THE PURPOSE of
THE FEST 2026
“THE AFTER THE LIFE”
by Brandon Mitchell
The Backstory
My friends and family started an event on my parents’ property on a piece of land called Smithville, PA in the summer of 2003. It was a small gathering. There wasn’t much to it. There was no show, no production and no clear or serious intention behind it. It simply was people hanging out in a barn, playing around on musical instruments, laughing and having a great time together.
The event developed into something much larger over the next 8 years. Musicians from Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey joined the event. They brought their unique talent and special live performances to an old barn that had become a stage. Visual artists submitted short movies to show in the “Little House”, a small stone house built in the 1700’s, that became our cinema. The event had become a production, and with it grew a deeper meaning and purpose.
The People
The Fest, as it is commonly known, continued as a result of the hard work and support of dozens of people. These people lovingly contributed their time and energy with incredibly positive attitudes. These attitudes were reciprocated by the people who attended. Those times were full of impactful moments. Those moments became cherished memories for a lot of people. It felt good. It felt important.
The Mother of The Fest
My mom, Gail Mitchell, was known as the mother of The Fest. She held a lot on her shoulders as the small party became more of an event. This thing took place at her home. It disrupted her normal life and daily routine. It was quite an undertaking year after year, and she was at the center of it. It was at times a tough position. She accepted and handled all of it with benevolent grace.
It was her centered attitude that kept everything on track. Like only a mother can do, she kept an eye on everyone and everything making sure things didn’t get out of control. We could have fun, but we also needed to be focused. She let us try things and experiment, but placed appropriate limits exactly where they were needed. That was a key element that gave The Fest its meaning. I appreciated her perspective and learned so much from her.
I don’t know if she would have admitted it in the aftermath, but when The Fest was in full swing, mom was in the middle of it and having a great time. She loved the music of Mills Family Band and Samson Trinh’s Big Band. She would dance with her sister Cindy and sing with The Ben Shirk Prawject. She would pal around with The Lovely Ladies and enjoy a jello shot or two. My mother was the life of the party with an unforgettable smile.
In November of 2023, Gail was suddenly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The prognosis wasn’t good, but again, she handled the situation with acceptance, grace, courage, and strength. It was inspiring and even surprising to see the amount of power she contained within her soul. She fought hard to give all of us as much time with her as she could.
The After The Life
The last big event we held was in the summer of 2010. We called it The Life. The event was purposefully given that title and came with many meanings behind it. We knew it was to be the last one and in a way the only one. We also knew it was a culmination of what we had all experienced together.
It is now sixteen years later and our aim is to create a new experience as we bring a new version of the event to Smithville. This time it will be a little bit different and we have a new responsibility. We still want to create a grand day of celebration. We believe it is important to have special days and moments that can become powerful memories. I want to help create an event where my dad, Steve Mitchell, can gather with any and every single person who supported him through the most difficult year of his life. This event is a time to look around and appreciate our connected lives and recognize how awesome it is. The purpose of this event goes beyond The Fest. While we joyously celebrate our lives with one another on July 18th 2026, we can also collectively donate and raise money for a group of people that increasingly needs our appreciation and assistance: the nurses at Lancaster General Hospital.
the nurses
Gail Mitchell was a nurse. She spent years working in a hospital and later in a doctor’s office. After her cancer diagnosis, she spent the better part of her last year and a half in the care of many amazing nurses. They were extremely caring, helpful, and attentive. The stakes are very high in an oncology ward. The nurses there deal with life and death on a daily basis. Their expertise and compassion is commonly under-appreciated.
We would love to use this event, affectionately titled The After The Life, to express our appreciation for the generosity the nurses at Lancaster General Hospital showed my mother and family during a very difficult time. All the proceeds from this event will be donated to a specific nurses fund. We are considering two different paths at this time. The first path is a fund for a nurses respite and rejuvenation suite at Lancaster General Hospital. The second path would fund a nursing scholarship. We will provide more information as the event approaches. Please consider donating to the cause in honor of Gail Mitchell or any loved one no longer with us.
