The School of Fine & Performing Arts at SUNY New Paltz and Unison Arts Center and Sculpture Garden are pleased to present Ridgefest, a new community arts festival celebrating the rich diversity of performance art in the Hudson Valley, from Friday, Sept. 6 to Sunday, Sept. 8.
The Ridgefest lineup features music, dance and theater, including evening performances and family-oriented shows, all taking place at venues on the New Paltz campus (Studley Theatre, Parker Theatre and McKenna Theatre).
The weekend begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, in College Terrace. The kickoff celebration will honor SUNY New Paltz President Donald P. Christian and Unison founders Stuart and Helene Bigley for their support of the local arts scene, with music provided by student group Absolut A Cappella. Hors d’oeuvres and desserts are included with the ticket price, and there will be a cash bar.
The festival continues with a range of exciting, eclectic performances on Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8. Featured acts include:
- The Nields, a contemporary folk act whose latest album pays tribute to Pete Seeger;
- The Bonsai Trees, a high-energy indie rock band;
- Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez, a jazz and R&B-rooted singer and composer based in Brooklyn, New York, performing with storyteller, poet and performer David Gonzalez;
- Mario, Reynaldo, and Niko Rincon, the powerhouse flamenco trio; and
- OKRA Dance Company, exploring the evolution of dance from its African origins to European influences.
The weekend will also offer family-geared performances for kids and adults alike, including “Firebird” by the Puppet People (suitable for kindergarten through grade 6 and older); the one-man bubble comedy show “Bubble Trouble” with Jeff Boyer; and celebrated contortionist Jeff Burns, who has appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” and more.
Ridgefest is presented with support from the New York State Council on the Arts.
For the full Ridgefest lineup, performance locations, festival map, and/or to purchase tickets to the kickoff party and individual shows, visit the Ridgefest website.
Parking is free on the SUNY New Paltz campus on Saturday and Sunday. For Friday kickoff party ticket holders, permits will be provided two days prior to the event.
If you have accessibility questions or require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact Russell Thompson at thompsor@newpaltz.edu at least two weeks prior to the performance(s) you plan to attend.
