DuLilith Fest brings fem-forward spirit to Duluth’s Chester Bowl

Yoga in the grass, guitars echoing off the ski slopes, the smell of food trucks drifting through Duluth’s Chester Bowl Park and voices rising together in song are the vision behind DuLilith Fest, a one-day celebration of women in music happening Saturday, Oct. 4. The local event draws its name and inspiration from a traveling music festival popular in the late 1990s.

Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan founded Lilith Fair in 1997 as a summer festival featuring woman-fronted acts. The event was created as a protest against concert promoters who argued that featuring multiple female performers on a lineup would not draw a crowd. Over its three-year span, Lilith Fair proved the naysayers wrong. The festival travelled across the United States and Canada to approximately 130 tour stops, featured more than 300 female performers, and grossed more than $10 million for charities. It’s also the subject of a new documentary, Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, which premiered Sept. 21 on Hulu.

DuLilith Fest brings the same fem-forward spirit to Chester Bowl. The free community event features 16 female musicians, women-focused nonprofits, local women-owned vendors, food trucks and children’s activities. Parking is limited, so organizers encourage attendees to bike, walk or carpool — and bring a blanket or chair to settle in for the day.

The festival was conceived from a conversation between Charity Huot Benedict and Brandy Starr Ringle during the 2025 Duluth Dylan Fest Singer-Songwriter Contest. Benedict, who performed in the competition, and Ringle, whose singer-songwriter daughter, Lu Starr, also competed, were inspired by the contest’s refreshingly large lineup of female musicians. That exchange sparked the creation of Duluth’s version of Lilith Fair, highlighting the female talent within Duluth’s music scene.

The two launched into DuLilith Fest planning the following day. Benedict first contacted Dave Schafer, Chester Bowl executive director, who explained the process to reserve the park.

“We chose Chester Bowl because it’s a park loved by so many,” Benedict said. “We wanted an outdoor space that was accessible for everybody.”

Next, they reached out to musicians.

“We had a whole list of bands; I think there were like 30 or 40,” she said.

Due to the tight time frame — planning for the festival began in late May — musical acts were swiftly contacted and booked based on availability. “There were 20 more women I could have asked, because I know how rich this community is with music and bands.”

The final lineup showcases that richness. Although the focus is on women’s contributions, several men are participating. The event begins with yoga (Kyle Leia Heyesen facilitating, accompanied by music from Kristy Marie), followed by musicians Lydia Boyum, Lu Starr, The Penny Peaches, Josie Langhurst, Emma Jean, Salt and Pine, Hot Tamale Cosmos, Jerree Small, Elsa Krantz and Gaelynn Lea. DuLilith Fest ends with a musical finale including all performers.

Behind the scenes, a three-woman organizing team — Benedict, Ringle, and Trish Kroening — is handling everything from permits and licensing to sponsorships and vendors.

“We have a lot of sponsors — it’s wild,” said Benedict. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to make this event free for the community.”

DuLilith Fest isn’t just channeling Lilith Fair’s musical legacy — it’s embracing its charitable mission too. The festival will highlight woman-focused nonprofits, including Safe Haven, the Program to Aid Victims of Sexual Assault, Project Joy, and the Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse, as well as the Chester Bowl Chalet Project.

“Because it’s a free event, we want people to show up and be present, and if they’re able to, contribute to one of the women-led organizations in the community,” Benedict said.

Festival-goers can feast on food-truck fare from Bowls n’ Thangs, New Scenic Café, Yellow Bike Coffee and Crank & Dasher. Adeline Wright and Kaylee Matuszak will emcee the festivities, with sound by Liam Feighn.

For Benedict, the festival is as much about community as it is about music.

“There’s just something so magical about bringing people together through song and vibration,” she said. “There’s a ripple effect it has on our souls, being together in a space where there is live music and nature. So, if we can provide that for people, I think that’s a gift in these crazy times.”

More information about DuLilith Fest and the full lineup are available on the PDD Calendar and Instagram at @dulilithfest.