Dear Camp Family,

The stage is set, and you can feel the anticipation. For weeks, campers have been buzzing at meals and during activities about the lineup.

A veritable who’s who of singers, songwriters, musicians, and performers. The bill is packed for three hours of pure musical magic, stretching well into the evening.

She steps up to the stage. Guitar in hand. Breath held. Looking out at the sea of familiar faces, heart racing with a mixture of excitement and nerves.

A famous celebrity? A rock icon? Taylor Swift, maybe? Beyoncé on a camp tour stop?

No way. She’s a first-time Evergreen camper. Just a few weeks ago, the idea of performing in front of a crowd would have felt impossible.

But now? She’s ready. And so is everyone else in this lineup.

Welcome to Hollowpalooza, Kenwood & Evergreen’s legendary (at least to us) music festival. Coachella, Lollapalooza, or Glastonbury it is not. But for our kids and staff? It’s the gig of a lifetime.

How It All Started

Back in the olden days — the early 2000s — our athletic director had an idea. We had just expanded our music program, and he asked, “What if we brought a real concert to camp?”

Not a talent show. Not a skit night or end-of-session performance. A music festival — with lights, sound systems, and a full stage. That first crew of staff ran with it. The result? A festival so immersive, it would seem the only things missing are the expensive weekend pass and tailgating in the parking lot.

Since then, Hollowpalooza has become a highlight of the Kenwood & Evergreen summer. Not just because of the music — which is fantastic — but because of what this moment in time represents.

More Than Music

At Hollowpalooza, it’s not about being the best performer. It’s about being brave.

You’ll see seasoned musicians, sure. But you’ll also see kids who’ve never played a note in front of anyone. Kids who just weeks earlier might not have dreamed of picking up an instrument, now standing under the lights with their camp family cheering them on.

Why? Because here, taking a seemingly “big” risk comes with a very soft landing.

Many groups have a backing band — some older campers, some staff — who quietly fill the gaps. These friends and mentors don’t steal the spotlight. They lay down the bassline, hold the rhythm, and lift the campers up so they can shine.

This is multi-age mentorship at its most magical — campers and counselors coming together not to impress, but to express. To support. To belong.

When the Crowd Surges

Every summer, there’s a moment — often with the shyest or quietest kid on stage — when the entire crowd leans in. You can feel it.

The energy surges forward, not because of Billie Eilish-level technical perfection but because something real is happening. A camper is doing something hard. And the camp community shows up loudly to celebrate it.

We had over 50 acts last year. That’s hundreds of campers stepping up. Hundreds of personal victories. Hundreds of lifelong memories.

You can see it happening in real time — the way it carves something deep and beautiful into their identity.

Want to see it for yourself?

Here’s a clip from a Hollowpalooza performance a few summers ago.

You’ll see what we mean — the joy, the courage, the whole camp lifting each other up:

👉 Watch the magic of Hollowpalooza​

The Soundtrack of Courage

That’s the power of Hollowpalooza.

It’s not a concert. It’s a mirror. A place where kids discover courage they didn’t know they had — and a community that won’t let them fall when they leap.

So when you hear your child talk about their setlist, their band, or how they almost didn’t do it but then did… you’ll know. It wasn’t just a song. It was a moment of becoming.

And we’ll be cheering them on, all the way to the final encore.

With warm regards,

Scott

PS - Have a favorite Hollowpalooza memory from you or your child? I’d love to hear about it. Write me back!

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114 Eagle Pond Rd, Wilmot, NH 03287
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