North Country Arts Festival

The North Country Arts Festival brings the North Country community together to celebrate the arts. This county-wide festival encourages tourism and economic activity throughout St. Lawrence County by showcasing our arts industry, a critical component of our regional identity. To best serve the entire North Country community, we look forward to growing and improving the festival for 2025 through decentralization, new program development, the inclusion of a fundraising event, and an expansion on children’s programming.

The festival will continue to feature historically significant programs, such as Porchfest and the Ives Park Concert Series, while integrating new or expanding on old programs, including the Community Mural Fundraiser, Movie Night, NoCo Glow & Luminary Walk, Art Market, Arts Wellness Day, and Poetry SLAM.

NoCoAF Shirt 2024
NoCoAF 2024

Call for Performers: NoCo & Glow and Luminary Walk in Garner Park

SLC Arts is putting out a call for performers for a community performing arts day on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025. Actors will perform in businesses across Potsdam throughout the day culminating in a luminary walk and performance in Garner Park. 

Performances must be family friendly. 

Samples are due July 1st, 2025. 

Call for Poets: NOCOAF Poetry Slam

 Join SLC Arts for a poetry slam as part of our NOCO Arts Festival. The poetry slam will take place on Friday, August 29th.

Poetry SLAM
Porch Fest
PorchFest

Call for Musicians and Porches!

Calling all local musicians! Register to perform at Potsdam’s Annual PorchFest on Saturday, August 30th!

Whether you’re a solo act, a band, or a duo, we want to hear from you!

About Potsdam PorchFest:

PorchFest originated in Ithaca, New York, in 2007 and has since spread to various cities and towns across the world. This community-based music festival is held in residential neighborhoods where local musicians volunteer to perform on porches, driveways, or front yards of homes. 

Potsdam PorchFest is free and open to the public. Performances will take place from 12 to 5:30pm on various porches across the Potsdam Residential Neighborhood, concentrated near the intersection between Lawrence Ave and Clinton Street. 

If you are interested in performing OR “donating” your porch for this event, please fill out the following form:

Ives Park Art Market Vendor Registration

SLC Arts is hosting an Art Market in Potsdam’s Ives Park on Sunday, August 24, 2025 from 9am to 4pm as a part of the 5th annual North Country Arts Festival!

Booth space & show info: 

The Art Market is open from 9am-4pm, and set-up begins at 7:30am. 

Booths are 10x10ft. There are 10 booths available under the Farmer’s Market pavilion and 15 open-air booths. If you are unable to select a type of booth at check out, that means we have sold out of registrations. 

Booth Fee

$50 Creative Partners $55 Non-Creative Partners

There are only 30 Artist Booths available. Please register by Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Wellness Day
Ives Park Concert Series
Ives Park Concert Series

Ives Park Concert Series Artist Vendors

SLC Arts is hosting our annual Ives Park Concert Series this August and this year we are introducing the option for artists to vend during the shows! 

There are only 3 Artist Booths available/concert.

Booth space & show info: 

The shows are Saturday, August 9th, Saturday, August 16th, and Saturday, August 30th 6pm-8pm and Saturday, August 23rd 4pm-6pm.. 

Booths are 10x10ft. 

Booth Fee

$50 Creative Partners $55 Non-Creative Partners

Please note: We will be validating Creative Partnership status as we receive registrations. If you have questions regarding Creative Partnership, please email arts@slcartscouncil.org.

In June, don’t miss your chance to sponsor or paint your own brick during our mural painting fundraiser, supporting local art in a lasting way.

Interested in becoming a Festival Sponsor? Email events@slcartscouncil.org

Friends of the Festival:

Lisa Dashaw

In memory of Kendra McHenry

Dakota Wielgasz

Ralph Donatelli

Sonja Jensen

WythDryden/Jonathan Wendt

The Gatti Family

Angelo & Julie Costantini

Virginia Burnett

The Cantwell Family

Jennifer Blewett

David and Kathy Crowell

Wymberley Pfalmer

Theresa

Liliana Trevizan Sarmiento

Become a Friend of the Festival!

Support the arts in your community by becoming a Friend of the Festival!

Your donation helps ensure the success of the annual North Country Arts Festival, helping us bring unique programs, talented artists, and incredible performances to St. Lawrence County.

Become a Friend of the Festival for just $5! Donations of $50 or more will get your name featured in the festival program, showcasing your commitment to fostering creativity and cultural enrichment.

Join us in making this year’s NoCo Arts Festival the best one yet by donating today!