Where to Hear Live Music at ArtsFest

ArtsFest 2026 kicks off Thursday, October 15 and runs through Sunday, October 18 with more than 40 venues highlighting the work of hundreds of visual and performing artists. And live music is an integral part of the weekend! For the complete ArtsFest calendar go to www.newrochellearts.org.

For starters, keep an eye out for the “Songcatchers Community Music Pop-Up” throughout New Rochelle! Songcatchers -- the nonprofit organization that provides affordable access to high quality music education for children and families -- will have musicians of various levels playing at outdoor locations.

Discover Downtown New Rochelle one café at a time! The New Rochelle BID has created Downtown Coffee Crawl: ArtsFest Edition: Stop by participating cafés for a coffee or treat, and enjoy special ArtsFest pop-ups featuring art, performances and creative activities at select locations. Explore the map for participating cafés, event details and times, and plan your own route. Find the map at newrochelledowntown.com .

THURSDAY, October 15th

On Thursday night ArtsFest kicks off at 7 pm with a concert by FROG, New Rochelle’s own indie rock band (Ossie Davis Theater, 1 Library Plaza, NR,914-632-7878, www.nrpl.org ) Currently in the midst of their Frog For Sale Tour, with shows across the United States and the UK, FROG is excited to bring their distinctive sound back to their hometown and celebrate ArtsFest with the New Rochelle community.

Two other music events are scheduled at 7 pm as well: Enjoy a fun-filled evening of MINGO (Musical Bingo) hosted by DJ Geri Ann with great music, prizes, raffle baskets, a 50/50 raffle, a cash bar, and complimentary light refreshments. Best of all, 100% of the proceeds will support student performers from our community. Doors open at 6 pm; games begin promptly at 7 pm. Tickets cost $47.84, Raffle tickets $21.81 from https://my.cheddarup.com/c/lets-mingo-for-a-cause-52841/items

Finish off your Thursday night with An Evening of Singer Songwriters from 8 pm to 1pm at 18th Ward Brewing Tap Room ( 40 Division St. NR) Take a journey with artists who will talk about how they wrote their songs and then perform them. Hosted by NRCA’s Andrea Alexander and featuring Anita Rein, John Michael Hersey and Ellie Gilwit.

FRIDAY, October 16th

On Friday night celebrate 100 years of Miles Davis with acclaimed trumpeter Wayne Tucker (7 to 9 pm at the Ossie Davis Theater, 1 Library Plaza, NR; 914-632-7878, www.nrpl.org ) Experience the evolution of one of jazz’s most influential artists through the sounds and styles he helped shape—from the cool sophistication of Bebop to the electrifying grooves of Funk. (Note: This is an after-hours event at the NRPL: Enter/exit via the entrance on Memorial Highway.)

Then head over to the NRCA office (New Rochelle Train Station, 2^nd floor) from 9 pm to 11 pm, where NRCA Board member Dave Fabris is turning the office space into a “Faboratory” experimenting with spoken word and live music in a late night jam session. Featuring spoken word artist Christian Morant, who will perform an engaging and self-affirming set of his original pieces, followed by the debut performance of the SCF Trio (featuring Blue Man Group bassist Tom Shad, percussionist Navy Band Veteran Raymond Carega and NewRo guitarist Dave Knife Fabris) . After performing their own set of engaging instrumental music, the trio will accompany Mr. Morant with an improvised collaboration as their encore!

SATURDAY, October 17th

On Saturday, October 18th the live music lineup starts early as the Tall Ship Lynx welcomes visitors for public tours from 10 am to 4 pm at the New Rochelle Municipal Marina (1 Hudson Park Road; free parking available). Free timed-entry tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the New Rochelle 250 table near the dock/Hudson Park. A Living History Festival will feature historical reenactors—including "Drama from Past" portraying Colonel John Glover and British General William Howe—along with colonial games hosted by Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, live music and food trucks.

Downtown The Art of Games pop up experience starts at 11 am at 55 Clinton Place ( www.clintonpark.com) Among other offerings, MahJong Parlor203 will be leading Open Play Mahjong, complete with all the equipment, and providing instruction and tips on how to improve your play. There will also be an assortment of other games including cornhole. Giant Chess and giant Jenga.And throughout the day enjoy live music from Donnie Bosco’s Common Circles: An Artist & Community Story featuring Ayanna Williams backed by Syncro, bringing a warm blend of soul, R&B, jazz, and familiar music through vocals, keys, guitar, and horn. “The The idea is simple: the artist begins the story, the community adds its voice, and everyone brings it home together,” says Donnie. “I think it will feel intimate, musical, and very much in the spirit of ArtsFest.”

At the Huguenot Children’s Library (794 North Avenue at Eastchester Road; 914-632-8954; www.nrpl.org ) performer Armelle Gloaguen will perform a festive autumn-themed concert from 11 am to 11:45 am. She’ll be joined by musician and rhythm master Matthew Bauer. Kids are welcome to come in creative costumes, and after the concert they can browse the HCL’s seasonal books and pick up a Grab & Go “Make a Monster” bag to take home, while supplies last.

From 12 noon to 2 pm don’t miss the Bear Mountain Brass Band performing at the Classic Car Show (Hamilton Avenue Parking Lot, North Ave. at Hamilton, adjacent to City Hall ). This free annual show runs from 10 am to 5 pm and focuses on the art of automobile design with an eye-catching bevy of classic auto beauties, all on exhibit by invitation only. This year they’ll be joined by WAYMO, the driverless “car of the future” : Riders enjoy the safe, consistent, and delightful experience of these fully autonomous vehicles, which anyone can access through the Waymo app to instantly hail a ride in their service territory. After taking in all the wheels cross the street for lunch or a snack at car show sponsor AJ’s Burgers. (Rain Date: Sunday, October 19th.)

Also playing from 12 noon to 2 pm is Mudsole who will be performing their spirited style of Dixieland jazz outside at the annual Artsfest Makers Market (Thomas Paine Cottage, 20 Sicard Avenue, NR). Mudsole’s sound is vibrant, upbeat and irresistible! The Makers Market takes place on the grounds of the historic Thomas Paine Cottage (across from the NRHS tennis courts) and features dozens of makers selling their creations, plus food trucks and craft activities for children. (Rain Date: Sunday, October 18th.)

There is more family-friendly music on the schedule at the adjacent ArtsFest Youth Makers Market : At 12:30 pm Songcatchers youth musicians will bring their youthful energy and a powerful sense of togetherness. Then at 2 pm youngsters can sing (and dance) along with Shake, Rattle & Roll: Babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers will delight in this interactive musical journey around the world!

From 1 pm to 2 pm enjoy a Venti on the Veranda downtown at Cafetero (11 Centre. St., NR). This pop-up performance features students from New Rochelle High School’s TheatreWorks presenting a lively collection of songs, scenes, and monologues, including special sneak peeks from the upcoming 2026 school play, Puffs. Free event but donations are welcome to support student performers and future productions.

At 3 pm classical music takes the stage at the Ossie Davis Theater (1 Library Plaza, NR,914-632-7878, www.nrpl.org ). Celebrate Italian Heritage Month with accomplished pianist Brenda Quattrini in a journey through Italian music, from Scarlatti and beloved opera composers Verdi and Puccini to Italian cinema and contemporary music. The program concludes with her original composition, New York... Oh, New York, a tribute to the city that inspires her.

For one night, 18th Ward Brewing Taproom (40 Division Street, NR;315-291-5276; 18thwardbrewing.com) becomes a lively colonial tavern! From 4:30 to 8 pm enjoy live music with the Tutti Bravi Singers, join the sing-along, and play tavern games. Designed primarily for adults (21+); minors are welcome when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Presented by the New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) in association with New Rochelle (America) 250 and the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum (Huguenot & New Rochelle Historical Association).

NRCA’s “Arts at the Station” series +continues with a special evening featuring Andrea “Alex Diamond” Alexander, a multidisciplinary artist, author, activist and community organizer whose work explores identity, race, history, power, community, unity and the complicated experience of being Black in America. America, you in danger Gurl (7:30 pm at the NRCA office, New Rochelle Train Station) is designed to be a collaborative experience connecting artists through music, art and conversation.

SUNDAY, October 18th

The sun will set at approximately6:13 pm on Sunday, and there should be stunning sunset views from Echo Bay Yacht Club ( 22 Pelham Road, NR; www.echobayyachtclub.com) which faces New Rochelle’s marina and the tall ship Lynx, which will be moored there during ArtsFest as part of the Revolutionary Westchester 250 events taking place all weekend. From 1 pm to 7 pm visitors to EBYC can enjoy an art exhibit, refreshments for sale and live music by the cello and guitar duo Evermuze. Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia the duo has a unique program that blends classical music with elements of jazz. A lecture on the history of New Rochelle’s shoreline by City Historian Barbara Davis will follow at 3 pm.

Back on the mainland the New Rochelle Public Library will host a concert featuring works for Piano and Cello with Young Musicians of Westchester at 2 pm (Ossie Davis Theater, 1 Library Plaza, NR,914-632-7878, www.nrpl.org ). Experience an afternoon of exceptional classical music as three accomplished young musicians—pianists Brielle Perez and Adam Jackson and cellist Ruth Stokes—take the stage to perform works by Bach, Brahms, Ravel and Chopin.

And then as ArtsFest winds down stop in at Affogato House (48 LeCount Place; @affogatohouse.cafe) from 7 pm to 9:30 pm for an evening of live performance, curated by Alex Diamond. Settle in with coffee, gelato, and small bites from the House.

Now in its 18th year, ArtsFest is organized by the non-profit New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA) to spotlight the diversity of arts and artists in our community, with more than 40 venues representing the work of some 250 visual and performing artists. For the complete ArtsFest calendar go to www.newrochellearts.org

Sponsors for this year’s ArtsFest include an Anonymous Donor, ArtsWestchester, Cappelli Organization, RXR Clinton Park, Waymo, The Gwendolyn Appleyard Trust Fund for New Rochelle Charities, M & T Bank,Town House Kitchen + Drinks, Alvin & Friends Restaurant plus in-kind donors AJ’s Burgers, the New Rochelle Public Library, Hotel NoMa and the New Rochelle Downtown BID.

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts is proud to be a grantee of ArtsWestchester with funding made possible by Westchester County government with the support of County Executive Ken Jenkins.