Kingstons First Annual Tempo in the Park World Music Festival Set for July 25
On Saturday, July 25, Kingston’s new cultural hub will light up Cornell Park with its first World Music Festival, a free, family‑friendly celebration that runs from noon to 8 p.m. The Tempo Performing Arts Center will host the event on two stages, showcasing a dozen international and local acts that span continents and styles.
The main stage opens at 1 p.m. with O’Sullivan’s March, an Irish quartet that blends accordion, guitar, bouzouki and Uilleann pipes into a traditional session feel. At 2:05 p.m. the Balkan Power Trio, Mac’nCheez, delivers a high‑energy rendition of southern Balkan wedding music featuring saxophone, accordion and tapan drum. El Khat, an internationally touring trio that fuses Arabic‑Yemeni roots with a DIY garage aesthetic, takes the stage at 3:10 p.m. Local artist Juma Sultan, known for his Hendrix‑era band work, presents world‑beat jazz with a local all‑star ensemble at 4:15 p.m. At 5:20 p.m., the Guinean Afro‑Jazz group Mandingo Ambassadors—founded in New York City by griot‑guitarist Manady Kouyaté—step onto the stage, followed by Banda Land Tumbadora, a Mexican brass band from New burgh, at 6:25 p.m. The day closes with their percussion‑heavy banda sound.
The second stage spotlights regional and local talent. Afro‑Cuban drumming by Richard Marquez opens at 12:30 p.m., followed by the Driftwood Chorus at 1:45 p.m., which performs polyphonic songs from Eastern Europe and beyond. Vinay Desai Duo presents classical Indian Santoor and Tabla at 2:50 p.m., while Pueblos Tristes play at 3:55 p.m. The TEMPO Old Time All‑Stars perform at 5 p.m., and the day ends with Lapin Coquin Cajun at 6:05 p.m.
Food and beverage vendors line the park, offering Oaxacan delicacies from Las Camelias, Afghan fare from Ariana, Caribbean barbecue from Rams Valley, and Colombian coffee from Stir Up. A beer, wine and cider bar will be operated by TEMPO Performing Arts Center. A kids’ zone hosted by MyKingstonKids will provide family‑friendly activities.
According to a TEMPO news release, the festival is the first in a planned series aimed at becoming a summer tradition for the Hudson Valley. The event will move indoors to the TEMPO Performing Arts Center—located across the street from Cornell Park in the historic former Trinity Methodist Church at 29 Wurts St.—if rain threatens. For more information, visitors can check www.tempokingston.org or call (845) 262‑0261.
The programming reflects a broad definition of world music, ranging from Mexican Banda and Guinean Afro‑beat to Arabic‑Yemeni folk and Balkan brass. By pairing internationally touring acts with local performers, the organizers seek to showcase the cultural diversity of Kingston and the surrounding region while providing a platform for emerging artists.
The event is scheduled for a single day, with a clear start and finish time and a backup indoor location. The free admission policy and family‑friendly amenities are designed to attract a wide audience, from music enthusiasts to casual park visitors. As the first iteration of the festival, its success will likely influence future editions and the broader cultural calendar in Kingston.
In summary, the Tempo in the Park World Music Festival will take place on July 25, 2026, from noon to 8 p.m. in Cornell Park, featuring two stages, a diverse lineup of international and local acts, food vendors, a kids’ zone, and a rain‑relief plan that moves the event inside the TEMPO Performing Arts Center. The festival represents the beginning of a planned series that seeks to establish a lasting summer tradition in the Hudson Valley.
