Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site's Pinkster Festival returns for 2024! Join us for this free, family-friendly event celebrating the historic Afro-Dutch festival of Pinkster.
Chief Baba Neil Clarke and the Pinkster Players will return, along with other live music, performances, food, vendors, children's activities, and more.
Pinkster is an Afro-Dutch celebration that started in the colony of New Netherland (now New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut). It is considered by many to be the first truly African-American holiday. You can learn more about the history of Pinkster in this blog post, or watch the short film below.
The Pinkster Players are a group of highly skilled musicians and music historians who have been studying West African music in the Americas for over 30 years. Led by acclaimed percussionist Chief Baba Neil Clarke, and including teaching artist and multi-instrumentalist Ayodele Maakheru, acclaimed fiddler Enrique "Rique" Prince, and others, the Pinkster Players bring the history of Pinkster to life - embodying the spirit of celebration and culture-keeping for Africans in America.
Carla & Keyes are a local music duo who specialize in music education. Their "Colonial Crossroads" program combines the European and African folk music of the Colonial period and how both styles of music ultimately combine to create American folk.
Carla Lynne Hall is a historical interpreter, storyteller, and musician from Yorktown Heights, NY. Her husband Jim Keyes is a historical interpreter, composer, and musician. In addition to scoring films, digital media, and installations, he regularly plays music from different time periods on reproduction instruments at historic sites around the state. Together, Carla and Jim form "Carla and Keyes," a musical duo focused on historically-informed performances. They have co-written and composed a number of historical programs, including "This Man's a Spy!" a musical about John Andre and Benedict Arnold, "Ona's Interview: The True Story of George Washington's Runaway Slave," and "Liss: Slave, Servant, Spy" about Elizabeth, who was enslaved by the Townsends of Long Island during the American Revolution. Together, they also co-host the History Twins podcast.
International Award-Winning Sculptor, Master Drummer and Teacher Maxwell Kofi Donkor considers the preservation of the indigenous Ghanaian art and culture his mission. He brings the Ghanaian history and its way of life to the world.
Interested in being a vendor? We still have a few spots left! Check out our Call for Vendors.
Exhibitors include:
Vendors include:
Free admission to the museum, including self-guided tours. Kids' Pinkster Festival activity booklet. Kids Games. Doll making workshop with Shaqora R. Bey. Vendor booths.
The festival opens to the public. Published in 1803, "The Pinkster Ode" chronicles the happenings of the annual Pinkster festival in Albany. For this reading, we invite members of the public to read selected stanzas.
Members of The Pinkster Players and Carla & Keyes warm up for the day's programs. Musicians will also roam the grounds and museum throughout the day.
Join librarians from Yonkers Public Library for a reading of Parading with Pride: Rediscovering the Pinkster Festival by Shakeema Funchess and Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History by Schele Williams.
In "Colonial Crossroads," Carla Lynne Hall and Jim Keyes explore the intersections of European and West African music in Colonial America. A blend of live music, history, and audience participation, this program gives brings the sounds of early New York to life.
Kofi teaches students of all ages the general basics of West African hand drumming from breathing, positioning, bass tones, high tones and slap tones etc. in a fun way. Students learn to lead and be led, regardless of their knowledge of drumming. Kofi uses his African call and response technique with singing, improvisation and storytelling, developed over the many years of his working with children globally. He is adept with working with each child's unique abilities. He also teaches the history and culture of African Drumming through four part polyrhythmic forms such as Kpanlogo, Agbadza and Gahu.
Part musical performance, part dance performance, and part live action play, "The Story of Pinkster" illustrates what Pinkster meant to enslaved people in the Colonial period and how they expressed themselves, maintained relationships, kept their African cultures alive, and educated the next generations. "The Story of Pinkster" is geared toward the general public and families and includes elements of audience participation.
New York State Parks Interpreter of African American History Lavada Nahon discusses Pinkster’s food history, including the important role wild foods played in colonial springtime diets and African influences in colonial cooking and recipes.
Published in 1803, "The Pinkster Ode" chronicles the happenings of the annual Pinkster festival in Albany. For this reading, we invite members of the public to read selected stanzas.
Join librarians from Yonkers Public Library for a reading of Parading with Pride: Rediscovering the Pinkster Festival by Shakeema Funchess and Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History by Schele Williams.
In "Colonial Crossroads," Carla Lynne Hall and Jim Keyes explore the intersections of European and West African music in Colonial America. A blend of live music, history, and audience participation, this program gives brings the sounds of early New York to life.
Kofi teaches students of all ages the general basics of West African hand drumming from breathing, positioning, bass tones, high tones and slap tones etc. in a fun way. Students learn to lead and be led, regardless of their knowledge of drumming. Kofi uses his African call and response technique with singing, improvisation and storytelling, developed over the many years of his working with children globally. He is adept with working with each child's unique abilities. He also teaches the history and culture of African Drumming through four part polyrhythmic forms such as Kpanlogo, Agbadza and Gahu.
Part musical performance, part dance performance, and part live action play, "The Story of Pinkster" illustrates what Pinkster meant to enslaved people in the Colonial period and how they expressed themselves, maintained relationships, kept their African cultures alive, and educated the next generations. "The Story of Pinkster" is geared toward the general public and families and includes elements of audience participation. We'll end the performance with an "ommegang" or parade around the grounds!
