Look through our calendar below to find both in person and online events.
The FSGW Calendar can be viewed two ways:
On Tuesday, July 1st, the FSGW Board will meet from 8pm to 10pm in a video conference meeting. Please contact the FGSW President via this link or the FSGW WebMaster via this link to get the video conference information if you wish to attend.
Board meetings are open to members. If you have agenda items you wish to have considered, please contact the FSGW President at: president@fsgw.org
The Glen Echo Folk Dancers will be meeting in-person every Wednesday evening at Glen Echo Park (7300 MacArthur Blvd).
7:30 pm: beginning/intermediate/advanced teaching
8:30-10 pm: open request dancing
Admission: $10
We strongly urge everyone to be vaccinated and fully boostered, but do not require it. If you have not done so already, please send your email address to dancingplanet@erols.com.
Note: if you are having symptoms, or if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, or may be positive, please attend the class via Zoom for the next week or 2. If you attend the class and then test positive, please let me know immediately, so I can inform those who attended the class (without identifying you).
For out-of-towners and those who cannot attend in person, we are offering this class via Zoom. You can enter by clicking onto the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87152651884?pwd=QWVyVEc1cm9uWTNqTkwrYTdPWlRrdz09
Meeting ID: 871 5265 1884 Password: 145
See the website for more information: dancingplanetproductions.com/folkdance
Melissa Running calls to the playing of Becky Ross (fiddle), Susan Brandt (flute), and Ralph Gordon (cello)
You may register in advance (preferred) or at the door. Attendance will be limited to 50 dancers and spectators so if you are planning on registering at the door, please check the event page beforehand to see how many spaces are left.
If you have not previously attended a Wednesday night English country dance at Glen Echo, you may select "first time free" when registering. New dancers are welcome. If you have no previous English country dance experience or would like a refresher, please arrive at around 7:30 for a lesson.
COVID info: masks and vaccinations encouraged but not required. More info
The dance is held in the upstairs room of the Glen Echo Town Hall.
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If you'd like to get weekly reminders and other email of interest to our local dancers, please send an email to ecd.registrar@fsgw.org to be added to the list.
General information on our English Country Dance web page
More information: International Folk Dancing (Greenbelt)
The Grapevine is on hiatus for the summer.
Learn more about The Grapevine (Storytelling) series
Kappy Laning calls while (guest musician from PA) Jeremy Steinberg (clarinet), Jeff Steinberg (fiddle), and Melissa Running (piano) make the music
This dance is in the Great Hall at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
Please note: There is no longer free parking at the Civic Center Parking Garage.
Caller: Gaye Fifer
Band: Dave Wiesler on piano and guitar, David Knight on fiddle, and Andrew Marcus on accordion
Calling Terms: Larks and Robins
Lesson at 7:00pm, Dance is from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Registration is required of all participants. Pre-registration is preferred - you may pay online or wait to pay at the door. You may register at the door. Cash and credit card are accepted at the door. Registrations may be cancelled prior to the event, and any payment will be refunded as a credit for future use. No refunds will be available after the event has started.
The monthly Song Circle provides a daytime opportunity to enjoy delightful songs, old or new, humorous or serious, timeless or topical. Free!
Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience. Come for informal group singing or just to listen, in person or via Zoom.
July 4 is Independence Day and July 14 is Woody Guthrie’s 113th birthday as well as Bastille Day, so bring or request your favorite Woody Guthrie songs and American traditional songs (Appalachian, blues, bluegrass, chanteys, etc.), or any other songs—maybe a few in French for Bastille Day!
If you wish to request particular songs, it helps to keep the singing going if you let us know well in advance using the registration form linked here.
Any participant may lead any song, a cappella or self-accompanied.
In-person attendees should read and follow FSGW's Respiratory Virus Guidelines.
If you can't come in person, please join us on Zoom with any Internet-connected device--computer, tablet, or smartphone--or you can join by dialing a phone number.
If this will be your first use of Zoom, go to https://zoom.us, click on " Sign Up Free " and follow the prompts. Do this ahead of time so that you'll be all set to "join the meeting" when it's time to do so. Information about getting started with Zoom is at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697.
Before you join a Zoom session, if you installed the Zoom Workplace app on your computer before June 23, go to zoom.us/download to download and install the current version (6.5.1). For a smartphone or tablet, update the Zoom app from your App Store or equivalent source.
Join us on July 11 in person or via Zoom. Especially if you're just getting started with Zoom, please try to join the Zoom session 5 or 10 minutes before 1:30 p.m. so that we can help with any technical issues before the singing begins.
For more information see the Song Circles page.
*** NOTE *** We're going with the 2nd Friday, as the 1st Friday is the Fourth of July.
Thank to Fred Stollnitz for hosting the Online Open Sing on Friday, 7/11/25 at 7:30 p.m. The topic is Woody Guthrie songs, in honor of his 113th birthday on July 14.
***Only those wishing to sing need to register.***
Reminder: Registration will be open until Noon EDT on 7/11/25. Zoom Link will be sent to the Open Sing Mailing List. If you're not a member, sign up HERE
Registration Link
Singers List
Larry Weinerwill lead an
Oldies but Goodies Night
all request evening featuring recorded music international folk dance favorites - many easy dances to just follow along -
No experience or partner necessary.
Request dancing 8:00-9:30pm.
VITG Monthly Story Swap in Falls Church, VA Saturday, July 12, 7:30 p.m.
Storytellers and listeners are invited to an evening of shared stories. Anyone is welcome to tell a tale; no one ever has to. For adults or families.
Info: Jane Dorfman, 301-654-5818, dorfmanjo@gmail.com
Cost: FREE!
RSVP here
General information on Story Swaps
Barn Dance from 1-3pm in the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD.
Caller: Kappy Laning
Music: Liz Donaldson and Gina Faber
Covid Info: masks and vaccination are encouraged but not required
Admission: Free! (no need to register, just show up at the door)
Come join us at the barn dance! This fun-spirited dance event is suitable for all ages and ability levels and features live music and calling. There will be circle dances, ceilidhs, and a variety of mixers. This dance fits the bill for families with preschool children just as well as older groups of tweens and teens. Our intergenerational community is what makes this dance unique and fun. So grab a friend or your kids and come join us!
General information on our Barn Dance web page
FSGW Gospel Sing in Riverdale Park, MD on Sunday, July 13, 4 - 7 pm
The July 2025 Gospel Sing will take place at Johanna Miller’s air-conditioned townhouse in Riverdale Park. Group singing from 4 - 6 pm followed by potluck dinner until 7pm. Hymnals provided. A mask-friendly event — masks are optional but welcome. Everyone is welcome, but be sure you are symptom-free. RSVP/directions: text Johanna at 240-274-6847 or email Kathie at kpmack2@gmail.com.
General information about Gospel Sings
The Takoma Park Old-Time Jam is again at Busboys and Poets in Takoma, DC, the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
More info about the Old-Time Jams
Anna Rain calls while David Knight (fiddle), Carrie Rose (flute), and Liz Donaldson (piano) play the tunes
John Robinson will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
Lessons 8:00 - 8:30pm
Request dancing 8:30 - 9:30pm.
April Blum calls to the music of Emily Aubrey (fiddle), Elisabeth Epstein (flute), and Janina O’Brien (piano)
Ben Hole will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
Sunday Afternoon Dancing Planet Contra Dance
Intro lesson at 2:30pm, dance from 3-6pm in the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park, MD.
Caller, dance organizer, and contra choreographer Greg Frock calls an afternoon of fun and creative dances with delightful music by Trio Con Brio: Elke Baker, (fiddle), Paul Oorts (mandolin/banjo/musette accordion), and Jonathan Jensen (keyboard). Come join us for some sweet outdoor Summer dancing.
Admission: $15 Cash or $17 Venmo (to cover fees) at the door, no cards.
Covid info: masks and vaccinations are suggested but not required.
Andrea Nettleton leads the dancing while Paul Oorts (mandolin and accordion), Colleen Reed (flute), and Neil Epstein (piano) play
Hosted by Linda Mansdorf, John Robinson, Ben Hole, Vita Hollander & other guest instructors. This is a FREE event.
To Register for the Zoom link contact John Robinson at j_srobinson@verizon.net
There's no Barn Dance in August - see you again in September!
Caller: Bob Isaacs
Band: The Hollertones (Paul Brown on banjo and mandolin, Linda Scutt on fiddle, Jeanie Theiken Creamer on guitar, and Nick Weiland on upright bass)
Contrastock: 8+ hours of contra dancing! A premier contra dance event, featuring nationally renowned bands and callers and an amazing historic dance hall.
When: Sunday, September 7, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM. There is a break for dinner.
Where: Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, MD
Bands: Audrey Jaber & Alex Cumming, The Gigmeisters (Dave Wiesler, Alexander Mitchell, Paul Oorts, and Ralph Gordon), and Good Company (Helen Kuhar, Cecily Mills, and Rohan Weeden)
Callers: Alex Deis-Lauby, Will Mentor, and Rick Mohr
The famous Contrastock potluck is back! Bring a clearly labeled dish to share and enjoy a meal in the park with fellow dancers.
Evening Only tickets can be purchased at the door, subject to availability (first-come, first-serve). These tickets cost $25 and cover admission from 6:20pm through the end of the event.
Please use fragrance sparingly or not at all. Contrastock is being called with non- gendered dance role terms.
Covid protocol: Masks and vaccinations are encouraged but not required
More about the FSGW COVID-19 Response policy
Intro lesson at 2:30pm, dance from 3-6pm in the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, MD.
Caller: TBD
Band: Airloom (David Knight on fiddle, Carrie Rose on flute, and Dave Wiesler on keyboard and guitar)
The Getaway Friday, October 3rd, with a pot-luck dinner, and runs so late on Sunday night that we serve breakfast on Monday morning, October 6th.
The Getaway is an amazing weekend-long party of folks who love to sing, play and listen to folk music. We come together in a lovely riverside retreat to join together in making music, sharing what we bring and learning from friends old and new. There will be workshops, sing-arounds, sign-up concerts, music and conversations at all hours. Participation is encouraged at any level comfortable to you in a supportive and welcoming environment. Old and new songs and tunes, recitations and stories, along with information on historical contexts and insights, have filled the Getaway, along with conversation and laughter, for over half a century; come be a part of the fun!
Our guests this year include Brian Dolphin and Elizabeth LaPrelle and Sandy LaPrelle, Bob and Jeanne Zentz, Michael and Carrie Kline, Pete the Spy, George Stephens and Kathy Westra.
Although the Getaway will not occur until the weekend of October 3 - October 6, 2025, it is helpful if you can register early. Please register before September 26. You do not need to pay immediately, but we expect you to view registration as a commitment. If you have not paid in full by September 19 we will remind you.
Please fill out the entire registration form. We pay close attention to what you write; we use this information to plan workshops and assign rooms.
Here is a summary of the prices:
Overnight Registrations Day Registrations
2 Nights
3 Nights
Adult Member
Upper Bunk
$265
$310
Lower Bunk
$275
$325
Adult Non-Member
$300
$345
$360
Child age through 3
$0
Child age 4 to 12
$115
$160
Child age 13 to 17
$150
$190
Student 18 and older
$230
1 Day
2 Days
Without Meals
$50
$100
$60
$120
$8
$15
$30
Please note that if you are registering more than one person, you must complete the registration process (including payment) for each person before registering the next person.
See the Getaway page for more details.
Save the Date!
Same festival but just one day, not two, so it will be super-jammed packed with the most excellent folk music from the DC area!" If you want to perform, send inquiries to publicity@fsgw.org
Band: Midnight on the Water (Nathan Bishop on fiddle, viola, and hardingfele, Tom Krumm on fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, and Dani Hawkins on cello)
Caller: Will Mentor
Band: Stomp Rocket (Bethany Waickman on guitar, Dave Langford on fiddle, and Glen Loper on mandolin and tenor banjo)
#Dance Weekend is an ultra challenging urban dance weekend featuring mind bending figures, non-gendered calling, and phenomenal music. Two days of amazing workshops, dancing, community, fun, and food in the fabulous open air, covered Bumper Car Pavilion; workshops throughout Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD
Callers: River Rainbowface and Qwill Duvall
Bands: Eloise and Company (Rachel Bell, Becky Tracy, Owen Morrison), and Northwoods (Casey Murray, Molly Tucker, Sam Zakon-Anderson)
Volunteering: Full-weekend volunteers will be assigned 3 hours of work. Partial-weekend volunteers will be assigned 1 hour of work
More about #Dance Weekend
COMING: Pre-orders of t-shirts, we will have limited sizes and shirt styles for sale at the event as well as previous year's designs.
Copyright 2018 The Folklore Society of Greater Washington