“We’re off to see the wizard, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!” at the annual Oz Land Festival that will take place on the 900 block of South Street in downtown Peekskill, on Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 1:00-7:00 P.M. Antonia Arts, a local arts organization, has held the festival annually since 2021.
At the OzLand Festival you are guaranteed to see the Wizard, the Tin Man, Dorothy and Toto, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. There may even be surprise appearances by Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, Glinda – the Good Witch of the North, Munchkins, Flying Monkeys or even Esmeralda – the Wicked Witch of the West. And, attendees are encouraged to dress up in the theme and enter the costume contest for a cash prize.
Antonia Arts has lined up an entire day’s worth of entertainment and local talent, with over forty artisan, retail, and food vendors, including local favorites such as Homestyle Bakery, Bawse Burger, and Taco District. DJ Esco will spin tunes all day, and storyteller Jonathan Kruk will entertain with gems about the Emerald City. The festival will also feature local singers and dancers, including acts from local dance schools, “Just the Place,” and “The Dance Conservatory.” There will be 50/50 raffles, the first annual OzLand art show, and Zumba and line dancing in the street. And, Scarlett Antonia’s 2015 production of “The Wizard of Oz” will be played inside Antonia Arts.
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Look out for the afternoon’s events:
- 2 P.M. appearance by the “Wiz Kidz,” (Antonia Arts’ youth performance troupe).
- 4 P.M. winners of the costume contest will be announced, for cash prizes.
- 5:15 P.M. attendees can view the festival’s first art show featuring pieces based on themes and images from “The Wizard of Oz” at “The Artist Spot”, and the “Best of Festival” winner will be announced.
- 6 P.M. 50/50 raffle contest winner will be announced.
The idea for the festival came to Scarlett Antonia, founder of Antonia Arts, when she was trying to launch a production of “The Wizard of Oz” at the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater. In her research, Antonia discovered that L. Frank Baum, the author of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, went to the Peekskill Military Academy, where Peekskill High School now stands. As Baum and the story of Oz are so strongly connected to Peekskill, Antonia felt that “The Wizard of Oz” needed to be celebrated beyond putting shows on at The Paramount, and thus the Oz Land Festival was born. For more information, visit Antoniaarts.org, call 914-393-2382 or email [email protected].
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