NOTE: Rain plans are up to each organization. Check the hosting organization’s website in the event of cancellation or a location change for outdoor programs. 

BY SCOTT STIFFLER | What do you do for Year #2, when your demand during your debut handily exceeded expectations? If you’re the West Side Fest, the first thing you do is expand—as in, increase your duration from two days to three.

Set to take place July 12 through14 at some of Chelsea’s most iconic and dynamic museums, parks, performance venues, and cultural institutions, the (Second Annual?) West Side Fest boasts a rich roster of free, family-friendly activities and performances taking place both indoors and outdoors—all meant, according to presenting entity the West Side Cultural Network—to “celebrate the vibrant, cultural village along the waterfront of Manhattan’s west side!”

As for your destinations: Stalwart usual suspects such as Hudson Guild, The Kitchen, and The Joyce Theater are joined by more recent arrivals such as Poster House, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and Chelsea Green Park. For details on what’s to be found at these venues and more, visit westsidefest.nyc. Meantime, here’s a small sample of what’s up for grabs:

FRIDAY, JULY 12:

—From 1-6pm, the Whitney’s annual staff art show, STAFF ONLY, will be on view at Westbeth Gallery. The Whitney also offers free admission, artmaking activities, and more during Free Friday Nights (5-10pm).

—From 10am-6pm, Hudson Guild’s Triennial Children’s Art Show features work created by those in the Guild’s after-school artmaking program.

—From 5-8pm in Hudson Yards, The Shed hosts Summer Sway in its outdoor, public plaza, featuring “a summer celebration with the community, joy, and liberation through music and dance.”

SATURDAY, JULY 13:

—From 10am-12pm, the High Line partners with the Andrew Heiskill Braille and Talking Book Library to host Family Art Moment: Dream Wilder with Us. Artmaking, reading, and learning activities for all ages “celebrate the creativity and ingenuity of the High Line.” The event includes books with braille and text, tactile materials, and skilled facilitators to welcome visitors with disabilities. A Celebration of Wellness also takes place on the High Line from 11:30am–1pm, offering Zumba, Senior Stretch, and Tai Chi.

—From 10 am–5pm, Dia Chelsea allows you to explore its exhibitions as well as a suite of programs throughout the day. Thid includes, at 12:30 pm, a tour of the Delcy Morelos exhibition; at 1:30 pm, Play Sets with a focus on Morelos’s work invites participants “”to see, think, and imagine in new ways.” At 2:30pm, a free concert by Koyoltzintli features instruments the artist creates with dirt, to replicate bird songs.

—From 10am-6pm, celebrate Poster House’s fifth anniversary. A Block Party features performances, games, prizes, and artmaking activities (Block Party begins at 12pm).

SUNDAY, JULY 14:

—From 11am-1pm, a Community Celebration at Hudson River Park’s Pier 63 features dance by Ajna Dance Company, henna, community groups, and more.

—From 1pm-3pm, the Rubin Museum of Art’s Family Sunday includes artmaking workshops as part of this afternoon of creativity and self-exploration that both kids and grown-ups can enjoy.

—From 1-10pm, Chelsea Factory hosts Ladies of Hip-Hop’s daylong dance battle, Ladies Battle! See “some of the world’s best female dancers compete in one-on-one waacking, popping, hip-hop, and house dance-offs. Dance along as an all-female DJ lineup spins the classics!”

—From 8am-8pm at The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, explore the exhibitions on view. And all weekend long, 7 am–11pm daily, the nearby New York City AIDS Memorial “welcomes visitors to remember and reflect. The Memorial aims to inspire and empower current and future activists, health professionals, and people living with HIV.”

“West Side Fest celebrates the vibrancy of the dynamic cultural neighborhood that our organizations call home,” says Jane Carey, Director of Government and Community Affairs at the Whitney Museum of American Art. “At last year’s inaugural event, we welcomed over 50,000 visitors to the West Side, affirming that arts and culture matter to New Yorkers and travelers alike… At the Whitney, we are proud to be part of this growing community with a rich history of arts and culture. West Side Fest offers a moment to gather together and enjoy the free programs, performances, and more, solidifying New York City as a global arts destination.”

For more information about West Side Fest—including a complete listing of events and programs, visit westsidefest.nyc.

The West Side Cultural Network includes the Center for Art, Research and Alliances; Chelsea Factory; Dia Chelsea; Hill Art Foundation; the High Line; Hudson Guild; Hudson River Park; The Joyce Theater; The Kitchen; The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center; Little Island; NYC AIDS Memorial; Poster House; Print Center New York; Rubin Museum of Art; The Shed; Westbeth; West Village Rehearsal Co-Op; White Columns; Whitney Museum of American Art. West Side Fest is made possible through the generous support of Presenting Sponsors Bloomberg Connects and Mercado Little Spain, as well as Supporting Sponsors Amazon, Chelsea Market, Pier 57, and Wix Playground, and Sponsor, the Meatpacking District Business Improvement District.

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