Inaugural Freebird Festival Coming To Smithtown

SMITHTOWN, NY — The inaugural Freebird Festival is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 30 in Smithtown.

The festival will feature 200 eclectic vendors, live music, food trucks, a drum circle with Spirit Sky Drum, morning yoga, belly dance, a bus for photo opportunities, live art mural, face and body painting, permanent jewelry, a mechanical bull ride, tarot and more. It will be held on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society.

Admission and parking is free, said Tracey Balaker, who is organizing Freebird Festival.

Balaker has been a vendor for 14 years and a working henna artist on Long Island. She was running a farmers market and successful events for other organizations for years.

"I really love the vendor community on the island and wanted to have something for them, and also to curate an event I would love to vend at if someone else were organizing it!" Balaker told Patch.

"Literally everyone" is the target audience, she said.

"An inclusive event that is not exactly kid-centered, but family friendly, and for those who enjoy eclectic vendor shopping, seeing small businesses that don't have storefronts, and for all who love summer fairs that just call for relaxing and having fun," Balaker said.

She has been planning Freebird Festival since December. She hopes this will become an annual event and grow even larger.

"Due to space constraints, there is a waiting list and so many more vendors and features that could have been added as well," she said. "In the future we would love to add even more music, more vendors, more everything!"