You might not expect the sounds of a beautiful summer’s day in central Pennsylvania to include Colombian Cumbia bands, avant-garde jazz explorations, retro synthesizers or other boundary-stretching music.

But that’s just what visitors will encounter during the third annual Rhoneymeade Fest June 2–4 in and near State College, PA. More than 45 national and local musical artists from a wide range of experimental and multicultural genres and styles are scheduled to perform. Guests can expect to hear sounds that expose them to new styles of music, and engage in conversations with nationally acclaimed artists across genre. Advance day and weekend passes for the event are available now at an early bird rate.

Centered at Rhoneymeade Arboretum and Sculpture Garden, a 150-acre conservancy located between Boalsburg and Centre Hall, the festival highlights the area’s natural beauty. The weekend will also feature visual artists, local food and drink, and family-friendly activities that enrich community connection. In addition to the all-day music performances, attendees can enjoy yoga, guided hikes and meditation, and contribute to the Rhoneymeade Fest Community Poem presented by Ridgelines Language Arts. Visitors will enjoy an immersive art exhibit at Rhoneymeade throughout the weekend presented by a collective of local artists and the opening of Laurencio Ruis’ theLASTree at 3 Dots in downtown State College during Friday evening programming.

“Rhoneymeade Fest has proven to be a sustainable, creative, and inclusive experience for artists, attendees, and volunteers”, says Corey Elbin, Director of Gorinto Productions and the festival’s lead organizer.

“It’s going to be a fantastic weekend,” Elbin says. “The talent at Rhoneymeade rivals that of any festival in the country. The performances will include electronic, traditional, interactive, electro-acoustic, improvisational, experimental, and many other diverse types of music, and everyone involved is united by a dedication to pure creative spirit.”

This year’s event expands on the success and popularity of the first two festivals, with performers from across the nation representing a range of music including Cumbia, Gamelan, Detroit House and Afrobeat. Featured performances have been made possible with support from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Folk and Traditional Arts Partnership, The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, and 3 Dots Downtown, an organization making central Pennsylvania a cultural destination energized by local artists and innovative changemakers.

A featured musical act includes the Afrobeat ensemble Armo, based out of Brooklyn, NY. Collectively the members of Armo have performed thousands of concerts around the world and have worked with such luminaries as David Byrne, Angelique Kidjo, Public Enemy, TV on The Radio, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, and Ornette Coleman. Founded by longtime Antibalas vocalist/keyboardist Amayo, Armo features the works of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, The Daktaris, Ebo Taylor, The Art Ensemble of Chicago, and original rhythm based music.

Other show stopping performances include Puyaloahí, a musical collective dedicated to the sounds and rhythms of Colombia’s traditional Afro-Indigenous music of the Atlantic coast such as cumbia, porro, merengue and puya. The collective was formed in 2022 by members of the Colombian diaspora to study, commemorate and celebrate the legacy of the pioneers of the indigenous chuana flute and the African drums. Far from their ancestral lands, Puyaloahí aims to build community through music by and for the people.

Rhoneymeade Fest is thrilled to host additional performances at numerous downtown State College locations throughout the three day weekend. Festival events on Friday, June 2, are free and open to the public with performances from noon-5:00 pm at Sidney Friedman Parklet and 5:00-10:00 pm at 3 Dots Downtown. Events on Saturday and Sunday June 3–4, will be held at Rhoneymeade Arboretum and require tickets, available now at the early-bird rate of $50 for a weekend pass. Late night DJs will be hosted by Zeno’s in Downtown State College starting at 10:00 PM both Friday and Saturday nights.

For more information, including ticketing and a full schedule of performances, visit https://gorintoproductions.com/rhoneymeade-fest