Festivals/Camps/Events

Adirondack Dance Weekend (Camp)
Contact: Peter Stix
21 Lenox Ave., Albany, NY 12203-2005
Phone: (518) 489-9066
E-mail:

Autumn weekend of participatory dance, music and singing, featuring contras, squares, swing & other dancing. Also boating, swimming, hiking, great scenery. Limited Attendance.

Adirondack Folk Music Festival
Contact: Schroon Lake Arts Council
PO Box 812
Schroon Lake, NY 12870
Phone: (518) 532-9259
Email:
Website: SchroonLakeArts.com/

Featuring about 12 performers who live and work in the Adirondacks. Vendors of Adirondack crafts and product as well demonstrators and exhibitors. Workshops and concerts.

Black Creek Fiddler's Reunion
Contact: Mark Schmidt
Phone: (518) 861-8783
Email:
Website: black-creek.org

A participatory Old-Time music weekend at the Old Songs Dutch Barn, Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, NY. Memorial Day Weekend. Workshops, Camping.

Capital District Scottish Games
Contact: Peter Plourde
PO Box 2135, Scotia, NY 12302
Phone: (518) 456-3510
E-mail:
Website: www.scotgames.com

The Northeastern United States' leading Scottish Games is held annually on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend at the Altamont Fairgrounds. Solo piping and drumming contests are held in the morning, band competitions and massed pipe band performances are presented in the afternoon. Traditional Celtic music groups can be heard throughout the day. Highland dancing competitions and exhibitions of Scottish country dancing and Irish step dancing round out the performing arts. Athletic competitions, a variety of special events, vendors of Scottish and Irish goods, and a range of refreshments help make the Games an event not to be missed.

Catskills Irish Arts Week
Location: Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre
Route 145, East Durham, N.Y.
Contact # for more info: (518) 634-2286, 1-800-434-FEST
Fax: (518) 634-2058
E-mail:
Web site: www.east-durham.org
Contact person: Christina Blakeslee/Quill Centre
   or Paul Keating/Artistic Director

Features daylong traditional Irish music workshops with master teachers from all over the U.S. and Canada.
See Website for complete details.

Champlain Valley Folk Festival
Contact:
PO Box 3
Ferrisburgh, VT 05456
Phone: (877) 850-0206 toll-free number, call between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern Time
Website: www.cvfest.org

Held the first weekend in August at Kingsland Bay State Park on Lake Champlain in Ferrisburgh, Vermont.

Civil War Music Heritage Gathering and Encampment
Contact: John Quinn
91 Cross Rd.
Windham, NY 12496
Email:
Website: http://members.tripod.com/~ny77thballadeers/

"Where the mid-nineteenth century American musical landscape is re-created and the Great Northern Catskill Mountains ring out with melodic voice and strings that tell the story of the trials and triumphs of a turbulent time." The Gathering takes place in Windham, NY. Next gathering: August 1-3, 2008

Dance Flurry
Contact: Rich Futyma
115 Hutchins Road
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
Phone: (518) 885-4430
E-mail:
Website: www.danceflurry.org

A festival that presents participatory dance in a multitude of areas for all levels of experience. Includes contras, squares, swing, ballroom, English, Scottish, Cajun, Latin, Scandinavian, International Folk, African & other dancing, singing, family activities, workshops in dance music & calling. Held in February, usually on the weekend nearest Valentine's Day. . Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga Springs, NY.

East Durham Feis (Irish Step Dancing competition)
Location: Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre
Route 145, East Durham, N.Y.
Contact number for more info: (518) 634-2286, 1-800-434-FEST
Contact Person: Neal Fox
Fax: (518) 634-2058
E-mail:
Web site: www.eastdurhamfeis.com

An Irish step dancing competition for children aged 3 on up to adults that attracts more than 600 competitors from the Northeast and Canada.

East Durham Irish Festival
Location: Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre
Route 145, East Durham, N.Y.
Contact number for more info: (518) 634-2286, 1-800-434-FEST
Contact Person: Neal Fox
Fax: (518) 634-2058
E-mail:
Web site: www.east-durham.org

Three days of food, drink and the latest in Irish contemporary music and Celtic rock. With two main tents and a smaller tent for the festival’s youngest attendees, the festival accommodates musical tastes of all ages.

Eisteddfod-NY
Contact:The Folk Music Society of New York
444 West 54th St #7
New York, NY 10019
Website: http://fmsny.minstrelrecords.com/eisteddfod/

A Festival of Traditional Music held at The Renaissance Charter School, 35-59 81st St, Jackson Heights, Queens, NYC.
2007 dates: November 16-18

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Contact: Anne Saunders
PO Box 144
Sharon, CT. 06069
Phone: (860)364-0366
Fax: (860) 364-4678
E-mail:
Website: www.FalconRidgeFolk.com

A four day community of folk music and dance at the foot of the Berkshires held on the Dodds Farm, off CR 7D in Hillsdale, NY. Camping on site, over 50 performers on 4 stages, tented dance floor. Always held on fourth weekend in July.

Farm Fest
Contact: Larry Syzdek, Ruth Olmsted
Shepherd's Hey Farm
43 Riverview Rd.
Clifton Park, NY 12065
Phone: (518) 383-3482
Email:

Farm Fest is a celebration of farming life held the third weekend in September on seven farms in southern Clifton Park, NY. Several participating farms schedule folk events such as concerts, dance demonstrations, fiddling jams, or a capella singing, as well as craft demonstrations, product sales, hayrides, etc.

Fiddler's Jamboree
Contact: Perky Granger
JTHS Jamboree
PO Box 7
Athol, NY 12810
Phone: 518-623-9507 or 623-2692
Email:
Website: www.thurman-ny.com/fiddlers_jamboree/

A three-day festival of Adirondack Mountain music and dance held under cover at Veterans' Memorial Field in Athol, NY, just over the river from Warrensburg. Rain or Shine! Bring your own chair! There's an evening of contra, square and round dancing; fiddle and dulcimer workshops, performances by Quickstep (John Kirk, Trish Miller, Ed Lowman & Cedar Stanistreet), The Cabin Fever Band, Don Perkins, Tom Wilkinson. Sunday all-gospel program--Charlie Payne, Peter Whitebird. Details and complete schedule can be found at www.thurman-ny.com/fiddlers_jamboree. See you there!

Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival Of Music and Dance
When: July 21-24, 2005
Where: Trumansburg Fair Grounds, Trumansburg NY
Phone: 607-387-5098
Website: www.grassrootsfest.org

The non-profit Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival is four days and over 60 bands of  blues, raggea, bluegrass, jazz, rock, zydeco, latin, Hip-Hop, country and Irish music.

GottaGetGon
Contact: Gail Griffith
345 Totem Lodge Rd.
Averill Park, NY 12018
Phone: (518) 674-3052
email
Website: www.pickingandsinging.org/GGG_festival2x.htm

Friendly, informal folk festival packed with good music both on stage and off. Memorial Day Weekend at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds, Ballston Spa, New York. All events are held in covered buildings. Events 7pm Fri nite thru 2 pm Mon. (Memorial Day weekend) include Fri evening potluck dinner, Sat am. - Sun pm workshops and concerts, a Saturday nite family dance, and informal campground picking and singing.

Great Northern Catskills Balloon Festival
Contact: Len DeGiovine
PO Box 385
Greenville, NY 12083
Phone: (518) 966-5050
Website: www.greenville-ny.com/balloon.html

Great Northern Catskills Balloon Festival is held in mid-August at Balsam Shade Resort in Greenville. Hot Air Balloon launches, Entertainment, Fireworks every night, Food & Craft Vendors, Carnival Rides.

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
Contact: Grey Fox Office
PO Box 535
Utica, NY 13503
Website: www.GreyFoxBluegrass.com

Grey Fox takes place in mid-July on the picturesque Rothvoss Farm in Ancramdale, NY--near the NY/CT/MA border. The camping area surrounds the festival's five stages, creating a relaxed and festive setting for enjoying some of the best bluegrass on earth.

Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival
Phone: 1-888-41-IFEST
Email:
Website: www.irish2000fest.com

Large one day event held at the Altamont Fairgrounds, Route 146, Altamont, NY in mid-September featuring top Irish performers, both traditional and contemporary.

Iroquois Festival
Iroquois Indian Museum
P.O. Box 7
Howes Cave, NY
Phone: (518) 296-8949
Fax: (518) 296-8955
E-mail:
Website: www.iroquoismuseum.org

The Iroquois Festival is a three-day event, held over the Labor Day Weekend, running from 10-6 each day, rain or shine. During the Festival visitors may enjoy the region’s best all-Iroquois Indian art market, with some 32 Iroquois visual artists and craftspeople exhibiting their latest works. Invited artists include antler-carver, ceramic artists, beadworkers, bone-carvers, stone-carvers, silversmiths, and other Iroquois artists working in traditional as well as experimental genres.

Last Gasp
Contact: Gail Griffith
345 Totem Lodge Rd.
Averill Park, NY 12018
Phone: (518) 674-3052
Email:
Website: www.pickingandsinging.org

The Last Gasp is a small, friendly, informal 'camp in the woods, play music, and sing all weekend' folk festival for members of the Pickin' and Singin' Gathering (with no paid performers). Labor Day Weekend at Camp Brookledge near Galway, New York.

Mohawk Valley Bluegrass Festival 
Erie Canal Village
Route 46/49 Rome NY
For more information: (315) 339-2771
E-mail:
Website: www.mvbga.com

Rough Camping, Workshops, Vendors, Great Bluegrass Music.

Mountain Dulcimer Music Fest
Contact: Lori Keddell
119 Co. Hwy 107
Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: (518) 762-7516
E-mail:
Website: http://bhsinging.info/daa

A gathering of mountain dulcimer players (and folks interested in learning to play the mountain dulcimer) held the first full weekend in March at the Calvary United Methodist Church, Belle Ave., Latham, NY. (March 7 & 8, 2008 will be our 20th annual festival!) Includes workshops and Friday and Saturday evening concerts featuring some of the finest dulcimer players from around the country, Saturday afternoon open stage, rental dulcimers, and vendors' area. Sponsored by the Dulcimer Association of Albany.

Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music and Dance
Contact: Andy Spence
PO Box 466
Voorheesville, NY 12186-0466
(518) 765-2815
E-mail:
Web: www.oldsongs.org

Held the last full weekend in June at the Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, NY. Festival brochure available in April. Thirty artists, craftpersons, workshops and concerts. Extensive family and children's area. Participatory dance and learn-hows. Camping on site. 28th annual Old Songs Festival dates: JUNE 27, 28 & 29, 2008. Visit the festival website for complete info: www.oldsongs.org/festival.html

Park Slope Old-Time & Bluegrass Jamboree
Contact: James Reams
565 9th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 965-8490
E-mail:
Web: www.bsec.org/events/coffeehouse or www.jamesreams.com/jamboree

Held in mid-September in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, at the historic building and gardens of the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture at 53 Prospect Park West at 2nd street. Friday evening concert; Saturday afternoon workshops and jamming, and evening concerts. 2007 dates: Sept 14-15.

Polish Fest
Contact:
Blessed Virgin Mary of Czestochowa National Catholic Church
250 Maxwell Road
Latham, NY
Phone: (518) 453-2258
Website: www.polishfest-ny.org/

PolishFest is a two-day celebration of Polish and Polish American arts, literature, music, culture, history, and food. From traditional polka bands, to cool jazz, to hip and humorous literature, to edgy contemporary Polish art, PolishFest will give the community a taste of the fun, the funny, the beautiful, and the stylish aspects of Polish culture! PolishFest will be held on September 21, 22 and 23, 2007 at the Blessed Virgin Mary of Czestochowa National Catholic Church (PNCC), located at 250 Maxwell Road, Latham, NY

Rhythm & Roots Festival
Contact: Rhythm & Roots Festival Office
PO Box 535
Utica, NY 13503
Phone - Toll Free (US): (888) 855-6940
Phone - International: (315) 738-0356
Email (tickets & info):
Website: http://www.rhythmandroots.com

New England’s Hottest Festival of Roots Music & Dance! Labor Day Weekend.

Riverway Storytelling Festival
Contact: Kate Dudding
Phone: 518-383-4620
Email:
Website: www.timesunion.com/communities/riverway

23 great storytelling events at convenient venues throughout the Capital Region. Family storytelling concerts, a ghost story concert, stories for adults, workshops, a showcase, story swaps, and lots more.

Solar Fest – The New England Renewable Festival
Contact:
Patty Kenyon, Festival Manager
SolarFest, Inc.
Middletown Springs, VT 05757
802-235-2707 (home office)
Email:
Website: www.solarfest.org

SolarFest is a totally solar-powered event, featuring over 20 national and regional musical acts, complete with light shows, plus 27 workshops on solar and wind energy, sustainable living and conservation, plus Children's activities and more. At Forget-Me-Not Farmon McNamara Road in Tinmouth, Vermont. Rain or Shine!

Summer Sinfonia
Summer Day Camp for Young String Players
Hawthorne Valley School, Ghent, NY
For more information or to contact the directors:
Caryn Niedringhaus (518) 479-3438
Email:
Website: www.hawthornevalleyschool.org

Summer Sinfonia - [will not be held in 2008]
“THE RINGING STRINGS” - Scottish and Shetland Music, Song, and Dance
Summer Sinfonia is a music day camp that offers an extraordinary opportunity to learn and play Scottish and Shetland music directly from two homeland performers and teachers; Eunice Henderson, Westlea,Cunningsburgh, Shetland, and Gilli Simpson, Dundee, Scotland. Summer Sinfonia is a one week music day camp that is open to all students and their families who play classical and traditional music and who have two years experience on violin, viola, cello, bass, harp, piano, flute, and penny whistle. Music will be taught and played by ear and with notes. Classes vary according to interest and ability and include Shetland and Scottish fiddle tutor, cello/bass band, classical and traditional ensembles, Scottish String Orchestra, Flute Ensemble and Choir, penny whistle, traditional piano accompaniment, country dance, and songs.
For more information please contact: Caryn Niedringhaus, (518) 479-3438 or email:
http://www.hawthornevalleyschool.org/news/summercamps.html

SummerSongs - A Songwriters Summer Camp
Contact: Penny Nichols
PO Box 803
Saugerties, NY 12477
Phone: 845-246-0223   Fax: 845-246-7068
email:
Website: www.summersongs.com

Where: Ashokan Field Campus, Olivebridge, NY
When: Early August. See website for details.

SummerSongs, Inc. is a non-profit corp. dedicated to helping songwriters write the best songs they can write. To that end SummerSongs puts on a songwriter's conference for adults in the Catskills every summer. The location is Ashokan Field Campus; a beautiful campground and conference center with cabins, a small lake, a stream, campground, meeting halls, classrooms, and all the makings of a really good time, including delicious meals. Workshops take place during the day, with plenty of time to relax and play music, swim, sauna or just listen to other people jam. In the evenings there are concerts and song circles, a coffeehouse, and jams that go far into the night.

SummerSongs is an exciting and inspiring project that brings together students from all over the country to study with some of the best songwriters in the world. Including Julie Gold, Steve Gillette, Cindy Mangsen, Sloan Wainwright, Eric Garrison, Mae Robertson,Freebo, Jason Blume, Artie Traum, Cosy Sheridan, Severin Browne,Tena Moyer, Vinnie Martucci & Penny Nichols. Visit www.summersongs.com for registration information.

Traditional Irish Music Festival
Location: Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre
Route 145, East Durham, N.Y.
Contact number for more info: (518) 634-2286, 1-800-434-FEST
Contact Person: Neal Fox
Fax: (518) 634-2058
E-mail:
Web site: www.east-durham.org

Music festival held in the Catskill Mountain village of East Durham, N.Y. Traditional artists from all over the U.S. and Ireland on multiple stages, includes dance and music. More than 4,000 attend the event.

Winterhawk Bluegrass and Beyond Fest
Contact: Anne Saunders
74 Modley Road
Sharon, CT. 06069
Phone: (860)364-9396
E-mail:

Winterhawk festival is currently on hiatus. Plans remain to revive it in the future.