Lower East Side of the Arts Marks 30 Years of Creativity and Civic Commitment
Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend at NYC’s vibrant 30th Annual Lower East Side Festival three days of free art, activism, performances, film, music, and community spirit.
| 20 May 2025 | 01:54
This Memorial Day Weekend, the Theater for the New City (TNC) will once again transform its historic space at 155 First Avenue into a hub of artistic expression, social commentary, and community spirit. The 30th Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts will take place from May 23 to 25, showcasing the creative output of one of New York City’s most culturally rich and politically active neighborhoods.
More than 200 performers and arts organizations including poets, playwrights, dancers, musicians, visual artists, puppeteers, and filmmakers will participate in this year’s festival. A popular free event that draws over 4,000 attendees each year, the festival aims to highlight the essential role of the arts in public life while providing a platform for local voices.
The 2025 edition carries a powerful and timely theme: “We will not be silenced, speak up for democracy.” This message will be echoed across multiple performances, installations, and discussions through the weekend.
Everybody will be able to enjoy a great moment thanks to the different activities that the festival offers such as indoor performances will run nightly from 6:00 PM to midnight, featuring a diverse mix of theater, dance, music, and multimedia work in two of TNC’s four theaters.
On Saturday, May 24, East 10th Street between First and Second Avenues will be closed to traffic for a festive outdoor street fair, with food vendors and artisan booths from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. That same afternoon, family-friendly performances will take place in the Johnson Theater, curated by T. Scott Lilly, Danielle Hauser, and Miguel Loyola, and emceed by John Grimaldi. Meanwhile, an indoor film series featuring over 25 independent shorts and documentaries curated by Burak Tatar will be screened from noon to 10:00 p.m. in the Cabaret Theater, with filmmaker Q&As throughout the day.
From 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., an Outdoor Stage adjacent to the theater will host live music and interdisciplinary performances curated by Richard West and Didi Champagne. Inside the building, a visual arts exhibit curated by Carolyn Ratcliffe will be on display in the theater’s lobby gallery throughout the weekend. On Sunday, May 25, the festival will close with a “Poetry Jam with Prose on the Side” from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., again hosted by West and Champagne in the Community Theater.
In keeping with the festival’s democratic theme, City Council Members Carlina Rivera (District 2) and Gale Brewer (District 6) will speak on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Rivera, a longtime advocate for affordable art spaces and arts education in New York, is expected to highlight the role of the arts in civic life and the importance of protecting creative voices in a time of political uncertainty. The festival also hosts appearances by legendary performers such as David Amram, Austin Pendleton, and Penny Arcade, underscoring the enduring relevance and reach of the event.
Admission is free and open to the public, though donations are welcome. For the full lineup and schedule, visit: https://theaterforthenewcity.net/shows/lower-east-side-festival-of-the-arts-2025.