Catskill bard festival returns for revelry

CALLICOON, NY — Peacemaker Players will present Hosting of the Bards: Catskill Song and Poetry Festival on Saturday, July 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Callicoon Creek Park. The free festival will bring together many of the nation’s most adventuresome songwriters and poets.

Headlining the festival will be songsters David Massengill, Jack Hardy, Louise Taylor, Aengus Finnan, Jonathan Byrd, the Leslie Mendelson Band and Annie Gallup as well as Pat and Rosie Maloney and the New York City Songwriters Exchange. National touring poets and performers seen on DEF Poetry Jam who will perform include Taylor Mali, Lucy Anderton and Dawn Saylor as well as returning favorites Ewart Skinner, Ray McNiece and Laura Moran.

The festival will showcase some the hottest new writing voices, such as Allan Gann from Texas and the Worcester performance duo of Sou MacMillan and Dawn Gabriel. Local poets and songwriters will perform during the day.

On Saturday, Malachi McCourt will read excerpts of poetry.

The River Rat Repertory Company will perform scenes from the adaptation of “Hill Hawk Hattie,” a book by local author Clara Gillow Clark.

Also appearing will be children’s poet Allan Wolf and songwriter Barry Louis Polisar, who has performed for the President of the United States.

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Festival alumni Ray McNiece will host a haiku hike at 11:00 a.m. There will also be craft and folk booths, informative and educational exhibitions and interactive poetry events. Music and events will occur throughout the day.

Festival preview: Symposium

The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance at 37 Main Street in Narrowsburg, NY will host a symposium, “Mother Earth, Mother Tongue: Poetics and the Environment,” on Friday, July 16 from 5:00 to7:00 p.m. Dr. Ewart Skinner will serve as moderator.

For more information visit hostingofthebards.com or email lejmoran@yahoo.com.Hosting of the Bards on July 17th at 1o am in Callicoon Creek park.