The two-day Tiny House and Green Living Freedom Fest will be held Saturday, July 1 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, July 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. As its name suggests, the new-to-New Paltz festival will be an event that highlights both the tiny house lifestyle and sustainable living. Builders of tiny homes will offer tours of at least 15 small dwellings (attendees to the Independence Day celebration the evening prior can view the houses, but tours inside will not be offered until the Freedom Fest). The event offers artisan vendors, live music, alternative energy displays, a full program of speakers each day and sustainability workshops.
Single day admission costs $20 for adults (age 13 and older) and $7 for ages 9-12. Those age eight or younger get in free. A two-day pass for adults costs $40 at the gate or $35 with advance purchase online, which includes a chance to win an all-inclusive Mohonk Mountain House getaway for two and four free passes to Rail Explorers USA (the Catskills division of the company will open next year). Junior weekend passes to the Freedom Fest for ages 9-12 cost $10 with advance purchase. There are also camping packages available for those who wish to bring their own tiny house, tent or RV to stay the weekend; details are at TinyHouseFreedomFest.com.
Purchasing tickets in advance also allows early sign-up for workshops, like the one on solar panel installation. Attendees to the Freedom Fest are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets and towels for sitting on, but no coolers, grills, pets, or outside food. Beer and alcohol will be available.
For people who are considering the move to a tiny home, the festival will offer plenty of information, inspiration and advice. Ten presentations on Saturday and nine on Sunday will address topics that include how to build a tiny home, tips for living in one — embracing minimalism is key — and dealing with codes and zoning when living small. (Each presenter speaks both days in different time slots, with an additional speaker on Saturday.)
A few of the talks will offer firsthand experiences shared by tiny-home enthusiasts who blog about their experiences living mobile lives on the road. There will also be re-use and salvage experts who will give their take on making the most of very little.
The barn at the fairgrounds will host several film screenings during the festival, of two different documentaries tackling sustainability topics: The ReUse Documentary and Minimalism: The Value of Time.
The Tiny House and Green Living Freedom Fest will be held rain or shine. More info is available at TinyHouseFreedomFest.com.
Join the family! 
