 10th, Hoboken’s First Street Sundays will be coming back for 2023. This initiative aims to create a vehicle-free, no-parking zone on 1st Street in Hoboken between Washington and Garden Streets each Sunday through October 22nd. Read on for more details about Hoboken’s 2023 First Street Sundays — plus, some new additions to this year’s programming.
A Brief History
First Street Sundays began back in September 2019 as a way to create a family-friendly, vehicle-free, pedestrian-only zone and improve business for local restaurants on First Street. The initiative was created by the Hoboken Business Alliance and the City of Hoboken.
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Along with Hoboken’s Summer Streets program, these initiatives encourage residents to get outside, support local businesses, and work to decrease traffic-related fatalities. Instead of Sinatra Drive, the fall version of this vehicle-free zone focuses on First Street in Hoboken. This program gives locals a chance to stroll around Hoboken without any traffic, shop at local stores, and dine on the street at a variety of different participating restaurants — creating a vehicle-free pedestrian plaza.
“We are excited to give residents and visitors safe access to First Street on foot, and more importantly, additional access to the wonderful restaurants, shops, and other businesses in that area,” Roxanne Earley, Executive Director of the Hoboken Business Alliance (HBA) said in a press release. “Following on from the success of past years, and taking into account the feedback we have received from businesses and patrons in the area to adapt the program, we are confident that this is going to be our most successful year yet.”
First Street Sundays Schedule 2023
Per a press release sent out by the Hoboken Business Alliance, First Street Sundays will be in effect (and will be a no-car/parking zone) for the following Sundays from 10AM to 8PM on First Street between Washington + Garden Streets:
- September 10th
- September 17th
- September 24th
- October 1st
- October 8th
- October 15th
- October 22nd
In addition to the abundance of outdoor seating that will be available within this pedestrian plaza, the Hoboken Business Alliance will also be hosting free outdoor games and activities for all ages, as well as programming from local small businesses from 12PM to 7PM.
There will also be a new addition to this year’s First Street Sundays — a dedicated ride share drop off and customer parking for those with appointments at businesses along 1st Street.
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Four outdoor beer gardens for those 21 years old and older will also be available this year. We will update this article with what restaurants are participating as soon as we get more information. In the meantime, stay in the know with @thehobokengirl on Instagram and TikTok.
