Pinkster Home Joy Is An Act of Resistance About Pinkster
Join TRANSART for the “Pinkster 2026: Joy Is An Act of Resistance" Celebration!
The Fifth Annual Celebration takes place Sunday, May 24, 2026 at Old Dutch Church and the Senate House Grounds in Kingston, NY
Pinkster — The Afro-Dutch tradition born in the Hudson Valley was more than a Pentecost celebration, it was a lifeline of liberation, creativity, and joy for enslaved Africans in 17th- and 18th-century New York. Today, TRANSART’s reimagining revitalizes this powerful legacy with a public gathering that honors ancestral strength and restorative power.
Pinkster was a week of temporary freedom for enslaved African people in the Dutch colonial region of America, a brief respite from unimaginable conditions. Throughout the 1700’s, African people throughout the Hudson Valley gathered to celebrate with music, food, dancing, and commerce. Many Dutch joined the annual celebration, which became increasingly multicultural. Beyond celebrating, many Pinkster attendees met to organize, share information, and seize the opportunity to self-emancipate.
**** ALL PINKSTER PROGRAM PERFORMANCES
WILL BE HELD ON THE INSIDE OLD DUTCH CHURCH ****
Pinkster Sunday at Old Dutch Church!
Pinkster Sunday at Old Dutch Church!
PINKSTER PENTECOST SUNDAY SERVICE
12:00-1:00 PM - Old Dutch Church, 272 Wall St, Kingston, NY
Experience a moving Pinkster Sunday service with Keynote speaker acclaimed author L. Michelle Smith. Meet Lavada Nahon, Interpreter of African-American History for New York State Parks, and stirring music by the Sisters in Spirit and the Hudson Valley Gospel Singers & Musicians.
Pinkster Walk!
1:00 - 1:30 PM - Starting at Old Dutch Church and ending at Senate House Grounds
Chief Baba Neil Clarke and the Pinkster Players will lead a rhythmic procession through Kingston's historic Stockade District with traditional drumming, dancing, and community spirit.
Pinkster Celebration!
1:30 - 5:00 PM - Historic Senate Ground 296 Fair Street, Kingston, NY 12401
Continue the celebration with an afternoon of music, dance, food, demonstrations, activities, and history! This intergenerational gathering invites the whole family!
Featured Performances Include: Mfouambila Kongo African Dance Ensemble – Warrior dance and community movement. • Oru Oyo – Afro-Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble • Chief Baba Neil Clarke and the Pinkster Players - Traditional music and historical reenactment
REGISTER NOW!
PINKSTER HISTORY
In early 17th century New York, during the observance of Pinksteren (Pentecost), Dutch settlers spent the week in church, eschewing all other activities and they freed their enslaved Africans, on which their economy and households were dependent. The enslaved took the opportunity to see those from whom they were separated; it was the sole time that the enslaved had agency over their own affairs. The Africans celebrated their time together with drumming, dancing, food, and the ritual of shared parables. Through this expression of art and culture, the African community sustained itself; the rigors of oppression were ameliorated. The joyful spirit of Pinkster attracted everyone in the community to join the festivities, momentarily bypassing color and class. Pinkster festivals continued into British rule and flourished into the 19th century.