FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rootstock 2026 
6th annual Finger Lakes Youth Music Festival
Hosted by New Roots Charter School
ITHACA, NY, MAY 7, 2026 – Announcement
New Roots Charter School to host 6th annual youth music festival on the downtown Ithaca Commons.
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
12-5 PM
Bernie Milton Pavillion
Ithaca Commons, Ithaca, NY
Come to Rootstock and be inspired!
Rootstock, the premier youth music festival in the Finger Lakes, will be held at the Bernie Milton Pavillion on the Ithaca Commons from 12-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 16th.
Sponsored and organized by New Roots Charter School and GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance, Rootstock features solo acts, bands, and dance troupes with styles ranging from hiphop to punk to jazz. The event will also feature young entrepreneurs offering their handmade products at the Youth Entrepreneurship Market.
The lineup this year includes youth from many communities and backgrounds, including CUMEP, Southside Community Center, and the Greater Ithaca Activities Center, as well as students from New Roots Charter School, Ithaca High School, Lehman Alternative Community School, DeWitt Middle School, Cortland City School District, and schools as far away as Syracuse and Oswego.
Local soul singer SingTrece, lead singer of revered of the band Stone Cold Miracle, and WICB “Reggae Explosions” radio DJ Mike Judah will emcee the event.
The Youth Entrepreneurship Market (YEM) will be vending on the Commons during the Rootstock festival. These youth vendors will be selling their original products such as artwork, apparel, jewelry, and handmade goods, gaining real-world experience in entrepreneurship, sales, and customer engagement.
This program is made possible in part with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the office of the Governor and NYS Legislature, administered by the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County.
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About New Roots Charter School
New Roots Charter School is a free public school serving students in 6th -12th grades. The school is open to all NYS residents. Now in its 17th year, New Roots provides small classes, real-world academics, and an inclusive environment designed to support student wellbeing. Enrollment for Fall 2026 is now open.