Holmdel's Bayonet Farm Arts and Music Festival

Holmdel’s Bayonet Farm Arts and Music Festival set for Sunday, September 23rd

Bringing a refreshing burst of culture to Holmdel, the 9th Annual Bayonet Farm Arts and Music Festival will be held on Sunday, September 23rd, from 12 Noon until 5 PM, rain or shine.

Red Barn: 

ART GALLERY – En Plein Air ARTISTS – POTTERY

A juried Art Show of over 50 works comprising original oils, watercolors, photography and sculpture – many available for purchase – will be held in the stately Red Barn.  A Festival tradition, en plein air (outdoor) artists will cover the serene property, capturing the pastoral ambiance and lovely structures of the setting.  Prizes will be awarded to the best of the Gallery Show, and, separately, to the en plein air paintings.  Esteemed judges will be Steven Doherty, Editor-in-Chief of the national publication, Plein Air magazine, and four-time Festival judge, James Yarosh of Holmdel’s James Yarosh Fine Arts Gallery, well known for its collection of contemporary Russian realism.  In addition, professional potters will display creations and demonstrate the skills of hand-building, hand-throwing, and, using a pottery wheel.  An Artist’s Reception, provided through the perennial generosity of Dearborn Markets, will follow.

Exciting features are being introduced in the en plein air category: artists are being recruited from across the nation to compete; the First Place winner will receive a coveted quarter-page advertisement in Plein Air (a value of $1100!); and, the Red Barn Gallery will be enhanced with a new Spotlight exhibit.  This first Spotlight will showcase the marvelous En Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast.

Grey Star Barn:  LIVE MUSIC and DANCE

Do not miss the satiny vocals and superb horn section of the Colts Neck Swing Band, beginning at noon!  They will lead off a wide-ranging array of talent, from the sultry, spicy Latino stylings of Los Mas Valientes to the toe-tapping, hoe-down rhythms of the Swamp Grass Mud Band!  Noted Holmdel rockers, Our Fellow Savages – fresh from recent gigs at Asbury Park’s famous Stone Pony – always bring down the house!  Rounding out this very varied line-up will be the costumed dancers of the Celadon Youth Group, accompanied by authentic Asian instrumentation.

The Tent:  MAGIC, DRAWING, ACTING, and, ACOUSTIC!

A delight for the entire family, Shizam the Magician will start off the performances beneath the shelter of The Tent.  The fun will continue with Doodle Dude’s rousing, interactive, cartoon-drawing experience geared to kids! 

Next up will be two first-time Festival participants: Holmdel Theatre Group will present a dramatic scene from their upcoming production, and popular area coffee-house singer and stellar acoustic guitarist, Frank Patrouch, will elicit laughter and tears with his original compositions. 

Harding House: GUIDED TOURS 

Bayonet Farm – still farmed – is, in itself, an intact, historic treasure!  Not long after purchasing this homestead in the late 1930’s, Miss Laura Harding, an heiress and former stage actress, had two great barns built to indulge her love of horses and agriculture; be sure to note the Red and Grey Star Barn’s classic Pennsylvania Dutch architecture while enjoying the art exhibits and stage shows.

The late Miss Harding also had grand rooms added to the once-humble farmhouse to host movie stars of the day.  Guided tours of the Harding House offer a glimpse into the easy elegance and attention to detail of a bygone era.

JUST FOR KIDS!

Little hands will have a chance to experience myriad artful endeavors including drawing, creating pottery, painting a community mural, and even making their own “musical instruments!”

Red Barn Café:  REFRESHMENTS

To complete your visit, plan on meeting friends for a delicious lunch and goodies at the Red Barn Café!  This year, Holmdel’s newest eatery, The Cracked Olive, will be offering a selection of fresh food and beverages.  Also on hand will be Holmdel Fire Company # 1 selling hotdogs, Kimissis Tis Theorokou Church offering wonderful home-baked Greek desserts, and Ralph’s Italian Ices.

Come and enjoy Bayonet Farm, Holmdel Township’s most magnificent passive recreation park, located at

41 Middletown Road (between Crawfords Corner / Everett Road and Route 520), Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733. 

Festival admission is $5 per adult and FREE for children 12 and under.  All Shows, the Harding House Tour, and Parking are included!  For further information, please go to BayonetFarmArts.org or call 732-671-9196. 

This program is made possible in part by the Monmouth County Arts Council through funding from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the County Historical Commission, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts / Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.  It is held under the auspices of the Holmdel Department of Parks and Recreation and the Bayonet Farm Arts and Music Festival Committee.  Event Sponsor is the Law Office of Lawrence Luttrell, and Event Patron is The Killian Firm, PC, Attorney at Law.