By Doug Sitler
Entering its 56th year in East Otto, NY, the Griffis Sculpture Park has a lot of exciting things planned for the 2025 season. The park features over 250 large-scale sculptures dispersed throughout the forests, fields and ponds of the 450-acre park. Larry Griffis, Jr’s creation is considered as one of the United States’ oldest and largest sculpture parks.
Scheduled for this season is the return of a major sculpture installation, new public bathrooms, Memory Cafe, the debut of a Sunday monthly music series, a theatrical performance, guided hikes, and more, as well the annual summer festival and NIGHT LIGHTS in autumn.
Bringing Back the Bathers!
features of the park are the Larry Griffi s Jr’s
“Bathers” sculptures, originally placed around the
pond at the Mill Valley Road section of the park.
The “Bathers” are 10 large female sculptures frolicking
and posing in the water and on the banks
of the pond. Due to a fundraising campaign, the
“Bathers” are being repaired and will be reinstalled
in the pond later this summer.
One of the most beloved features of the park are the Larry Griffis Jr’s “Bathers” sculptures, originally placed around the pond at the Mill Valley Road section of the park. The “Bathers” are 10 large female sculptures frolicking and posing in the water and on the banks of the pond. Due to a fundraising campaign, the “Bathers” are being repaired and will be reinstalled in the pond later this summer.
New Bathrooms!!!
This new amenity offers modern, accessible restrooms and handwashing facilities—making visitors feel more comfortable than ever before. The new facility was made possible through support from New York State Senator Patrick Gallivan.
Memory Cafe
There will be a launch of the Memory Café at Griffis Sculpture Park—a new, free program designed for individuals living with dementia or memory challenges and their care partners. Attendees will be able to join us outdoors for relaxed conversation, light activities, and creative experiences in a supportive setting. This isn’t a support group—it’s a social, stigma-free gathering to enjoy art, nature, and community.
Griffis Sculpture Park Sunday Sound Series
Once a month on Sunday afternoons, world beat vibes will be flowing through the park. The performances will be held outside the Gate House at the Mill Valley Road section of the park. Attendees are allowed to bring lawn chairs, blankets and small coolers. Performances scheduled are: June 8, Masti World Music Ensemble (Arabic jazz and world grooves). July 13, Mirage (Mediterrainian-inspired jazz). August 10, Family FUNKtion and the Sitar Jams (sitar, deep funk and rock grooves).
The Guerrilla Theatre Project 24-hour performance
The Guerrilla Theatre Project from Olean will arrive at the sculpture park on the evening of Friday, June 6th, then proceed to write three brand new one-act plays, audition performers, rehearse and perform the plays in 24 hours. On Saturday, June 7th, the performances will take place at 7pm at different locations at the Mill Valley Road section of the park.
Mason Winfield Haunted History Ghost Walk
On Saturday, June 21, the park will be hosting “The Shapeshifters Are Out!”–an entertaining, informative spoken-word performance presented by Mason Winfield, author, researcher, and storyteller. Storytelling may be humanity’s oldest art, and “The Shapeshifters Are Out!” is a walking, storytelling tour throughout the park in the style of the old storytellers.
Griffis Sculpture Park Drum Circles
The drum circles are back! The park will feature three select Thursday nights this summer for a free drum circle, led by Steve Bell. The drum circles take place at 6:30pm at the Rohr Hill Road section of the park. The dates are: Thurs, June 19, Thurs, July 10, and Thurs, August 14th.
Guided Hikes
On Saturday, July 19th, visitors can take a 90-minute walk around the Mill Valley Section of the sculpture park with Mark Griffis, son of park founder Larry Griffis. Hear stories about the creation of the sculpture park, Larry Griffis, Jr. and so much more. On Saturday, August 16, take a two-hour deep nature exploration of the Griffis Sculpture Park that is not seen by the public. A hike will proceed through the sculpture areas, then proceed into the forested ravines of the park. The group will seek out a forgotten sculpture that has resided hidden in the woods for three decades. The hike will cover 2-miles of hiking, with a few hundred feet of elevation changes
Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival
The park will host their annual summer festival on Sunday, August 17, 2025 from 12-6pm. The festival is a memorable day filled with music, creativity, nature, exploration and much more. Since 2013, the festival has become one of Western New York’s most beloved summer events. It has become a major fundraiser for the Ashford Hollow Foundation, which owns and operates the sculpture park. The event also features a vendor village, a kid’s crafts area, food stands, and beer & wine service and more.
NIGHT LIGHTS at Griffis Sculpture Park
NIGHT LIGHTS at Griffis Sculpture Park returns for its 13th consecutive autumn. During NIGHT LIGHTS, the trails, forest and sculptures are illuminated with colorful lighting in the lower section of the Mill Valley Section of the park. The event takes place sixteen evenings from mid-September to mid-October.
The Griffis Sculpture Park is a private, non-profit that relies on admission fees, grants and programming to stay open. The park requests a $5 admission fee per adult, $3 for children 12 to 5 years old and seniors. Admission can be paid electronically on-site, on the park’s website, or in-person at the Gift Shop on weekends. Some of the following events may have a higher admission price and will need to be purchased at Eventbrite