What is it?

Imagined by Angie Benitez, a queer team member at High Street Studios, The Queer Joy Festival is an annual pride event in Ipswich, MA catered to a variety of ages (including families with little ones) that centers queer joy and community. Bringing in queer artists from Boston and beyond, the event will feature dance classes, healing modalities, and art vendors. Though queer folks will be centered, allies are encouraged and welcome to participate as well.

Our Headliner

It’s a queer sitcom you never knew you needed. . .Join us for this honest and intimate show that will have you laughing, sighing, and begging to borrow their clothes .

Tickets - $15

Supporter Ticket -$25 to sustain the Queer Joy Festival

Are you a Boston artist? Email angie@highstreet.studio for a special discount code.

“Queer Joy” performance

This family-friendly dance-centered performance will bring in local artists for a one hour family friendly performance that will leave you inspired and wanting more including but not limited to poetry, contemporary dance, and more.

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Maker’s Market

September 19 + 20 | 10AM-3:30PM

The market will be hosted at SALT studio across the parking lot. On Saturday and Sunday vendors will be there 10am-3:30pm. There will be resources and info tables as well as services, products, and art for purchase! Past vendors have included:

  • Tea and Herbal Remedies

  • Live linocut prints - bring a tshirt to stamp!

  • Tarot Readings

  • Face painting

  • Prints, Stickers, and Decor

  • Mental Health Resources

  • Pay what you can Photo Booth

Schedule of Events

Move, create and recharge on your own or with the whole family! All classes will be centering queer joy, rest, and healing.

Saturday, September 19

Queer Joy Market | all ages | 10am-3:30pm

Open Craft @ Salt | all ages | 12:30pm-3:30pm

Musical Theatre Jazz | 13+ | 11:30am-12:15pm

Queer Joy Bungee | 18+ | 12:30-1:15pm

“My shirts all shrunk!” | all ages / PG-13 | 4pm

Sunday, September 20

Family Dance: Pride Edition | Suggested 3+ | 9am-9:30am

Yoga for Queers & Friends with Lyons Heart Yoga | 10-10:45am

Drawn to Life with Jeremy Frias | 18+ | 11am-12pm

Queer Joy Performance | all ages | 2-3pm

Community Sound Healing with Kristen Miller | 13+ | 4-5pm

Seeking Sponsors

Want to help us make the festival bigger and better? Think artists should get paid for their time and energy. Email angie@highstreet.studio about donating to sponsor the festival.

Get Tickets
Get Tickets
Sign up for class!
Sign up for class!
"Community Sound Healing"

Have ideas or want to get involved? Email angie@highstreet.studio

FAQs

  • There is ample parking surrounding our studio, especially behind our building. Overflow parking should be available at the high school across the street.

  • Hosting these programs takes a lot of labor and resources, if you’d like to sponsor the festival or volunteer, please email angie@highstreet.studio about how you can help.

  • Yes! Email co-producer becky.jo.roland@gmail.com with your availability!

  • Everyone is welcome! Our headliner on Saturday is “PG-13” , there are minor references to sex, but we think it will go right over most kids heads. Our "Queer Joy Performance” is completely family friendly! Both shows will be about an hour and youth are welcome and encouraged to be at both. We’ll even have floor seats for kids and people who need extra wiggle room.

  • Yes! There is a commuter rail about a 30 minute walk from the festival (a 4 minute drive). Ubers may be sparse, but we may have a volunteer willing to pick you up! Email Angie@highstreet.studio if you’re in a pinch

  • Masks
    We do not require masks or testing.

    Venue/Seating
    A portion of the festival will be outdoors, weather permitting. The performance space is limited capacity (50-60 people total ) in a venue with AC. There will be wide, no-armed seats available. There will be wide, no-armed seats available.

    Bathrooms
    There are 4 indoor bathrooms on site at the festival.

    Sensory Details
    We don’t anticipate heavy crowds, all amplified music will be at a lower level. There will be no bright or flashing theatrical lights.

  • We try to make the festival as LOW cost as possible while still being able to pay all of our artists and keep a low fee for vendors.

    Email us to volunteer and get into a performance or a class free!

    Want to chat about this more? Email angie@highstreet.studio

 

  • A family visiting "open craft" after dance class!

  • DIY Pride flags!

  • Body & Face Painting!

  • An info table at the market!

  • facepainting at second queer joy fest!

  • Queer Joy Bungee is a MUST!