College to host first Fall Arts Festival

By Madeline Marriott ’24

From Sept. 28 to Oct. 5, Lafayette’s Fall Arts Festival will feature over a dozen events, including performances, exhibitions, and workshops led by Lafayette and local artists, as well as world-renowned musicians. The festival will highlight events happening on campus, along with community-organized events in which Lafayette will participate.

“We felt that the festival would be a good way to bring not just the student body, but the Easton community to campus to experience what the arts here has to offer,” says Marta Kepka, director of arts marketing. “This festival isn’t just celebrating the arts on campus, it’s also about embracing our role in contributing to the creative landscape of our community in Easton.”

Lakecia Benjamin will perform Oct. 4 at Williams Center for the Arts. PHOTO CREDIT | Elizabeth Leitzell

The festival coincides with Easton classics like Porchfest, held Sept. 29 throughout College Hill. Performance Series at Williams Center for the Arts will create its own porch venue and has programmed its slots with artists such as members of the Lafayette Interdisciplinary Music Society (LIMS) and jazz musicians like Conrad Tilroe ’25, who will perform original compositions.

Faculty members will take center stage throughout the festival, including an exhibition and discussion by Sun You, assistant professor of art; readings from several members of the English Department;, and performances by Holly Roadfeldt, visiting music instructor, and Kirk O’Riordan, associate professor of music. Additionally, Ana Ramirez Luhrs, co-director of Special Collections and College Archives, will host a discussion on A Return to “The Land of Genuine Freedom,” an exhibition currently on display featuring materials from the Marquis de Lafayette’s farewell tour in America. 

The arts community will also welcome distinguished guests to campus, such as three-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin. 

Experiences will range from exhibits and arts performances, as well as a reading from Susan Choi, Lafayette’s Closs Writer-in-Residence and the 2019 winner of the National Book Award for her novel Trust Exercise. 

Kepka is especially looking forward to the workshops offered throughout the week, including a virtual reality session hosted by Eric Hupe, assistant professor of art, and Sarah Beck, digitization and experimental technologies manager. A dance workshop led by Nandini Sikand, chair of film and media studies, and Sahana Hassan Balasubramanya, assistant professor of mathematics, will demonstrate two styles of Indian dance. 

“These are opportunities for students to really engage with, and be able to partake in, what we have to offer, and for community members to come in and participate as well,” Kepka says. 

According to Kepka, this first iteration is only the beginning of what is possible for the future of the festival. 

“In years to come, we’d love for there to be more artists from the Lehigh Valley involved and more active engagement from campus—not just coming to experience it, but being part of the festival itself.” 

Several performances require tickets to attend. View the full schedule and purchase your tickets in advance.