A Weekend for the Ages: The 13th Annual Winter Hoot at the Ashokan Center
The Ashokan Center was filled wall to wall with music, laughter, dancing feet, and shared meals as we gathered for our 14th Annual Winter Hoot—a weekend that once again reminded us why this tradition means so much to so many.
So why “Hoot”? As co-founder and artist director Ruth Ungar Merenda explains, the name comes from hootenanny—a hands-on musical gathering rooted in participation rather than performance. Shortened to “Hoot,” the word evokes exactly what unfolded across our campus: intergenerational music and dancing, new friendships forming, babies snoozing on piles of coats, kids dancing with grandparents, home-cooked food in the air, and toes tapping everywhere you looked.
Families were at the heart of the Winter Hoot with kids attending free. Saturday morning especially came alive with full-family participation—from Bari Koral & Yogapalooza filling the performance hall with joyful movement and song, to the Family Square Dance with the Buvas and caller Megan Downes, where all ages jumped in with ease. Upstairs, the Kid Zone buzzed with crafts, an instrument petting zoo, and later, a cozy movie lounge, while the nearby Blacksmith Shop, colonial-era crafts and ice sculptor Thomas Brown drew steady crowds of curious onlookers.
The music flowed nonstop. Friday evening opened with a locally sourced community dinner by Chef Bill Warnes, followed by an unforgettable concert with Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, setting the tone for a weekend rooted in generosity and artistry. From there, jam sessions carried on late into the night.
Saturday unfolded as a carefully curated musical journey—something Ruthy and Mike Merenda begin planning almost immediately after each Hoot ends. Every performer is chosen not just for musical excellence, but for their spirit, presence, and ability to hold a room. The result was a seamless flow: The Restless Age, Paper Wings, Jim Lauderdale, the Guthrie Family Singers, The Mammals, a rollicking square dance, and a late-night set from James Felice that felt like a gift to those still lingering, listening, and soaking it all in.
Throughout the day, the campus offered countless ways to engage—winter hikes with Del Orloske, Pewter Sessions being filmed in the shop, Attire Rotation shopping to benefit Ashokan, blacksmithing projects, local food vendors, and the glow of the finished ice sculpture lighting up the evening.
Sunday closed the weekend the way only the Hoot can: with shared breath and shared song. Morning yoga brought folks together gently, followed by a Community Sing where everyone—leaders, followers, and listeners alike—became part of the music.
We’re still waiting on final numbers, but all signs point to this being our biggest Winter Hoot yet—not just in attendance, but in energy, connection, and collective joy.
The Winter Hoot doesn’t fund a specific program; instead, it supports the Ashokan Center’s broader mission: to inspire learning and build community through shared experiences in nature, history, music, and art. Just as importantly, it invites new people into that mission—many for the very first time.
Ruthy sums it up best when she talks about her favorite moment: playing with The Mammals on Saturday night and then watching first-time dancers join longtime friends on the floor. The laughter, the whoops, the hollers—that’s where the memories are made.
If you’ve never been, know this: no one is ever turned away for lack of funds. The Hoot has always been a place where generosity flows in all directions, ensuring that everyone can be part of the magic.
To our artists, volunteers, staff, families, sponsors, and community—thank you for making the 14th Annual Winter Hoot one for the books. We can’t wait to do it all again.