Salish Sea Folk Fest on Orcas is a community celebration

||| FROM SAN JUAN MAKERS GUILD |||

Have you noticed how Islander ingenuity and creativity seem to rise right up through the rock of our island home? Like the Madronas we love, clinging to the crags and leaning out toward the sea, there is a steady, lasting resilience beneath the beauty of this remarkable place. Mountain to sea, forest to valley plains, the power of this place influences our lives, every day.

The Salish Sea Folk Arts Fest celebrates this intersection of place, people, and resiliency. Rooted in traditional hand-crafted skills and celebrated through music, dance, food and artisan works, Folk Arts connect us to the place we live, the heritage we value, and help shape the future ahead. The Folk Fest is based at historic Camp Moran, May 17^th-18^th, with Day Passes and workshop tickets available online at orcaswondercamp.org.

What Folk Art Skills are you curious to learn, explore and celebrate?

The Fest’s line up of island and guest artisans includes something for everyone – blacksmithing, wood working, boat building, bushcrafting, firemaking, drum making, spinning, weaving, felting, quilting, cedar basket making, beading, leatherworking, raku ceramics, printmaking, off grid living, medicinal plants and herbal crafting. Adult and teen sessions are Friday and Saturday. Youth activity programs are on Saturday, ages 5 and up.

What sparks your imagination?

• Folk Fest invites you to take a 2-3 hour hands-on skillshare workshop Friday or Saturday, May 17-18. Select your workshops online to reserve space and materials.
• Join the Folk Dance Friday night on the 17^th for contra and square dancing lead by Amy Carroll (lessons 6:30, dancing 7-9) at the Old Gym in Eastsound. Tickets available online and at the door.
• Purchase your Saturday Day Pass in advance, online, to come out for the Main Festival on the 18th, with activities 10am-9pm.

Festival Details

On Saturday, Dances of Universal Peace folk dancing circles opens the day at 10am, the Limbach Brothers are bringing out the Marimbas mid-day, and then the Makers Fair Stroll and afternoon music runs noon-5pm. Lunch and Dinner reservations are available online with island favorite meals from The Kitchen.

Saturday afternoon, the day’s folk music begins with Marimba and African drumming, and then dives into the songwriting of Tara Craig and John Bellows with Glenn Hendricks, the Celtic drumming of Stanley and Kip Greenthal, and the toe tapping fun of traditional folk musicians Tangled Tide. Hailing from Orcas, San Juan and Lopez Islands, the music line-up is a great convergence of talent from across our archipelago.

Dinner is served! Saturday evening, enjoy music and dinner from 5 to 9pm, opening with Carolyn Cruso on dulcimer, followed by folk music with Clint McCune, Rebecca Cohen, Joel Gamble and Dan Hall. As the campfire is lit, music evoking the wild fills the amphitheater with Orcas musician Rafe Pearlman.

Day Passes are required as parking and shuttle service are provided. You can see the list of Classes and Instructors, schedule of events, and ticket options at orcaswondercamp.org. The Salish Sea Folk Fest is sponsored by the San Juan Islands Makers Guild with support from the Washington State Parks Folk and Traditional Arts Program, San Juan County LTAC, Heritage Ranch, and the Orcas Wonder Camp program.

Come out and support our island makers! And try your hand – or dancing feet – for a delightful folk arts adventure.

Learn more at orcaswondercamp.org or email discover@orcaswondercamp.org