Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival Returns with Live Music, Art, and Letter to Elise
Western New York’s beloved Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival returns Aug. 16 with live performances, local art, food vendors, family activities, and a headline set from Buffalo’s Letter to Elise.
EAST OTTO - Summer and art come alive at Griffis Sculpture Park as the park prepares to host its annual Summer Festival on Sunday, August 16, 2026, from 12:00-6:00pm. Set among the park’s towering sculptures and rolling hills, the festival promises an unforgettable day of live music, art, creativity, nature, and exploration. Since launching in 2013, the event has grown into one of Western New York’s favorite summer traditions and a major fundraiser supporting the Ashford Hollow Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the sculpture park. The festival takes place in the park’s scenic Mill Valley Road section.
Festival-goers can enjoy a full afternoon of entertainment and activities, including a vibrant vendor village, kid’s craft area, food vendors, beer and wine service, and more. Tickets are $25, and children 12 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Headlining the 2026 Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival is Letter to Elise, a rising band known for blending shimmering ‘80s-inspired alt-pop with raw modern energy. With driving guitars, soaring synths, and emotionally charged lyrics, the group delivers a sound where nostalgia meets neon. Fresh off an appearance on NBC’s The Voice, Letter to Elise brought their harmony-rich sound and unmistakable Buffalo spirit to a national audience. The band has also shared the stage with Robby Takac and earned acclaim at regional festivals including Music Is Art.
The festival lineup also features performances by La Krema (a Latin band with an English twist), Karma Queen (indie rock), Alex Glenfield & Ravi Padmanabha (throat singer and percussion), and Shaky Paw (groove heavy, electronic).
The festival stage is located atop the Mill Valley Road section of the park, offering sweeping views and a one-of-a-kind concert experience surrounded by sculpture and nature. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and coolers, and a school bus shuttle will transport attendees from the parking lot to the concert site throughout the day.
Griffis Sculpture Park is owned and operated by the Ashford Hollow Foundation, which also oversees the Essex Arts Center. The foundation’s mission is to promote the visual and performing arts while fostering meaningful connections between the arts, education, and community throughout Western New York. Learn more at griffissculpturepark.org.