As Lenny Epstein put it, Jewish culture is joyful, complex, creative — and meant to be shared.

Good Lox is a small-but-mighty festival of Jewish culture organized by members of the local Jewish community. It takes place October 3-5. 

“After October 7, people felt pretty isolated,” Mr. Epstein notes. “Folks who identify as Jewish were rattled, to put it mildly.” During the pandemic, members of the local community started to come together to celebrate Jewish holidays in backyards. As more and more people started to take part, it became clear there was critical mass spread out across the County. The gatherings helped to stem the isolation some transplants might feel in a rural area.

That led to The Jewish Community Centre of Prince Edward County, a collection of people from all walks of Judaism. It maintains a space at the Armoury, where it hosts activities and holiday get-togethers.

During a time of amped-up rhetoric and global tensions, the group wanted to do something for the community of PEC. Mr. Epstein notes the Canadian Jewish community is not defined by what is happening elsewhere in the world.

And so Good Lox was born. Good art, good music, good talk and, of course, great food.

The festival will feature Canadian artists and authors whose work explores Jewish culture.

A film screening of the 2024 feature film, The Spoils, kicks off the festivities. Directed by Jamie Kastner, it delves into the global debate over the rightful ownership of art plundered during World War II. The screening is hosted at The Andrew. The weekend also features a Saturday concert by Canadian rapper and record producer “Socalled,” aka Josh Dolgin, and an author’s talk on Sunday afternoon featuring Enid Grace in conversation with Bonny Reichert about her memoir, How to Share an Egg.

Good Lox wraps up Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. with Sit at Our Table, a Sukkot community potluck hosted by The Cape.

From soul-stirring music and thought-provoking film to delicious food and dynamic conversations with authors, the weekend is a chance to gather in community. All are welcome.

“Whether you are Jewish, Jew-ish, or just culture-curious, all are welcome at Good Lox,” says Mr. Epstein. “Come for the art, stay for the bagels. Leave with a full heart and a full belly.”