FORESTival

Each fall, A Studio in the Woods hosts FORESTival: A Celebration of Art and Nature. FORESTival is the one day out of the year that our woods are open to the public at large.

This family-friendly celebration features live music, artist presentations by current and former residents, special guest artists, guided walks in the woods with scientists, hands-on art and science activities for the entire family, local eats available for purchase and a silent auction!

Our 15th Annual FORESTival: A Celebration of Art & Nature was held on Saturday, November 15, 11 – 5pm. We can’t wait to see you at FORESTival 2026!

FORESTival 2025 Schedule:

Programming included:

    • Music performances by Leyla McCalla, Big Chief Juan Pardo & The Golden Comanches, Casa Samba, the Creole Cutie Baby Dolls, and Andrina Turenne!
    • Artistic presentations from former residents and guest artists including Ifátùmínínú Bamgbàlà Arẹ̀sà, Trinity City Comics, Issy Manley, Gregory Swafford, Hali Dardar, Miss Pussycat, Jacob Reptile, Asante Salaam, RE(ad) TREAT, and ricRACK fabrics.
    • The Green House featuring frontline and fence-line climate organizations and efforts including Rise St. James, Culture of Cleanliness, Water Collaborative, and Healthy Gulf.
    • Local fare provided by Crescent City Burgers, Big O’s Pops, Eli’s Kitchen, Abita Brewing, and Greta’s Sushi.
    • Art & Science activities for kids and kids-at-heart alike including: festival favorite Build a Clay Forest, Gunderson Lab Lizards, DIY Pet Petri Dishes with Lane Birusing Tellegan, community quilt with Restore the Mississippi River Delta, reading with Re(ad)TREAT, cyanotypes with Climate Culture New Orleans and a visit from Chiquito the miniature horse at Sugar Roots Farms.
    • Walks in the Woods with Ecologist David Baker, and Entomologists Bella Termini and Rachel Clear.
    • Photo booth with background by Jacob Reptile!
    • Silent auction of one-of-a-kind art objects and experiences.

A Studio in the Woods is located in Lower Algiers at 13401 Patterson Rd. New Orleans LA, 70131, about a 25 minute drive from downtown New Orleans.

FORESTival 2025 was made possible by its generous sponsors: The Barrios Family, Footprint Project, Power Systems Specialists, New Orleans Town Gardeners, and Tom & Ellen Prewitt.

Thank you to our 2025 Planning Committee:

Jessica Dandridge, The Water Collaborative

Alexandra Norris, Board Member

Natalie Nguyen, EisnerAmper

SELECTED PRESS
Photos from FORESTival 2018 in the Advocate
Director Ama Rogan and Artist  John Kleinschmidt talk FORESTival 2018 on WWNO’s Inside the Arts with Diane Mack
FORESTival 2017 on NOLA.com
Director Ama Rogan talks FORESTival 2017 with WWL’s Eric Paulsen