Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival Returns August 17 with Music, Art, and Nature
Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival Returns August 17 with Music, Art, and Nature
A full day of music, art, food, and scenic beauty awaits at the 2025 Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival, the park’s largest annual fundraiser.
Griffis Sculpture Park will host their annual Summer Festival this Sunday, August 17th from 12:00-6:00pm. The festival is a memorable day filled with music, creativity, nature, exploration and much more. Since 2013, the festival has become one of Western New York’s most beloved summer events and a major fundraiser for the Ashford Hollow Foundation, which owns and operates the sculpture park. The festival will be held at the Mill Valley Road section of the park.
Headlining Act: Smilo & the Ghost
Headlining the 2025 edition of the Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival is Smilo & the Ghost, a rockin’ folk-bluegrass band from Erie, PA. They are rising regional stars that are getting attention in other parts of the county, sharing the stage with Dan + Shay, Railroad Earth, 10,000 Maniacs and more. Smilo and the Ghost combine songs meant for singing and dancing with charismatic, high-energy performing on stage.
Additional Performers
Also performing at the festival are the reggae sounds of Olmsted Dub System. The Japanese taiko drum group JGB Shibuki will be making a return appearance at the festival. Buffalo rock band Tsavo Highway will bring their jam/indie rock tunes to the stage. Starting the day off at 1:00pm will be Buffalo singer-songwriter Benjamin Perello. Singer Patricia Griffis will perform a song right before headliner Smilo & the Ghost take the stage.
Get Cozy
A unique aspect of the festival is that attendees are allowed to bring a lawn chair and small cooler. Attendees are also shuttled in a school bus from the parking lot up to the concert site. The concert takes places in a six-acre field, where there is plenty of space to view the performances. The park loves dogs, but suggests that guests leave their pooches at home.
Art Vendors
The festival features ten local artists who will sell their creations in the GSP Summer Festival Vendor Village. Browse hand sculpted jewelry, crystals, art pottery, hand poured soaps and wood wick candles, beach glass art, ornaments, delicious baked goods, small batch artisan apothecary and ancestral skin cream, handmade wood/resin pens, pipes, crochet hooks, seam rippers, essential oil necklaces, laser cut earrings, books, silversmith and creative lighting. The sculpture park will also be selling their own t-shirts, mini-sculptures, hoodies and more.
The Park’s Biggest Fundraiser!
Griffis Sculpture Park has been a non-profit arts organization (Ashford Hollow Foundation) since 1968. Funds raised at the annual Summer Festival help the foundation operate and maintain the sculpture park. Tickets for adults and teens are $25 each. Kids 12 and under are free! Tickets can be purchased in advance at Eventbrite.com or at the front gate on the day of the event.
Food and Beverage
A Western New York favorite, Loyds Taco Truck will be onsite selling their delicious Mexican food (vegetarian options too). Mmm…Mazing LLC will be making their delicious funnel cakes. Perrello Bakery will be returning and selling their baked goods. Beer, wine, water, and some snacks will be sold at the merchandise pavilion. Cash and card are accepted.
Explore Art
The concert is held at the Mill Valley Road section of the park, which features over 100 sculptures. Before the music starts - or in between performers - festival attendees are encouraged to walk around and explore the park. Climb on the castle, get lost in the maze, visit the sculptures tucked away in the forest and fields of the park. Some of the sculptures have resided in the park for over 50 years! The scenery at the park is one of the stars of the show.
Griffis Sculpture Park is located at 6902 Mill Valley Road, East Otto, NY, just 8 miles from downtown Ellicottville. Learn more about the park and this week’s Summer Festival at griffissculpturepark.org.