Gilboa Fest: A celebration of heritage and history on July 12

GILBOA—Gilboa Fest is returning to the Gilboa Museum and Juried History Center on Sunday, July 12 from 12-4 p.m. The signature seasonal event promises a perfect blend of live music, regional art, a local marketplace, and deep local history.

This year’s festival grounds will come alive with an incredible, diverse lineup of local creators, artists, and unique businesses. Attendees strolling through the marketplace will find everything from functional art to metaphysical insights:

Fine Woodworking & Visual Art: Celebrated Gilboa artist Laura Shapiro will showcase her stunning carved and painted functional art and animal sculptures, heavily inspired by ancient Egyptian and 19th-century carnival art. Local maker Dawn Cornell will also feature her fully handcrafted wood-burning pieces alongside original design earrings and hand-drawn, professionally printed greeting cards.

Handcrafted Crafts & Home Decor: Look for Laurie Jones’s popular lighted bottles and decorative hand towels, as well as Connie Bates’s meticulously crafted tissue boxes, diamond dot pictures, paintings, coasters, and custom ornaments. L&J Lawn Decor (run by Laurie Henning) will be on hand with metal lawn signs for all seasons and holidays, alongside vibrant solar lights. Long-time favorite Tonja Jo returns with her signature tie-dyed T-shirts and whimsical yard spinners.

Jewelry & Wearable Art: In addition to Dawn Cornell's earrings, fashion lovers can browse beautiful custom necklaces, bracelets, and earrings from Eye of the Thread Jewelry.

Rustic & Mountain Style: Baddies Freshies and Catskill Mountain Creations LLC will bring a distinctive Upstate flair with long-lasting, highly scented custom car freshies alongside rustic, one-of-a-kind metalwork and deer antler creations.

Sweets & Neighborhood Finds: Gilboa’s own Sunken City Cider on Stryker, just down the road from the museum, is looking forward to serving its New York State hard cider at Gilboa Fest  Meanwhile, local youth Reed Shultes will be hosting his classic "Red Shed" garage sale and serving up refreshing cold lemonade.

Psychic Medium & Author Reading: Renowned spirit communicator and remote energy healer Jo Anna will be offering crystal and voice energy readings to help visitors unlock their personal goals. She will also be showcasing her new book, Zackery, The Teenage Ghost Hunter, published under the pen name J.A. McNally.

Psychic Shalimar is a gifted Lightworker who has been doing readings for 40 years. Known for her psychic, medium and archangel readings, she is compassionate, kind, highly intuitive, and sensitive those who are in emotional pain. With a background in counseling, as well as director of a crisis intervention center and work in a hospital emergency room, Shalimar is well-versed in ministering to others.

Visitors won't go hungry while exploring the museum or festival grounds. Muddy Brook Farm is bringing their premier food truck, Trailhead, straight from the base of Vroman's Nose in Middleburgh. Trailhead specializes in a seed-oil-free, farm-to-table menu inspired by the spirit of exploring Upstate New York. Utilizing fresh produce and specialty mushrooms grown right on their farm, they will be serving up high-quality smash burgers, signature rice bowls, house-made crispy potatoes, and handcrafted drinks completely free of preservatives.

The festival atmosphere will be powered by the acoustic styling of The Son Dogs—a unique father-son duo (both named Mike) who share a deep bond over music and a mutual love for four-legged friends. Attendees can expect a dynamic setlist spanning acoustic rock, alternative, indie, and outlaw country from the 1960s, 70s, and beyond.

Art lovers are also in for a treat with the debut of a captivating new exhibition, Worth 1000 Words: Narrative in Art. Co-curated by local creative forces Amy Silberkleit and Michael Shifer, the showcase explores art’s oldest foundational purpose: storytelling without words. Drawing inspiration from sequential comic strips, ancient cave paintings, and iconic historical imagery, regional artists have been challenged to convey rich narratives using little to no text.

"Given the wide and deep pool of creativity in our midst, we know this will be a wonderful show, with wit, surprise and beauty in abundance," notes Shifer, who also serves on the Gilboa Historical Society Board.

Beyond the festivities on the lawn, the museum doors will be open for visitors to explore its world-renowned Devonian fossil collection and poignant exhibits detailing the original, lost Village of Gilboa.

Highlights of the museum lineup include:

Labor & Love: Gilboa Farm & Family Animals: This moving historical tribute celebrates the massive impact of domesticated animals and the town's rich agricultural identity. Featuring a curated collection of artifacts and personal photographs from 19 local farm families, this exhibition officially kicked off the museum's season on May 23.

Name That Fossil with Dr. Bill Stein: From 1-3 p.m., bring your own backyard discoveries to the museum! World-renowned paleobotanist Dr. Bill Stein—co-author of The Catskills Fossil Forest and a key researcher behind the monumental discovery of ancient Archaeopteris roots at the Cairo Fossil Quarry—will be on-site to review, analyze, and identify fossils brought in by the public.

From antique farming tool displays to stunning regional art showcases, there is truly something for everyone. If you just want to relax, the museum's large, wrap-around porch offers the perfect vantage point to soak in sweeping valley views and chat with neighbors.

The Gilboa Museum and Juried History Center is located at 122 Stryker Road in Gilboa.