Festivals are back! Ohio Valley Gathering, Clarksville, IN An acoustic music festival featuring the Mountain and Hammered Dulcimer, blending with other traditional instruments and musical styles. Over 50 hours of classes each year for the hammered and mountain dulcimer, autoharp, penny whistle, ukulele, banjo, banjammer, guitar, mandolin, folk percussion, bowed psaltery, and washtub bass. March 24-26, 2023 Buckeye Dulcimer Festival, Ashley, OH Mostly mountain and hammer dulcimer workshops, but this year they are featuring autoharp workshops taught by Michael Poole and, as always, jams and an extended multi-instrument workshop on playing in a band. April 19-23, 2023 Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering, Shippensburg, PA The largest autoharp gathering, attracting 200-300 people each year Five days of workshops, concerts with some of the top artists in the country, jams, and, of course: Home of the Mountain Laurel Autoharp Championship June 7-11, 2023 Kentucky Music Week, Bardstown, KY Kentucky Music Week offers a full five days of instruction in a wide variety of traditional arts including all levels of fretted dulcimer and hammered dulcimer, classes in ukulele, guitar, banjo, fiddle, autoharp, penny whistle, vocal classes, old-time craft classes, and much, much more! Over 150 class choices are offered this year. June 25-30, 2023 Walnut Valley Festival, Winfield, KS Attracting up to 16,000 attendees. Heavily weighted towards bluegrass, but there is an autoharp contingent that shows up each year and gathers at the “Autoharp Junction” Four stages with practically continuous music all day, with additional venues for even more music, not to mention the jams. Home of the International Autoharp Contest, and contests for 7 other instruments. We will be providing a prize autoharp again this year. Stop by our booth and try out our ‘harps! September 13-17, 2023 John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival, Brasstown, NC Bluegrass, gospel, folk, and Celtic music; over 240 fine craft exhibitors and more than 40 artisans demonstrating traditional and contemporary crafts. Pony rides for the kids. Early October Other Autoharp Festivals California Autoharp Gathering, Dunlap, CA A week of autoharp workshops and concerts with some of the top artists in the country. Seattle Autoharp Week, Seattle, WA (where else?) One week of intensive workshops for autoharp players Sore Fingers Summer School, Kingham, UK Intensive workshops for many folk instruments, including the autoharp. North West Autoharp Gathering, Port Orchard, WA Three days of autoharp workshops and concerts with some of the top artists in the country. Other Music Festivals Appalachian Festival, Cincinnati, Ohio Bluegrass, gospel, roots music, and big band jazz. Clogging and Square Dancing, dozens of vendors selling traditional Appalachian craft items, Living History Demonstrators, and Storytelling. River Roots Music and Folk Arts Festival, Madison, IN Americana and roots music on the Ohio River Original Dulcimer Players Club FunFest, Evart, MI A festival emphasizing hammer and mountain dulcimers, but players of all acoustic instruments are invited to add to the variety of sound. Workshops, concerts, and jams. Hungry Mother Festival, Marion, VA The Hungry Mother Festival brings together arts and crafts vendors, entertainment, live music, food, and family fun. All set in beautiful Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, Virginia. Entertainment includes live performances by bands and musicians in a variety of genres, workshops with master musicians, luthiers, et cetera, and animal demonstrations. Over 100 craft vendors.