Contact the organizer(s) for information about the current status of these events.
Need to add or update any camp and workshop information? Email the website manager.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Folklore Village hosts numerous festivals throughout the year at Folklore Village (near Dodgeville, Wisconsin). It has been around for over 50 years has a variety of events to offer. All Events are in person.
The Country Dance Society fills the calendar every year with folk music and folk dance-related events: cdss.org. These events take place throughout the United States, put on by local chapters of the CDS.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY-MARCH
Florida Winter Weekend Folk Dance Weekend – Info at: folkdance.org
Flurry Festival – February 16-18, 2024 in Saratoga Springs, NY – One of the largest folk dance and music festivals in North America. The Flurry draws roughly 4,500 attendees and 400 performers every year. flurryfestival.org
Laguna Festival takes place in March in Laguna Woods, California.
Cerritos Festival – The Cerritos Folk Dancers host their Cerritos Festival in February featuring international folk dances with the theme of “East Meets West.” Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South Street, Cerritos, California. Info: Email
San Antonio Folk Dance Festival takes place in March of each year (2022 will be the 64th year) on the beautiful campus of Our Lady of the Lake University. Info here.
APRIL-MAY
Call of the Loon Contra Weekend is held at the Tapestry Folk Dance Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota in April each year. It’s THE Midwest Contra Dance weekend extravaganza, featuring live bands, guest callers, workshops, Sunday brunch and more! Website: tapestryfolkdance.org
Lyrids Folk Dance Festival – Held in April near Vancouver, BC, Canada. See lyridsfolkdancefestival.org. The weekend includes dances from the Balkans and more. Saturday evening party has live music.
New England Folk Festival Association – April 21-23, 2023 in Marlborough, MA – The Festival features a wide array of participatory dancing, singing, and instrument-playing; performances of dance, music, and storytelling; workshops and discussions on a variety of skills and topics; handmade crafts; vendors selling instruments, dance clothing and shoes, recordings and sheet music, ethnic goods, and more. neffa.org
Boulder International Folk Dancers Annual Workshop – Held in April at The Avalon in Boulder, Colorado. The 2023 weekend workshop is April 28-30, and will feature Tineke van Geel and Maurits van Geel teaching Roma, Armenian and International Dance. Visit boulderfolkdancers.org for more information.
International Folkdance Camp (IFC) – Held each May at Hopewell Junction, New York at Circle Lodge on scenic Sylvan Lake (90 mins north of New York). Run by co-directors Joan Hantman, Murray and Randi Spiegel, the camp features internationally acclaimed teachers. Visit IFC-NY.com.
California’s Statewide Festival – This annual workshop has alternated between northern and southern California since the early 1950s. In 2023 Harbor View Statewide will take place in San Pedro, CA May 19 – 21st. socalfolkdance.org/statewide.htm
Dancing Bears Dance Camp – Information about the Dancing Bears (Contra) Dance Camp in Wasilla, Alaska the end of May (usually Memorial Day Weekend) can be found at thedancingbears.org/.
Ontario Folk Dance Camp – Takes place at the University of Waterloo in the heart of Mennonite country west of Toronto in May. Info: website.
JUNE-JULY-AUGUST
June Camp – International folk dance weekend in the upper Midwest (over 60 years old). Usually on the weekend following Memorial Day. Contact moc.liamg@dfipmacenuj or sites.google.com/site/junecampifd/
Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp – June, July and August. Information about the Ashokan Fiddle and Dance camp in NY State can be found at ashokan.org/camps/
Pinewoods Camp – The Folk Arts Center of New England sponsors several dance/music workshops/camps during the summer. Information can be found at pinewoods.org/camp-sessions/session-schedule/ or by phoning 781-438-4387. Children’s and adult activities are offered along with swimming, boating, and music-making. The Pinewoods Band has been providing live music for all dance parties since 1991. Pinewoods Camp, Inc. offers other dance sessions throughout the summer. For that information see pinewoods.org.
Csipke Camp is in June each year, in Sauk Valley Resort, Michigan. It features Hungarian folk dance and music camp for adults and children. cspiketabor.org.
Scandia Camp Mendocino ScandiaCampMendocino.org. Scandia Camp Mendocino, an annual week-long residential camp founded in 1980, presents participants the opportunity to learn in depth about the folk music, dance and cultural traditions of Scandinavia. Camp usually takes place the 2nd or 3rd week of June. Visit the website to join the mailing list. Register as soon as possible as this camp often fills early.
Bay Area Country Dance Society American Dance and Music Week. Held in the Mendocino Woodlands, building and exploring the evolution of folk tradition at the Jones Gulch YMCA Camp in La Honda, California (near San Francisco). There are full tracks for musicians and dancers, as well as workshops for callers, dance and song writers. bacds.org/camps/amweek2019
Bay Area Country Dance Society Family Week Camp. This is held at Monte Toyon in Aptos, California, among coastal redwoods just inland from the shores of Monterey Bay south of Santa Cruz. It’s seven days full of dancing, music, crafts, games, storytelling, and too much fun. bacds.org/familyweek.
Balkan Music & Dance Camps – The EEFC [Eastern European Folklife C
enter] runs two annual Balkan Music & Dance camps, West Coast in Mendocino, CA and East Coast at Rock Hills, NY, in August.
Kentucky Dance Institute (KDI) – Established in 1953, the week-long folk dance camp welcomes dancers and families of all ages. It takes place in Murray, Kentucky, in July. KentuckyDanceInstitute.org
Middle Eastern Camp is held in July in the Mendocino Woodlands north of San Francisco, CA. The focus is Middle Eastern folk dance classes, belly dance classes instruction on Middle Eastern classical and folk instruments. middleeastcamp.com/Mendocino.html
Nordic Fiddles and Feet nordicfiddlesandfeet.org – This week-long Swedish and Norwegian Music and Dance held in June each year, at Camp Ogontz, near Littleton, New Hampshire.
St
ockton Folk Dance Camp – The Granddaddy of all Camps, certainly the oldest. Information about Stockton Folk Dance Camp held in Stockton, California, in late July/early August can be found at folkdancecamp.org. 2021 will be the 74th Camp. Six to eight teachers, two consecutive weeks – attend one week or both.
Lark Camp (Full name is “Lark In the Morning”) is typically the last week in July (2020 is the 41st year). Held in Mendocino Woodlands north of San Francisco, CA. Described as “a venue to allow traditional musicians and dancers to get together and share their music & dance …without being in a rigid school structure.” larkcamp.com/
Ti Ti Tábor Hungarian Folk Camp – This week-long camp is held at the All Saints Center, Raft Island, Washington. The camp offers programs in Hungarian music, dance, singing, and children’s folk arts. More information on Ti Ti Tábor can be found at tititabor.org.
Mainewoods Dance Camp – Information about the Mainewoods Dance Camp held in Fryeburg, Maine August-September can be found at mainewoodsdancecamp.org/ The camp features 2 one-week camps, usually the last two weeks of August. Check their website for updates and details about teachers.
New Mexico August Global Dance Camp – An annual festival in August in Socorro, New Mexico sponsored by SWIFDI (Southwest International Folk Dance Institute). swifdi.org. Children’s program offered. Teacher staff: Jaap Leegwater (Bulgarian) and Bruce Hamilton (English).
Balance the Bay – San Francisco’s big contra dance weekend. The Pomeroy Center on Skyline Boulevard in San Francisco has a rubber-pad sprung floor, excellent ventilation, and room for six long lines. bacds.org/camps
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER-NOVEMBER
Nirkoda Ba’Kerem — September 12-15, 2024, in Sacramento, CA. This Israeli dance camp and wine tasting adventure features some of California’s finest treats. A friendly and inclusive community, amazing teachers from Israel, gourmet meals in the newly renovated DoubleTree hotel, our signature wine tasting, and, of course, nonstop dancing! See nirkoda.com/BaKerem or email camp director Aaron Alpert moc.adokrin@noraa.
World Village Music & Dance Camp dancingplanetproductions.com – This camp takes place at Timber Ridge Camp in High View, West Virginia over Labor Day weekend. The international dance parties feature both your requests to recorded music and Balkan and Scandinavian dances to live music. The program includes dance, instrument, and singing classes throughout the day. Kids program daily. Info: Betsy & Jamie Platt at moc.slore@tenalpgnicnad.
Labor Day Weekend at Pinewoods in Plymouth, Massachusetts is co-sponsored by the Folk Arts Center of New England and the Country Dance Society, Boston Center. The weekend offers American, English country and international dancing, plus workshops in instrumental and vocal international dance music. facone.org/labor-day-weekend/labor-day-weekend.html
Boulder International Folk Dancers Annual Workshop – Usually held in April at The Avalon in Boulder, Colorado. Visit boulderfolkdancers.org for more information.
Enon Valley Folk Dance Camp – Held in September every year at SNPJ Recreation Center in western Pennsylvania about an hour from Pittsburgh. Check their website folkdancepittsburgh.com or contact Rob McCollum.
Ellen Golann’s Folkdance Weekend – Held each fall at Hopewell Junction, New York, at Circle Lodge on scenic Sylvan Lake (90 mins north of New York). Coordinated by Murray and Randi Spiegel, the camp features nationally known Israeli and International teachers. Info: moc.oohay@geipsr
World Camp – Founded in 1996 by co-directors Ahmet Luleci and Joe Graziosi this annual camp continues each year in September. Located near the town of Rock Hill, in the Catskill Mountains (90 miles NW of New York City. Bunkhouse-style cabins with a lake, swimming pool and attractive common buildings. For more information visit: worldcamp.us/
Fontana Clogging Jamboree – Takes place at Fontana Village, North Carolina, in September of each year. Information about the Fontana Clogging Jamboree can be found at fontanaworkshop.com/.
Pourparler – This unique gathering of dance ed
ucators takes place at different locations around the U.S. each year and allows these educators to share and teach and commune with each other. These conferences are a function of the National Folk Organization and are typically held in the fall (September/November). Visit their webpage: nfo-usa.com/pourparler.
Star of the North English Country Dance Weekend is held at the Tapestry Folk Dance Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota in late September of each year. Website: tapestryfolkdance.org
Folklore Village holds an Annual Fall Swedish Dance and Music Festival in October. There is a variety of dance and music classes including non-partner Scandinavian dances. The weekend begins with some fun and interesting information about Hovra, Sweden. Visit www.folklorevillage.org.
Oktoberfest International Dance and Music Weekend is held over Columbus Day Weekend, at Hulbert Outdoor Center, Fairlee, Vermont. Daily dance and music workshops, guided nature activities, evening dance parties featuring the Pinewoods Band. facone.org/oktoberfest/oktoberfest.html
Harvest Moon Dance Weekend – English country dance weekend in Chicagoland. in St. Charles, Illinois, with Kate Barnes, Earl Gaddis and Jonathan Whitall playing and Graham Christian calling. Website.
Fall Folk Dance Camp is usually scheduled for November, in a beautiful rural setting in Simi Valley, on the northern edge of Los Angeles county, California. This is an extension/continuation of Camp Hess Kramer that was held for many decades in Malibu, California. (That facility burned down in 2018). It’s a weekend of joyful friendship, dance parties, and comfortable motel style accommodations. See fallcamp.org.
Bannerman Folk Camp – Create a new Thanksgiving tradition in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you’re a singer, dancer, crafter, or you just love to play, Bannerman Folk Camp has something in store for you. The camp welcomes families and individuals, young and young-at-heart, locals and travelers to spend Thanksgiving weekend together. bannermanfolkcamp.com.
John Filcich Kolo Festival – Info: KoloFestival.org. This festival takes place in San Francisco, California, the weekend of Thanksgiving in late November. Details: Sonia and Cristian (Romanian), and more! Dance workshops, instrumental classes, singing classes, live music dance parties, and other events throughout the weekend!
National Clogging Convention – Thanksgiving weekend. In Orlando, Florida. More information found at clog.org
Texas Camp — Thanksgivin
DECEMBER
Norske Runddansere’s Annual Snoball – Scandinavian Folk Dancing Event with Live Music by Peter Michaelsen and Friend. Second weekend in December (In 2021 that’s December 11, their 33rd year). Held at Mazama Lodge on Mount Hood, Oregon. See norskerunddansere.org for more information.
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Need to add or update any camp and workshop information? Email the webmanager
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