TEAM Fall Equinox Fest | Saturday, Sept 22nd

The 4th Annual TEAM Fall Equinox Fest returns to Swasey Parkway in downtown Exeter on Saturday, September 22nd from 10am-4pm.   The event will feature live music, local artists, kids activities, cultural exhibits, interactive art projects, and hooping.  There will be over 40 artist, food, craft, and non-profit vendors, as well as a full day of YOGA presented by Laney & Lu Cafe, featuring classes hosted by YogaLife Institute, Yogasmith, and Exeter Power Yoga.  The day will kick off with a community session featuring live music from nationally renowned didgeridoo player Joseph Carringer of Didge Therapy, who will be accompanied by the downtempo beats of Groove Lounge and guitar from David Drouin.  Jennifer Desrosiers, owner of Laney & Lu, sees the fest and the collaboration as a perfect fit, “We have been involved with the TEAM festivals from the beginning, and the vibe of the events embody our Live Vibrantly motto, embracing creativity, wellness, community, and healthy living.”

In addition to dozens of live musicians, the fest will also feature performances from Theo Martey & The Akwaaba Ensemble and the Full Time Fools contemporary circus troupe who will be showcasing elements of their upcoming The Treasure of the Cirque Fou production at The Player's Ring in Portsmouth.  Akwaaba is a traditional African drum and dance ensemble whose energetic and engaging performances are a reflection of their name, which means ‘welcome’ in the Twi language of the Ashanti tribe of Ghana.  TEAM has been working with members of the NH Governor’s Council on Diversity & Inclusion to help shine a light on multi-cultural artists based in the Granite State.  Rogers Johnson, chair of the council, sees the arts as an integral part of this mission and movement. "In order to fully embrace diversity you must, by definition, also embrace the culture that comes with that diversity." 
 
Cold Engines will be performing a headlining set at 3pm, their first full band appearance since opening for Blues Traveler at the Lowell Summer Concert Series in August. Lead singer and guitarist David Drouin, an Exeter resident, will be playing a guitar custom built by NH-based luthier Filipe Marques who will have a booth set up at the fest with opportunities to try out his instruments with amplifiers on hand.  
 
TEAM has been collaborating with other local organizations and businesses to expand not only their annual festivals, but also Exeter's other larger events, with supplemental programming throughout the weekend.  Exeter breweries Neighborhood Beer Company and Sea Dog will both be hosting live music Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights in support of the Equinox Festival, and will continue that schedule into the fall and winter.  Salina McIntire, Sales and Marketing Director at Neighborhood Beer Company, has been embracing the marriage of homegrown beer and homegrown music, "With the growth of the emerging scene in Exeter, we decided to expand our local live music series to three nights a week in our tap room. It brings fresh energy and is a great compliment to the beer tasting experience.”
 
Joey Kenny of The Kenny Brothers will be celebrating the release of their new album with a set at NBC on Friday, September 21st from 6-9pm, and singer/songwriter Elijah Clark will be performing Saturday night at Sea Dog in downtown Exeter at 7pm.  Saturday night will also feature an indie film screening at Exeter Town Hall, with doors opening at 6:30pm.  "Michael Lawrence: A Season Of Darkness" from Narrow Street Films was written and produced by New Hampshire author Killarney Traynor.  Tickets for the screening are $15 and include complimentary snacks and light beverages. 
 
TEAM Executive Director Scott Ruffner had this to say, "We're really excited about the evolution of the arts and culture scene here in Exeter.  There's not only a lot of new events and concepts emerging, but also a renewed energy behind a lot of our traditional programming from people of all ages.  The Equinox Fest will also be a launching date for TEAM's first ever Exeter Arts & Culture Guide which features a map of destinations in the walkable downtown and uptown areas, and listings for all of the town's annual festivals."