OLIVEBRIDGE – Now in its twelfth year, the Winter Hoot music festival will take place Friday, January 31 through Sunday, February 2, 2025. The Hoot is a celebration of music, food, nature, and community featuring exciting local and world-renowned performers along with activities for all ages. The Winter Hoot will take place at the Ashokan Center, located at 477 Beaverkill Road in Olivebridge, New York.

Friday evening will include a community dinner, concert by Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, and an evening jam session, open to all. The celebration continues all day and night on Saturday with performances by The Mammals, Kyshona, Billy Keane & the Waking Dream, Rachael Davis & R.O. Shapiro, Louie Lou Louis, Catskills Old-time Stringband, Picnic Committee and live ice sculptor, Thomas Brown. 

Family activities include blacksmithing demonstrations and take-away projects, intimate acoustic concerts in Ashokan’s pewter shop, a Kidz’ Zone with crafts and activities, square dancing, and delicious local food & refreshments. The Kidz’ Zone will be filled with winter-themed crafts, a movie lounge, and Ashokan’s Instrument Petting Zoo where all ages are encouraged to pick up one of several types of instruments - no experience necessary. Sunday morning closes the Winter Hoot with a refreshing yoga session led by Ashokan’s Sara Trapini followed by a community sing-along.

“The Hoot was created for the community,” says Ruth Ungar Merenda, who serves as event producer, performer, and Ashokan’s director of community events. “We really strive to stay accessible to everyone, offering “pay what you can” tickets at the door and free tickets to anyone under the age of eighteen. The Hoot is a family-friendly, welcoming atmosphere where a diverse crowd can enjoy great music together.”

All profits from the Hoot are reinvested into the Ashokan Center’s mission to inspire learning and build community through shared experiences in nature, history, music, and art. The Ashokan Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. 

As always, the Hoot strives to be environmentally sustainable, powered entirely by the Ashokan Center’s solar energy and utilizing composting and reusable pint cups to reduce festival waste. 

For full information about the Hoot, including a list of performers and full schedule of events, visit hoot.love.