Join Philipsburg Manor for a day filled with art, poetry, live music, dance, and storytelling that celebrates and commemorates the region’s African American history and culture.

Pinkster (the Dutch word for Pentecost) is the oldest African American holiday. It began as the only time when enslaved Africans in New Netherlands were given an opportunity to rest from their forced labor and reunite with loved ones. Over the centuries, Pinkster grew into a multifaceted celebration of African culture, featuring music, dance, drumming, storytelling and foodways that enabled enslaved and free Black Americans to reclaim their heritage and served as a form of joyful resistance against oppression.

Philipsburg Manor began celebrating Pinkster in 1977, making this event the longest-running recreation of Pinkster in North America. The Pinkster Festival is curated by Malik Work and presented by Historic Hudson Valley.