NEWSLETTER
The stunning Saugerties sculpture park is a must-see destination itself, but with a new supergroup team assisting with events, there are even more reasons to make the trip.
Saugerties, Ny — Opening day is around the corner for one of the region’s—and country’s—most unique outdoor attractions: Opus 40. Featuring 6.5 acres of earthwork sculpture created over four decades by artist Harvey Fite, the stunning walk-through grounds are comprised of 60 acres of meadows, forested quarry trails, and bluestone quarries, all in the heart of Saugerties, NY.
This year’s season begins April 5, 2025 on weekends only through late May, with Fridays beginning May 23 and Thursday through Monday hours as of May 29. The season runs through November.
Opus 40 typically welcomes 35,000 guests each year, and 2025 brings an array of can’t-miss events to enhance this majestic Catskills destination, from live music and theater to guided nature walks to film screenings.
Even more exciting, to amplify cultural diversity, community wellness, and event production, Opus 40 has teamed up with renowned regional partners:
The Local in Saugerties will curate live concerts
Pete Caigan and Utopia Sound Studio will provide sound and production
Shakti Yoga will host yoga classes and sound baths
Jen Dragon of Cross Contemporary Projects will curate The Gallery at Opus 40
“We’re excited to work alongside these top-notch partners and widen Opus 40’s creative community presence,” says Board Co-chair Brigid Walsh. “As an organization, we stay true to Harvey Fite’s vision that the arts are for everyone, and look forward to sharing the magnificent sculpture he created and the spectacular forested landscape that surrounds it with visitors this year.”
Live Music Lives at Opus 40:
Since its inception, Opus 40 has welcomed acclaimed performers including Richie Havens, Pete Seeger, Happy Traum, Sonny Rollins, the Felice Brothers, Jimmy Cliff, Sun Ra Arkestra, Son Rompe Pera, The Meridien Brothers, Yungchen Lhamo, and theater stagings ranging from “The Tempest” to “Hair.”
When it comes to performance art, Opus 40 can be seen equally as a sculptural tour de force, a showcase of natural beauty, and an exploration of local history, with Rolling Stone describing it as “the best outdoor performance venue in the Northeast.”
Pete Caigan of Utopia Sound Studio says: “I love Opus 40 and it is a pleasure to partner for such an exciting season of live music events.”
Here’s a rundown of live music planned at Opus 40 this summer:
June 7: Silent Disco Headphones provided for this fun all-ages dance party.
July 6: Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp: folk, krautrock, post-punk and African rhythms. OTPMD is a 12-piece post-punk avant garde folk-estra that takes you on a captivating groove journey.
July 12: Upstate Reggae: Jimmy Cliff Birthday Celebration with DisnDat
Award winning reggae band featuring Trinidadian steel pan player Sista Dee and four time Grammy
nominated ex Black Uhuru and Sugar Minot drummer Rangotan.
July 18: Cumbia: Yeison Landero
Yeison Landero, from Colombia’s Caribbean coast, is called “el heredero de la cumbia”—the heir to
cumbia—as his grandfather founded the cumbia genre.
August 3: BCUC (Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness): Afro psychedelic-punk funk, hip-hop consciousness from Soweto, South Africa. Like their elders, BCUC sees their music as a hedonistic trance, but also as a weapon of political and spiritual liberation.
August 17: Zydeco Dance Party: C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band
Clayton Joseph Chenier is Creole music royalty. His father, the legendary Clifton Chenier, invented the
style of music we know today as Zydeco.
August 23: An all-day celebration of Hudson Valley artists
Embracing our many talented regional musicians and bands who will perform throughout the Opus 40
landscape and on stage, under the musical direction of Jack Petruzzelli.
September 6: Silent Disco with Live DJs Headphones provided for this fun all-ages dance party with two DJs.
Tickets and season passes will be available:
Presale for members: April 1
General public: April 7
For those seeking an educational experience, Opus 40’s guided walk series includes:
April 13: Woodland Walk with Wild Hudson Valley
May 4: Mindful Birding with Molly Adams of the Feminist Bird Club
May 25: Foraging Walk with Dina Falconi
June 22: Mushroom Walk with Chris Baker
June 29: Geology Walk Robert Titus
July 20: Mushroom Walk with Chris Baker
July 26: Geology Walk Robert Titus
August 24: Mushroom Walk with Chris Baker
August 30: Geology Walk Robert Titus
September 20: Geology Walk with Robert Titus
September 21: Mushroom Walk with Chris Baker
October 12: Mushroom Walk with Chris Baker
Tickets for walks and workshops are limited and will be available:
Presale for members: April 1
General public: April 7
The events calendar includes film screenings by Upstate Films May 23-24, live theater by Catskill Shakespeare Co. on May 4, weekly yoga and qi gong classes, and various bluestone workshops throughout the season, all of which can be found in more detail online at Opus40.org.
Support for these events is made possible thanks to sponsors, donors, and members.
Folks interested in becoming a member can visit: opus40.org/support/member Those interested in contributing to the organization can donate via Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/opus-40-season-launch/x/614411#/
Photos and interviews are available upon request; please contact Melissa at UpstateMusicMedia@gmail.com.
About Opus 40:
Opus 40 is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization comprised of a 6.5 acre earthwork sculpture created by Harvey Fite, with 60 acres of meadows, forested quarry trails, and bluestone quarries in the heart of the Hudson Valley in Saugerties, NY. Opus 40 stewards the magnificent 6.5-acre stonework sculpture and its surroundings, and fosters direct connections between his living artwork and the public. Through vibrant arts, environmental, and educational experiences, Opus 40 shares and amplifies Fite’s inspirational vision as a place for visitors to explore and reflect on the relationships between nature, local history, and the arts.
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CONTACT: Melissa at Upstate Music + Arts Media