HANCOCK, NY — The first thing you’ll notice about Catskill Chill is that, well, it’s very chill. Everyone seems to be earnestly nice. I was met at the gate by the PR director Destiny, and she kindly asked me to wait while she found me the best parking spot available. People walking by smiled at me, and someone asked if I was “having a good Chill.”

In recent years, it seems music festivals have taken the country by storm. Their popularity in foreign countries, especially Europe, has been prevalent for years, and the United States is now experiencing their newfound popularity, with gigantic festivals like Coachella, Burning Man, Bonnaroo, and countless others. The Catskills area is no stranger to the concept, as of course Woodstock was held here, and in the last couple of years, Mysteryland. Six years ago, the scene returned to the area in the form of Catskill Chill Music Festival, held at Camp Minglewood (aka French Woods) in Hancock, and it’s been growing ever since.

I attended the Chill for the first time this past weekend, going on Saturday, September 19. In the summer-camp setting, people popped their tents anywhere they could find a spot, intermingling with the pathways and vendor tents and even one of the smaller stages. There are four stages in all, with three of them set up away from the camping. The Main Stage is arena-sized, and held the biggest acts like Zappa Plays Zappa and moe.

My friends have been going to this music festival for years, some since the beginning. I thought I’d better go this year, as this is the last time it was being held at Camp Minglewood. The reasons are unknown, as is next year’s location, but festival founder Dave Marzollo assured the fans that it will be happening. “We would never let this fire die out. We are tremendously committed to the quest to bringing you infinite joy, three days at a time,” he writes in the festival guide. He continued, “As we leave our sweet Minglewood for what may be the last time, take a few moments to appreciate what we have had for so long. Realize how lucky we have been to make this wonderful place our home and grow this special thing we have come to love so much.” The motto of Catskill Chill is “All love, all the time.” As I’m sure you can imagine, there was a lot of tie-dye there….

Now, to the music. Catskill Chill features mostly jam bands that are nationally known on the festival circuit, like Lettuce and Lotus. Ultimate jam band moe. was the headliner this year. I started my musical journey with ShwizZ and then Kung Fu, both funky jam bands. My favorite acts came next. ShwizZ and FiKus teamed up to form ShwiKus Plays the ‘80s. Decked out in ‘80s costumes like a Ghostbusters suit, Michael Jackson red leather jacket and Freddie Mercury all white, they covered hits like “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”

Next up was Hayley Jane and The Primates playing a bluegrass kind of rock, original songs (not jams). The lead singer gave a high-energy performance and danced as well as she sang, a powerhouse voice with an enthralling stage presence. Being a trained dancer myself, I had a hunch she was as well, and after their set I asked her. Indeed, she is. Check out www.hayleyjaneandtheprimates.com.

All in all, I experienced the “Chill Fam” that I had heard so much about. For more about the festival and the bands, visit www.catskillchill.com.