KINGSTON, N.Y. — Thousands gathered in the Rondout area on Sunday for the 2024 Kingston Artists Soapbox Derby, viewing inventive creations made by individuals, families, groups, and organizations rolling down Broadway.
Over 30 cars set off at 1 p.m. from the corner of Spring Street and Broadway, followed by an awards ceremony, with $2,500 in cash prizes going to the first, second and third-place winners in three categories: individual, family and community groups. There was also a People’s Choice Award, where attendees could vote on their favorite car.
The children who rode in the creations were recognized at the awards ceremony following the derby and given gift cards for one free go-kart ride at RAH’s Playland and Parlor on Sawkill Road.
Themes this year were especially diverse, from the “Turbo Tub,” the winner of the People’s Choice Award featuring a realistic bathtub with misting showerheads, to inventive takes on popular franchises, like a recreation of Mega Charizard X from the Pokémon series.
This year’s community award winners were the Ulster County Italian-American Foundation, who brought a Roman chariot-inspired creation with them. Joe LoSchiavo, second Vice President of the organization, said he was proud to represent his Italian heritage. “I have an Italian background, and we try to keep it in the Italian theme,” he said.
LoSchiavo said the foundation, now in its third year participating in the derby, has been quite successful. “Last year we took first place with a slice of pizza, and the first year I think we took the second place with the wine barrel,” he said. “This year we came up with the Roman chariot.”
According to LoSchiavo, the group hopes to continue participating in the future. “Italy’s got so many things that we can copy from, we’ll be doing this for a long time, I hope.”
One fan favorite of the derby was Alan Adin’s “Alotaballs” car, which featured Adin riding with his previous derby trophies, trailed by a long line of plastic balls. Adin was dressed up for the occasion, wearing a pink tutu and fairy wings. “I don’t know where it came from,” he said after being asked what inspired the creation. “Artistic inspiration just comes from the sky.”
“It’s just one of those ideas that popped into my head and I just went with it,” he added.
Adin said the name of the car was a double entendre. “You don’t dress like this without a lot of balls, so I brought a lot of balls with me,” he laughed. “Double entendre intended.”
Adin is a veteran of the derby, with this being his ninth time entering. “I was in the very first one, then probably seven or eight after that,” he said. “Time-wise, it didn’t work out for the last 16 years, so I decided to make a comeback.”
“This is my swan song,” he added. “I’m going to cross the River Styx and go to Valhalla.”
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