PKX Festival
The annual PKX festival is a symbol of community, unity, and a celebration of the creativity and talent residing in Poughkeepsie, NY.
The PKX Festival is truly created by youth, FOR EVERYONE.
PKX 2026 was this April 24 & 26
in Poughkeepsie, NY
@ 45 Pershing Ave
Sunday, April 26 (Moved from Saturday due to rain)
Community Celebration
1 – 5pm
Around The Art Effect’s Pershing Neighborhood
A vibrant, family-friendly outdoor community celebration filled with creativity and fun for all ages!
Get ready to play and create with an exciting lineup of activities including tug of war, hip hop trivia, and a classic egg spoon race. Dive into interactive art-making activities like creating your own mini plushie, slime making, face painting, and graffiti style chalk drawing.
Enjoy the sounds of DJ BLVD spinning live throughout the event and come dressed in your best golden age hip hop inspired outfit for a chance to win our Best Dressed contest.
Be sure to visit all of our community tabling partners, as each will host a unique art making activity. Complete them all to earn a special PKX sticker!
Yesterday – Friday, April 24, 5:30 – 8pm
Teen Art Exhibit & Film Showcase
Followed by the PKX 2026 Award Ceremony
In The Art Effect’s Carole J. Wolf Gallery & on the lawn
Over 100 people turned out for the first night of PKX 2026. They discovered a dynamic collection of over 30 multimedia artworks created by young artists from across the Hudson Valley, some of whom were in attendance at opening, including award winners Dahlia Haselton & Nanami Aoyama!
Around 6:30 the crowd moved outside to the lawn for a tented screening of this year’s jury-selected teen films from around the world. They were also treated to the screening-debut of Spark Studio’s short film created last summer, 6 on Grove. After the films, our PKX Night 1 host’s Naaj Villa and Kayla Francis presented the Grand Prize and Honorable mention awards for Art and Film, and announced the winner of the Escape the Vape competition Fayza Sekatawa, who will be working with Forge Media this summer to produce a county-wide commercial aimed at discouraging teen vaping.
The night concluded with hosts reminding everyone about turning out this Sunday for the Community Celebration day of the PKX festival and encouraging attendees to vote in the audience choice awards before voting closes Sunday night.
Check out the virtual gallery showcasing the juried artwork from the PKX 2026 exhibition on view in the Carole J. Wolf gallery at 45 Pershing Avenue.
Fiona Xu – “Eternal Remembrance”
Friends of the Festival
Ampact • Bjorn Qorn • Boys and Girls Club of Poughkeepsie • Bjorn Qorn • Celebrating the African Spirit • Charlia Frank • Community Matters 2, Inc • Crazy Over ART on tour • Day One • DJ BLVD • Dutchess County Pride Center • Dutchess County Transportation Council • Fall Kill Creative Works • For The Many • Friends of the Walkway • Gate Beautiful Women’s Resource Center • Grand Canyon University • Hip-Hop Healing • L51Swazzy • Hudson Valley Justice Center • La Cabanita • La Polla Argentinian Food • Lemon Love • Mama La’s Food for the Soul • MASS Design Group • Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum • Mr. Cool Ice Cream Truck • Nubian Directions II • Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet • Poughkeepsie Farm Project • Poughkeepsie Public Library District • Reggae Boy Cafe • River Haven Youth Shelter • Scenic Hudson • SNUG Poughkeepsie • Suprina Sculpture • The Brain & Body Coalition • The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
This program is partially funded by monies received from the New York State Council on the Arts. The Art Effect empowers youth to develop their artistic voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change.
