Back in June of this year the Island Time String Band made our debut at the legendary Keuka Arts Festival. We got the last minute call a few weeks earlier when the band they originally had schedule…backed out. Our combination of music from Hawaii, Brazil, and the Caribbean was the perfect compliment to the art and community exploring the event.
The band featured the core line-up of Michael George Gonzalez (ukulele), Bobby Henrie (jazz guitar), and Steve Imburgia (percussion).
The Keuka Arts Festival: Celebrating Creativity in the Finger Lakes
Held along the scenic Keuka Lake Outlet Trail in Penn Yan, the Keuka Arts Festival brings together visual artists, craftspeople, musicians, food vendors, and the wider community for a weekend celebrating creativity and local culture. Presented by the Arts Center of Yates County, the festival offers a chance to explore original artwork, discover regional makers, enjoy live performances, and experience one of the Finger Lakes’ picturesque outdoor settings. Admission is free, making it an accessible event for residents and visitors alike.
The festival grew out of an earlier arts event held at Keuka College. After that event ended, local art enthusiasts recognized how much it had been missed and worked to bring it back, establishing the modern festival around a vision of connecting the arts with the natural beauty of the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail. The trail links the Penn Yan Boat Launch area with downtown, offering a scenic setting for a festival that celebrates both artistic expression and community life.
A major attraction is the festival’s juried showcase of more than 100 artists and craftspeople, featuring original work across a broad range of mediums, including painting, photography, ceramics, jewelry, glass, woodwork, fiber arts, and mixed media. Visitors can meet artists, discover one-of-a-kind pieces, and purchase work directly from the people who create it. The festival also features specialty food vendors, farmers market products, regional wines, craft beer, and spirits, making it an opportunity to experience the creative and culinary offerings of the Finger Lakes in one place.
Live music is another important part of the weekend. The entertainment spans a wide range of styles, from jazz, blues, and swing to rock, reggae, and pop, with additional performers, artistic demonstrations, and family-friendly activities adding to the atmosphere. The result is an event where the visual and performing arts complement one another, encouraging visitors to linger, explore, and experience the many forms creativity takes across the region.
Beyond its annual weekend celebration, the Keuka Arts Festival supports a broader mission: fostering community and nurturing the arts throughout the Keuka Lake area. Through its connection with the Arts Center of Yates County, the festival helps bring artists and audiences together while highlighting the importance of local arts organizations, independent makers, and community support. It has become a distinctive early-summer gathering in the Finger Lakes, combining a beautiful outdoor setting with an impressive range of art, food, and live entertainment.
For a companion radio-show post, this section can lead naturally into a retrospective of the musicians who have performed at the festival and the role live music plays in bringing its creative community together.
Festival website: keukaartsfestival.com
