Comets, Music, and Creativity at Pitzer Kohoutek

Born from a comet and the Pitzer creative spirit, the annual Kohoutek Music & Arts Festival has ignited the campus since the 1970s. Students run the community-wide jam session with an emphasis on art and positive vibes. This year, Finley Brownfield ’28 is spearheading the organization of this year’s Kohoutek, which will take place on March 28, 2026.

Student voices drive Pitzer’s culture and campus life. Brownfield considers Kohoutek a prime example. She appreciates how the festival tangibly brings people together around music and art.

“Maybe it sounds a little old-fashioned, but I think that’s something that needs to be preserved in the digital age that we’re moving into,” said Brownfield.

Kohoutek is named after a comet that appeared in 1973. The media hyped it as “the comet of the century.” The comet turned out to be a dud, and a Pitzer professor decided to make a tongue-in-cheek spectacle of it with a festival that grew into a popular springtime event. The students have run with it ever since.

Kohoutek: 2026 Edition

This year’s Kohoutek festivities include:

•  Live music by students, alumni, and Los Angeles artists
• A flea market with the 5C sustainable fashion club THREAD5
• Student-designed Kohoutek merchandise
• A paint-by-number community mural
• Kohoutek-themed mocktails 
• Catering by Pitzer’s student-run Grove House
• Arts and crafts and other goods from student and local vendors

Brownfield co-leads the Kohoutek committee with Noah Straus ’26, and they collaborate with various students for event planning. Although the Division of Student Affairs staff provide support, Kohoutek is the brainchild of the students.

“We are reaching out to artists, booking vendors, learning some real-world things,” said Brownfield. “I’m learning how to figure out what artists need for equipment, sound, and even visuals.”

This year’s lineup of music acts includes student bands (The G Strings, Coast, Stuck in a Jam, and Noah’s Ark) and alum Peter Harper ’96. Other artists at this year’s Kohoutek will include HAILE, Ed Axel, and Asha Imuno.

According to Pitzer’s Office of Advancement, an annual gift of $25,000 from the Sleeping Phoenix Foundation will also help support the festival over the next five years.

As a psychology and cognitive science double major, Brownfield finds Kohoutek to be a unique way to lean into her artistic side. When another student suggested a paint-by-number mural, Brownfield jumped at the chance to design it. Kohoutek attendees can contribute to the mural on a canvas during the event.

Pitzer students often take advantage of the sunny Southern California weather to hang out on the Mounds with friends. According to Brownfield, Kohoutek builds on this idea with community-driven music and arts.

“The student-led aspect reflects Pitzer in the sense that we are really handling everything and that our ideas are being decided between each other,” said Brownfield. “It’s a super collaborative environment.”

Izzy Young ’28, who is a member of this year’s Kohoutek committee, had the same sentiment.

“We had to collaborate and listen effectively to each other, or else it wouldn’t have worked out,” said Young.

Young considers the whole campus community’s support to be critical to sustain this tradition.

“I believe that Kohoutek is the soul of Pitzer,” said Young.

Brownfield wants to ensure that everyone can be comfortable and have fun at Kohoutek. She invited Buzzworthy Beverages, a local Claremont business, to create customized, non-alcoholic beverages: Kohoutek Cooler and Comet Trail. (Bonus: the first 75 people to come by get a mocktail for free!) Mt Baldly Brewery will also offer beverages for attendees 21 and older.

“I wanted people to come celebrate in whatever way feels right for them,” said Brownfield.

Meanwhile, End Overdose at the Claremont Colleges and Pitzer Advocates for Survivors of Sexual Assault will share supplies and resources at the event.

Brownfield looks forward to creating a safe, welcoming space for students and the local community to enjoy Kohoutek.

“At Pitzer, everyone is here to help each other and make everyone feel welcome and included,” said Brownfield. “I see a lot of that in Kohoutek because everyone has different ideas, but we still want this event at the end of the day to be awesome.”