Governors Island Arts Launches First-Ever House Fest for Families to Enjoy

Ready for an exciting cultural experience this summer? If so, head to Governors Island's House Fest! The three-day festival will give you a smorgasbord of free performances, entertainment and more from New York City's art, culture and science scene—all in one location!

House Fest, presented by the Trust for Governors Island, will run Friday, Aug. 5, to Sunday, Aug. 7, in the historic Nolan Park and Colonels Row areas on the island. Hold on to your hats, because there's something for everyone throughout the weekend-long creative celebration, including dance and music performances, outdoor installations, interactive workshops, open studios, panel discussions and more. 

“Through Governors Island Arts, we are thrilled to bring together a unique group of organizations that fully embodies the diverse cultural community here in New York City,” Clare Newman, president and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island, said. “The singular environment of Governors Island fosters a cultural experience like no other, and I encourage all New Yorkers to come out and celebrate with Governors Island Arts at House Fest this August.”

House fest celebrates the Organizations in Residence program, a one-stop-shop of art and culture for families to enjoy on Governors Island. 

“Each year, the Organizations in Residence activate Nolan Park and Colonels Row with evocative arts experiences, and we are so excited to celebrate this cultural community with the inaugural House Fest,” Juan Pablo Siles, associate curator and producer at the Trust for Governors Island, said. “Governors Island Arts is privileged to have such a dedicated group of organizations here on the Island collaborating to help bring transformative, accessible programming to Island visitors and all New Yorkers.”

What to Expect at House Fest on Governors Island

Here's what families can enjoy during House Fest on Governors Island:

Portal House

Presented by 4heads

On view Aug. 5-7

Colonels Row Building 408A

Celebrating 15 years on the island, 4heads presents an intensive summer-long residency, featuring eight emerging and mid-career women artists. Inspired by the historic, formerly domestic spaces on Governors Island, each artist was challenged to create immersive, site-specific environments that transform individual rooms as well as connective indoor and outdoor spaces.

The Carpet Series, Pigeonwing Dance

Friday, Aug. 5, at 5pm and Saturday, Aug. 6, at 2pm

Colonels Row, Governors Island

A pop-up performance that will take place on and around a 5x8 Persian carpet.

Emotional Baggage Cart in progress

Presented by ArtCrawl Harlem

Saturday, Aug. 6, at 11am

Colonels Row Building 406B

Spend time with Theda Sandiford’s Emotional Baggage Carts. In this installation, the carts represent vessels for unresolved emotional baggage related to racial trauma. Each recovered shopping cart is woven with fabric, paracord, yarn, tulle, ribbon, fishing nets, pom poms, pony beads, zip ties, LED lights and more.

WRITE NYC: Street Lab

Saturday, Aug. 6, at 12pm

Nolan Park, Governors Island

Street Lab’s public writing room comes to Governors Island for one day only. The porch of Nolan Park Building 6 will be stocked with supplies, typewriters, and other tools and materials for writing on the fly.

Dance Party NYC

Saturday, Aug. 6, at 3pm

Nolan Park, Governors Island

Part of The New York Public Library’s summer program, Dance Party NYC is a citywide festival that will take place at more than 80 venues across the city–including in Nolan Park on Governors Island, with performances from Brooklyn United Marching Band and Brass Queens, tunes from DJ Aguapanela Mami and DJ Yung Mayne, food trucks, and a beer garden from Threes Brewing.

Triangle Arts Open Studios

Saturday, Aug. 6, at 5pm