Phoenicia Festival of the Arts Returns for 3rd Annual Celebration
August 28 – September 1, 2025 | Labor Day Weekend | Phoenicia, NY

The 3rd Annual Phoenicia Festival of the Arts returns this Labor Day Weekend with five days of creativity, community, and celebration in the picturesque town of Phoenicia, NY. Running from Thursday, August 28 through Monday, September 1, the festival transforms public spaces into platforms for art, performance, and engagement, highlighting the power of community and creativity.

Produced and curated by Christina Varga, founder of VARGA Gallery & Studio, the festival in its third year will introduce a unique new amenity at Parish Field Park: an interactive mini golf installation built on work originated by Brendan Bo O’Connor and Liam Singer - creators of Lucid Dreaming Mini-Golf, with new contributions by local artists and accepted on behalf of the Town of Shandaken by bio-artist Adam Zaretsky of BEAK (BioethicalArt Kommission). who explores biodata in art through sensory and experiential interaction.

Lucid Dreaming Mini Golf will be integrated into the park’s new features including the Tankbark Nature Play Area envisioned and brought to life by Autumn Brookmire, The festival in partnership with Shandaken Parks and Recreation establishes Ulster County’s first public mini golf course to serve the community, the youth, tourists —a milestone at the crossroads of public art, play, and environmental design.

 The festival will be more than a celebration—it’s a social sculpture that unites residents, visitors, and organizations across the town. Partnering with the Town of Shandaken Parks & Recreation, Phoenicia Business Association, Whitney Fire Hose Company, Phoenicia Farmer’s Market, Phoenicia Playhouse, and other local groups, the event brings exhibitions, performances, and workshops to venues throughout town. Announcements will be made as additional players, performers and partnerships are scheduled throughout the summer. 

 Festival Highlights:

• Art Crawl & Fashion Walk featuring local designers, artists, and businesses

• Free concerts & performances across multiple venues

• Creative workshops for all ages

• Artist-created Natural Playground 

• Community BBQ at Parish Field hosted by Whitney Fire Hose Company

• "Dress Like a Fairy or Wizard" Day with prizes at the Farmer’s Market

• Daily access to the new mini golf course (available throughout the tourism season)

• Artists Talks, Mixers and LGBTQ+ events

• Live Concert Performance at the Phoenicia Playhouse (Details TBA)

Opening Events – Thursday, August 28:

• Intention-Setting Gong Ceremony with HariPrakaash

• Poetry reading by Sparrow

• Live acoustic tribute to the Catskills by Paul McMahon

• Ribbon Cutting at the new Mini Golf Course at Parish Field

Artist Reception – Friday, August 29:

Held on the Boardwalk at 60 Main Street, with exhibits at:

• VARGA Gallery

• Phoenicia Arts & Antiques

• Bettina Restaurant

• Ulster Savings Bank

Art Workshops:

• T-Shirt Printing Workshop

• Mushroom Oracle with Christine Moss

• Children’s EcoArt Labs with Amanda Marlowe

• Poetry Lab with Sparrow

• Native American sculpture demo with Noel Chrisjohn Benson

• Plushie Crochet Workshop with River Wild Hoffman

Confirmed Performers: (more to be scheduled - stay tuned)

• Gargie Verma (Dhrupad Indian classical music)

• Forbidden Lovers

• Andrea Ward - (dance and vocals)

• HariPrakaash (Sound Bath & Opening Ceremony)

• Gus Mancini’s Sonic Soul Band

• Peter Head

• Ava Jaross (“Ava the Avatar” – Fire Performance)

• Laszlo Lang

• Shamsi Ruhe

• Amanda Jo Williams

• Linda Mary Montano & Paul McMahon (Performance art)

• Elizabeth Mihaltse Lindy (Paper sculpture interactive performance)

• Alex Odato (Stop-motion animation)

• Benjamin English, John Gabriel

Visual Artists (partial list):

Phoebe Legere, Courtney Salerno, Lindsay Gwinn Parker, Elizabeth M. Lindy, Eva Melas, Noel Chrisjohn Benson, Michael Hunt, Courtney Dudley, Brenna Chase, Andrew Kirschner, Norm Magnusson, Paul McMahon, Christina Varga, Adam Zaretsky, Peter Head

The full exhibition lineup and schedule will be announced in July. To sponsor an event or participate in the festival contact Christina Varga. For more information email PhoeniciaFestivaloftheArts@gmail.com.