Festival Info
About Speed of Sound Fest
Wheels up! The 2nd annual Speed of Sound Festival takes off on Sunday, August 7, 2016 at the Dutchess County Airport in Wappingers Falls, NY (just a few miles from Poughkeepsie)!
This one-day festival will feature: The Lumineers, Simone Felice, Rayland Baxter, Swear and Shake, Nicole Atkins, and Fiction Of The Future!
Conceived in 2015 by the creators of Mountain Jam in celebration of Radio Woodstock's 35th year of local and independent broadcasting, Speed of Sound Fest aims to showcase the breadth of the creative community based in the Hudson Valley with local farm-to-table food vendors, Hudson Valley craft artisans and art installations, children's activities (10 and under is free) and much more!
The inaugural Speed of Sound Festival featured The Avett Brothers, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hot Tuna (Electric), Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers, Connor Kennedy & Minstrel (with special guests Kate Pierson, Jackie Greene, Mercury Rev), Buffalo Stack, Elijah Wolf and Upstate Rubdown!
Location
Speed of Sound Festival takes place at the Dutchess County Airport in Wappingers Falls NY, just six miles south east of the city of Poughkeepsie and only 75 miles north of New York City.
Address: 263 New Hackensack Rd, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Code: KPOU
Elevation: 163.5 ft. / 49.8 m (surveyed)
Variation: 12W (1975)
Coordinates: POUGHKEEPSIE ET DUTCHESS COUNTY N41-37.6 degrees W073-53.0 degrees
Getting to the Speed of Sound Fest
Driving
Dutchess County Airport in Wappingers Falls, NY is located just a few miles south of downtown Poughkeepsie, NY. Our venue is 75 miles from NYC and 90 miles from Albany and Hartford. Click here for customized driving directions.
Train
The Speed of Sound Festival will be running a free shuttle to and from the New Hamburg Train Station (Metro-North)!
Here's the schedule for our free shuttle to and from the New Hamburg Metro-North station:
Departing New Hamburg Station (to Festival): 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm
Departing Festival (to New Hamburg Station): 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm, 10:15pm (additional trips as necessary)
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS?
Speed of Sound is a rain or shine event! Please check the forecast and come prepared in case of wet weather!
What is there to eat? Can I bring my own food?
We will be bringing in some of the best food vendors in the Hudson Valley and will be serving up a variety of beer and wine options, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. We will not be allowing any outside food or beverages into the festival.
What's the deal with drinking water at Speed of Sound Fest?
Recent music industry statistics suggest that the average festival-goer generates as much as TWICE the amount of daily personal waste of the average U.S. consumer. The biggest component of that waste is single-use disposable plastic. Read more about the music industry's battle against plastic on Rolling Stone. That's why we are proud to announce that we are taking steps to drastically reduce the amount of plastic waste generated at our 2016 festival.
WE WILL NOT BE ALLOWING OR SELLING PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES AT SPEED OF SOUND FEST 2016. Instead, we will be using commemorative pint-sized aluminum cups which will be available for $5 each (or $10 with your first beer) and can be used at our free water re-filling stations at the event (pure spring water courtesy of Binnewater Ice and Spring Water). Please feel free to bring your own REUSABLE empty water bottle (no disposable bottles) which you will be able to fill for free!
Can I bring folding chairs and blankets?
Yes, you are welcome to bring folding chairs and picnic blankets, however please be advised that there will be a "No-Chair Zone" in front of the stage in the main concert field as well as in the First Class Viewing Area.
CAN I BRING MY CHILDREN WITH ME?
Yes! This is an all-ages event! Children 10 and under are free.
Can I bring my dog with me?
We love pets of all sorts, but unfortunately we cannot allow pets into the festival. Service animals are allowed with proper documentation.
What's included in my Economy Class (GA) Ticket?
Economy Class entry to the Speed of Sound Festival is at 1pm. There are no reserved seats. Buy Tickets!
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN MY First Class (VIP) TICKET?
Our First Class (VIP) Package is the ultimate way to experience the Speed of Sound Festival!
The package includes:
- Access to the Mile High Club, a hospitality tent serving complimentary hot and cold hors d'oeuvres (food service from 2:00pm to 8:00pm - click here for sample Mile High Club menu!), snacks, discounted drinks and soft drinks
- Access to the First Class Viewing Area in front of the Main Stage
There are no reserved seats. Buy tickets!
WILL TICKETS BE AVAILABLE ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT?
We're not sure! It is totally possible that this show will sell out in advance. We encourage attendees to purchase tickets early!
WHERE DO I PARK? IS THERE A FEE?
There are two parking lots at the Speed of Sound Festival: the Economy Class Lot ($10 per vehicle) and the First Class Lot ($15 per vehicle). Both lots are on-site at the Dutchess County Airport (no shuttles required), however the First Class Lot is a much shorter walk from the Festival entrance! Economy Class ticket-holders ARE allowed to park in the First Class Lot as long they purchase a First Class Parking Pass.
**Update (8/4/16): All First Class Parking Passes are SOLD OUT!**
We highly encourage carpooling (and don't forget to designate a sober driver). Buy your Parking Pass!
Can I come and go throughout the day?
Unfortunately, we do not allow re-entry throughout the day. Once you leave the festival grounds, you can't return. On-Site and First Class Parking Lots are NOT considered part of the festival grounds - so you won't be able to visit your car throughout the day.
Can I arrive late?
The music starts at 1:30pm and we hope that you'll join us for the whole day! However, feel free to arrive at any time before our Box Office closes at 8:30pm.
Where can I stay?
Check out our list of local hotels and campgrounds!
Festival Map
History of the Dutchess County Airport (KPOU)
The field was established in the 1930s by the United States Department of Commerce, primarily as an emergency field to cover mail runs between metropolitan areas along the east coast. Colonial Airlines, one of the original air mail contractors, was one of the earliest tenants at the field.
At the start of World War II the field was taken over by the Army Air Corps. It functioned as a satellite base to Stewart Airfield. A control tower was added and its main use was to function as a training field for West Point cadets.
On April 4, 1947 the field was deeded to Dutchess County by the War Assets Administration under provisions of the Surplus Property Act of 1944. The county paid $1 and agreed to keep the field open to aviation.
About Radio Woodstock
Radio Woodstock 100.1 WDST, tagged “the coolest radio station on the planet” by its listeners and other members of the music-radio industry, is proud to be one of the remaining independently owned and locally operated radio stations in the country. Named by Billboard Magazine as “Best Station” on multiple occasions, and recipient of national and regional awards for its eclectic and innovative programming, Radio Woodstock 100.1 searches out and promotes the development of emerging artists, while still paying tribute to established talent whose music continues to stand the test of time. Our Mission Statement: To entertain, engage and inform through a unique music experience on air, online and at live events connecting a socially and environmentally conscious and active audience to benefit the local and global community.
Radio Woodstock went on the air on April 29, 1980, thereby making this year the 35th anniversary of the country’s leading progressive, independently owned and operated radio station, proudly serving the Hudson Valley and broadcasting worldwide on radiowoodstock.com.