Koliada is our annual winter celebration of music, dance, and storytelling that brings light and joy to the darkest days of the year.
We’ll be performing downtown at the February Cherry Valley First Friday, 2/6/2026 at 6pm, starting at 25 Main Collective and moving outside.
Be sure to check out the 25 Main Collective opening of the Winter/Animal/Ritual exhibit that evening starting at 5pm.
Learn more at : www.thetelegraphschool.org/koliada
---What is Koliada?---
Koliada draws from the rich Slavic heritage of Telegraph School founder Angelica Dzeli Gosiewska Palmer, who is bringing this ancient village tradition back to life. It dates back to pre-Christian times in the Slavic world of Central and Eastern Europe. People dressed up as animals and spirits representing the darkness of winter and the returning sun. They went from house to house in their village, singing songs and performing skits to call back the sun and bless the fertility of the crops for the coming year. In exchange they were given gifts of food, drinks, and coins. They believed that by becoming animals and spirits, their words would have more magical power and be more effective.
Cherry Valley Koliada is a series of free workshops, a public performance, a gallery exhibition, and a roving theatrical performance that travels around the village, performing for people in their homes or passing by.
We are grateful to have received funding from the Earlville Opera House's Arts in the Community Grants Program, made possible by the NYS Legislature with support of the Office of the Governor, and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts. We are also thankful to have received a grant from the 2025 Spring Awards Cycle of the Community Foundation of Otsego County.
Also check out other Performances in Cherry Valley, Entertainment events in Cherry Valley, Workshops in Cherry Valley.
