Nearly four dozen national and local musical artists from a wide range of experimental and multicultural genres will take the stage this weekend in State College and Centre Hall for Rhoneymeade Fest.
The fourth annual music and art festival centered on Rhoneymeade Arboretum and Sculpture Garden will get underway Thursday night with a kickoff party featuring musician Jeremiah Lockwood at 6 and 7:30 p.m. at the Allen Street Grill’s Lobby Bar, 100 W. College Ave. in State College. (RSVP here.)
Presented by 3 Dots, Gorinto Productions and Open Music, Rhoneymeade Fest will give guests the chance to hear sounds that expose them to new styles of music and engage in conversations with nationally acclaimed artists across genres. The weekend will also feature visual artists, local food and drink and family-friendly activities.
“As we enter our fourth year, Rhoneymeade Fest has proven to be much more than just a creative and inclusive event for artists, attendees and volunteers,” Corey Elbin, director of Gorinto Productions and the festival’s lead organizer, said. “It’s become an intersectional experience that brings together a wide range of people who have different spheres of interest, ranging from experimental music to environmental awareness.”
Friday’s events in State College are free admission and will be held from in and around 3 Dots, 137 E. Beaver Ave., State College. Musical performances from noon to 5 p.m. will be followed by the Secret Planet Street Festival from 5 to 9 p.m. on Pugh Street. The street festival will include live music, acrobatics from Dmitry Myers and community organizations.
Exploratory electronic music from 9 to 10 p.m. will be followed by an after-party at Zeno’s, where admission will be free for weekend passholder
Weekend and single-day passes for Saturday and Sunday events at Rhoneymeade, 177 Rimmey Road, Centre Hall, are available for purchase online. Kids 17 and younger are admitted for free. On-site camping is also available.
Two full days of music and art will highlight weekend events at Rhoneymeade, where dozens of musical acts will take the stage. Saturday’s events are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday’s run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The roster includes performers from across Pennsylvania, the United States and around the world, with artists hailing from the United Kingdom, Morocco, Colombia, Botswana, and Spain. Featured performers from across the globe will include Underground System, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Paolo Angeli, Problems, Alex Zhang Hungtai and more.
Attendees can also enjoy workshops by Clearwater Conservancy and a Pride-themed photography activity by Factory Works community darkroom, and can contribute to the Rhoneymeade Fest Community Poem presented by Ridgelines Language Arts. Visitors will also enjoy immersive art exhibits at both 3 Dots and Rhoneymeade throughout the weekend presented by local artists and visiting national artists in residence.
Vendors at Rhoneymeade are scheduled to include Boal City Brewing, Carter’s Table, Coffee Hemp & Tea, Juana’s, Sher Halal (Friday), SoBar Space, Super Duper Cafe, Thunder Thunder Tea and Webster’s Bookstore & Cafe
Artisans will include Imber Industries, Jump Honey Domestic Arts, Meemaclothes, OffTheRecord Arts, Sanguine Teapots, Trifolia Natural Products and Botanicals, Zoe Boniface Jewelry.
“It’s very inspiring to know that Rhoneymeade Fest has become a mechanism for expanding connections among people in Central Pennsylvania and beyond,” Elbin said. “The talent at Rhoneymeade Fest rivals that of any festival in the country, in a friendly, open and naturally beautiful environment. The performances will include music from different countries, with styles ranging from electronic, traditional, interactive, electro-acoustic, improvisational, experimental and many other diverse types of music, and everyone involved is united by a dedication to pure creative spirit.”
For the full schedule and additional details, visit rhoneymeadefest.com.
