The Oz Land Festival is a time honored tradition going into it’s fourth annual year! The Festival was founded by Scarlett Antonia. Antonia seeks to honor the connection between the City of Peekskill and L.Frank Baum, the creator of “The Wizard of Oz.” Baum attended military academy in Peekskill and it has even been said that this is the city wherein he found inspiration for the infamous “Yellow Brick Road.”

The Festival honors diversity, community, and finding your true “home” as a place within yourself where you can make all your dreams come true; just as the character of “Dorothy” did in the “Oz” story by believing in herself and making her dream come true to be home again with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. This theme of home is especially important to Antonia, as she considers her non-profit organization, Antonia Arts, located at “The Artist Spot,” at 925 South Street in downtown Peekskill to be a home to all persons, regardless of their background, age, race, or socioeconomic status that would like to express themselves in the creative and performing arts.

There will be live entertainment at the festival by an array of diverse performers. Antonia believes that “The Wizard of Oz” celebrates diversity by having different characters band together as friends. (this being the Lion, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and Dorothy of course!) Over the years, Antonia has made diversity an important theme of the Oz Land Festival. Antonia spearheads the entertainment component of this event, and it is always interesting to see what she pulls from her sleeve!

The festival will take place right outside “The Artist Spot” on South Street. from 1pm-7pm on Saturday, August 17th. In addition to family entertainment, there will be food and artisan vendors from local regions in the Hudson Valley. Participants are encouraged to dress in costume as their favorite “Oz” character!

Donations received for the Oz Land Festival go to Antonia’s non profit organization, Antonia Arts Inc. The mission of Antonia Arts can be found on this website’s “About” page.

“The Artist Spot,” located at 925 South Street in Peekskill, NY is home to Antonia Arts. And in addition to Antonia Arts’ programs, “The Artist Spot” is a home for residents of Peekskill, New York City, and the greater Hudson Valley to come together and host parties and events. It also provides a “safe haven” for artists that want to try new ideas and utilize the space for rehearsals and gatherings.

Please join us on Saturday, August 17th, 2024 and support a great cause while at the same time enjoying a celebration of “The Great American Myth”: The Wizard of Oz! Don’t forget to come dressed as your favorite Oz character, as we will most surely be having a prize-awarded costume contest!

Thank you to Our Donors

“The Emerald City of Diversity”

Some Photos from Oz Land Festival 2023!