Memorial Day 2025
Friday 5/23 - Monday 5/26
Join us on Memorial Day Weekend for our next creative retreat in Hudson, New York!
For three days and nights we’ll be writing, drawing, and exercising all those creative muscles we rarely have the time and space to activate in our everyday lives.
Unlike other residencies, you don’t have to be a writer or an artist to join. You don’t need a portfolio or a writing sample. You don’t even need to have any experience writing or drawing. All you need is to want to spend a few days focused on your creative practice, and an interest in doing that work in a small community of 7-10 others.
Each day there will be a facilitated group activity in the morning and another in the afternoon. In between, there will be private time to work, communal meals, and optional evening activities. Continue reading for a more detailed overview, and if you still have any questions, send us a message at little.nights.events@gmail.com
The Space
We’re staying in a beautiful country house just outside of Hudson, New York. Overlooking the Catskill Mountains, the house has both private and shared bedrooms, a large patio, a sprawling yard and fire pit, and plenty of space for both group activity and solo work.
The house has Wi-Fi, but we won’t be using it for any of our activities, and while you’re welcome to bring a laptop, we recommend instead bringing a notebook or other ways to engage in your creativity.
What’s Included?
Workshops
Each day there will be a facilitated group activity in the morning and another in the afternoon. These activities include writing and drawing lessons, ways to practice your observation, and strategies to sustain that practice after the retreat is over.
Past exercises include automatic and ekphrastic writing, blind-contour drawings, and making both paper and fabric cyanotypes .
Housing
There are three options within the house:
a private room for one
a private room for two (with a shared bed for you and a partner /friend)
a shared room for two (with separate beds for you and another participant).
There is also space on the lawn surrounding the house for those who’d like to camp.
See our pricing options below to learn more about each option.
All participants share the house’s three bathrooms.
Meals
We provide food for three meals a day, including breakfast staples, a sandwich and salad bar for lunch, three fully-cooked dinners, and a pantry of fruits and snacks, all of which include vegan and vegetarian options.
If you have any dietary considerations or food allergies, please let us know. You’re also welcome to bring any additional snacks you might want for the weekend.
Solo Time
In addition to our activities together, there is also intentionally unstructured time for you to read, write, draw, journal, meditate, or explore your own individual practice however you wish.
Community
The work you’ll get done on your own is only the beginning. After three days of making, sharing, and discussing your creative process, our hope is you’ll have grown your community and made connections that’ll continue to support your practice long after the retreat is over.
In addition to meeting the folks on your retreat, you’ll also become a part of our larger alumni community and invited to join all our alumni events, retreats, and gatherings.
What You’ll Need
TRAVEL
For those traveling from New York City via train on Friday, May 23rd, there is a 6:45pm Amtrak at Moynihan Train Hall that arrives in Hudson at 8:45pm. For those taking other trains, please plan to arrive at the Hudson Amtrak station by 8:45pm.
For those driving, we will send you the specific address of the house once you’re enrolled. Please plan to arrive at the house between 7-9pm on Friday, May 23rd.
On Monday, May 26th, we will drop off those taking the train at the Hudson Amtrak station at 1pm.
TOILETRIES
Each room includes a full set of bedding and towels. Please bring any other toiletries you might need.
For those camping, please bring your own camping equipment. We’ll provide both towels and full access to the house’s three bathrooms.
To minimize tracking in any mud, we’ll be leaving our shoes at the door. Please bring slippers or house shoes if you’d like.
Pricing
We are committed to making our retreats as accessible as possible, both creatively and financially. To that end, our sliding scale model allows you to select the rate that best suits your financial situation.
While all options receive the same benefits, we ask that you pay as much as you can afford; this enables us to continue offering the retreat to those who can only afford our lowest rates.
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2 full days and 3 nights in a private bedroom with a Queen-size bed
8 hours of group workshops with Josh and Hannah
8 meals, including 3 fully-cooked dinners, and a pantry of fruits and snacks
All necessary supplies, including cyanotype materials, notebooks, and writing and drawing implements
Transportation to and from the Hudson Amtrak station
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2 full days and 3 nights in a private bedroom with one Queen-size bed for two people
8 hours of group workshops with Josh and Hannah
8 meals, including 3 fully-cooked dinners, and a pantry of fruits and snacks
All necessary supplies, including cyanotype materials, notebooks, and writing and drawing implements
Transportation to and from the Hudson Amtrak station
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2 full days and 3 nights in a shared bedroom with one other participant, each with your own twin bed
8 hours of group workshops with Josh and Hannah
8 meals, including 3 fully-cooked dinners, and a pantry of fruits and snacks
All necessary supplies, including cyanotype materials, notebooks, and writing and drawing implements
Transportation to and from the Hudson Amtrak station
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2 full days and 3 nights of camping with full access to indoor bathrooms / showers
8 hours of group workshops with Josh and Hannah, plus a 45-minute private session
8 meals, including 3 fully-cooked dinners, and a pantry of fruits and snacks
All necessary supplies, including cyanotype materials, notebooks, and writing and drawing implements
Transportation to and from the Hudson Amtrak station
Application
We ask everyone to submit a quick and simple application, not to judge the merit of your work, but to better understand your experience, intentions, and current relationship to your own practice. All of this will inform our ability to build a dynamic and cohesive group, and make the best possible retreat for everyone.
March 1st: Applications open
April 7th: Applications close
April 15th: Selections announced
There are limited spots, but if we are not able to include you this time please apply again!
*If you’re applying as a pair for the shared room, we ask that both parties apply individually and note the other’s name in their form.
Refund Policy
There are no refunds for cancellations, but if something comes up we’ll do our best to roll your fee forward to a future weekend. If you can’t come, please contact us as soon as possible. In the event of a cancellation, Little Nights is not responsible for any related travel expenses.