Fireside Folk Fest returns to Ticonderoga

TICONDEROGA | The second annual Fireside Folk Fest will return this year on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and host organization North Country Rural Development Coalition (NRDC) couldn't be more eager to provide an autumn celebration for the benefit of the community. "Fireside is really intended to give something back to the people who live here, and especially to our children and families," said NRDC President and CEO Nicole Justice Green. "We absolutely hope events like this bring new people into Ticonderoga, support our businesses and introduce visitors to our community. But first and foremost, I want the people who live here to have access to great music, art, activities and experiences right here at home. Our kids deserve to grow up with community traditions and memories that make them feel connected to this place." The festival runs from 2 p.m. –8 p.m. on Oct. 3 in downtown Ticonderoga. Attendance is free, and the 2026 installment will continue to build on the groundwork last season, and will be bigger and better with expanded food, vendors, and family activities. "I think last year was successful because it felt very authentically Ticonderoga," Green noted. "It brought people downtown for live music, food, art and activities, but more importantly, it gave people a reason to spend time together on Montcalm Street. We saw families, young people, longtime residents and visitors all enjoying the same space." The goal is for the entire afternoon and evening to feel like downtown Ticonderoga is alive, and with axe throwing with Adirondack Axe, Mountain Bouncers, candle making with Wax N' Wix, Silent Wings Raptor Rehab and Education, activities with the Ticonderoga Natural Foods Co-op and more, the day guarantees to be vibrant. "We are incredibly excited about the music this year, particularly having Kevin Devine perform," revealed Green." Kevin is an extraordinary singer-songwriter with a national following, and bringing an artist of his caliber to Ticonderoga is something we are really proud of." The festival's food lineup will include Mr. Ding-A-Ling, 80K Street Plates, Vamo Arriba, Fizzy Pup, Two Jerks BBQ, Mom's & Pop's Food Station and Lomeli's Mexican Food. "We also have a really fun collection of local and regional craft vendors and small businesses," Green said. Fireside Folk Fest will also continue to merge with public art work happening downtown, celebrating the installation of another storybook-themed bronze sculpture near Black Watch Memorial Library. Based on The Wind in the Willows and Mr. Toad's famous wild ride, the newest piece of public art is expected to be the final sculpture in this particular collection, unless it is decided in the future to make an additional investment and expand it. "It has been really exciting to watch the collection grow and become part of downtown," Green reflected. "What I especially love about these pieces is that they aren't temporary installations for a festival. They are permanent public art that families and visitors can enjoy year-round, and they add a little bit of whimsy and discovery to downtown." And though the storybook collection will be complete, Green said the hope is to continue working with the Black Watch Memorial Library, the Town and our other community partners on additional public-art projects and opportunities throughout the town. For Green, events like Fireside Folk Fest are economic development and community development happening at the same time. "We can rehabilitate buildings, create housing, improve streetscapes and recruit businesses, and all of those things are incredibly important," she expressed. "But successful downtown revitalization also requires people. We have to create reasons for residents and visitors to use these spaces." And especially in a small rural community, Green thinks that matters tremendously. "Arts, music and community events create that sense of place," she continued. "They bring people downtown, introduce visitors to Ticonderoga, support our local businesses and give the people who live here something that belongs to their community and that they can be proud of." More than anything, Green feels Fireside is about bringing people together and giving area residents something fun that can be shared by everyone "What I really like about how it has grown is that you don't have to come because of one particular thing," she reminded. "Someone may come because they love Kevin Devine, someone else may come for the food trucks, another family may come for the kids' activities, and someone else may want to shop the vendors or see the new public art. Hopefully they end up experiencing all of it." Green said volunteers for the event are always welcome, with an enormous amount of work required behind-the-scenes to successfully pull it off. There are opportunities to assist with setup, cleanup, and everything else that has to happen throughout the day to ensure a seamless experience for attendees. "We are also always grateful for sponsors and community partners who want to support this kind of programming," Green added. "Events of this size simply don't happen because of one organization. They happen because businesses, nonprofits, artists, volunteers and community members are willing to work together."

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Fireside Folk Fest returns to Ticonderoga

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