The Susquehanna Folk Festival returns on August 9-11 with world-class performers and hands-on fun. Join us at the Appell Center in downtown York, PA for a full weekend of live music, dancing, jams, and family activities.
Concert artists include Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy, Hot Club of Cowtown, Hubby Jenkins, Larry & Joe, and The Klezmatics, as well as local artists. Dance highlights include the Contra Rebels with Bob Nicholson, the Dead Sea Squirrels with Janine Smith, and swing dancing with Chelsea Reed & the Fair Weather Five
Entertaiment and Activities include:
Fri, Aug 9 - Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy
Canada’s reigning couple of Celtic music kick off our Susquehanna Folk Festival with their spectacular Cape Breton fiddling and step-dancing. If you haven’t seen anyone do both of those things at the same time (and brilliantly), you are in for the treat of a lifetime.
We’re excited to also welcome special guests Poor Man’s Gambit. Their traditional tunes and songs are just lovely altogether.
Get tickets early! And join us at the Appell Center in York, PA, in the lovely Capitol Theatre, for our headline concert on Friday evening, August 9. MORE
Fri, Aug 9 - Friday Night Contra Dance
The Susquehanna Folk Festival’s weekend of dance kicks off with live southern old-time music by The Contra Rebels (Todd Clewell, Barb Schmid and Henry Koretzky) and caller Bob Nicholson. Join us at the Appell Center in York, PA, in the Studio, for a contra dance on Friday evening, August 9. MORE
Sat, Aug 10 - FREE FOLK Saturday
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, much of our daytime festival programming is FREE! Spend a cooool afternoon having folky fun before our ticketed matinée and evening events. Free Folk Saturday features family-friendly folk dancing, an old-time jam, singer-songwriter Bobbi Carmitchell, and our Emerging Artist Showcase, plus hands‑on activities in our Young Folks Zone.
Sat, Aug 10 - A Little Folk Dancing
Try some easy, fun, family-friendly dances with World Dance Lancaster’s Zita Angelo. Anyone can dance! We’ll have two short sessions on Saturday: one right after doors open and the other in early afternoon. Meet in the Young Folks Zone, adjacent to the Studio Stage, at the Appell Center in York, PA for a little folk dancing on Saturday, August 10. MORE
Sat, Aug 10 - Bobbi Carmitchell
Lancaster County singer-songwriter Bobbi Carmitchell has been a force on the Central Pennsylvania music scene for 40 years, and has toured all over the country. Her music and singing supports many causes that she believes in. As part of “Bringing It Home” programming in The Studio of the Appell Center, Bobbi performs a FREE mini-concert on Saturday morning, August 10. MORE
Sat, Aug 10 - Old-Time Jam
Bring your instrument and bop over to York (PA) Central Market to join in an old-time jam session with York County's Todd Clewell and Barb Schmid. Musicians of all levels, as well as listeners, are all welcome! This is one of the many FREE hands-on events the festival offers. Open jam session Saturday afternoon, noon to 2pm.
Sat, Aug 10 - Emerging Artist Showcase
Up-and-coming roots musicians are in the spotlight in our annual Emerging Artist Showcase, one of the highlights of our summer festival and always a fun event. Come to the Susquehanna Folk Festival on Saturday afternoon to watch all of them strut their stuff. The winner will open for Hot Club of Cowtown that evening!
This year's finalists are:
The Honey Badgers
Dann Pell
Red Smith & Blue Dawn
Erin Lunsford
Joseph Alton Miller
We are partnering again with York County Libraries to present hands-on family fun at the Susquehanna Folk Festival. Our Young Folks Zone, adjacent to the Studio Stage, will be open Saturday from 11 am to 3:20 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 2:40 pm. Join us at the Appell Center in York, PA for FREE family activities!
Sat, Aug 10 - Hubby Jenkins
A talented multi-instrumental roots artist following the thread of African American history that weaves itself through country blues, ragtime, fiddle and banjo, and traditional jazz. Formerly with the Carolina Chocolate Drops! Join us in the Capital Theatre at the Appell Center in York, PA, for a matinée concert on Saturday afternoon, August 10. MORE
Sat, Aug 10 - Hot Club of Cowtown
This trio’s exuberant alchemy of hot jazz, Texas swing, quirky humor and wicked improvisation has won hearts all over the world. They were a fan favorite at our 2019 Festival and we’re sure they will be this year too! Our Emerging Artist Showcase winner will open the show. Join us at the Appell Center in York, PA, in the lovely Capitol Theatre, for our headline concert on Saturday evening, August 10. MORE
Sat, Aug 10 - Saturday Night Contra Dance
The Susquehanna Folk Festival’s weekend of dance continues with a Contra Dance featuring live music by The Dead Sea Squirrels and caller Janine Smith. Join us at the Appell Center in York, PA, in the Studio, for a contra dance on Saturday evening, August 10.
Sun, Aug 11 - FREE FOLK Sunday
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, much of our daytime festival programming is FREE! Spend a cooool afternoon having folky fun before our ticketed matinée and evening events. Free Folk Sunday features local bands Brazilian Vibes and Tanjo & Crow, dancing limberjacks (and limber-janes!), creative takes on roots music in our Archive Challenge, and hands‑on activities in our Young Folks Zone. Free Folk on both Saturday and Sunday, August 10 & 11.
Sun, Aug 11 - Brazilian Vibes
From infectious Afro-Brazilian rhythms to the enchanting cadence of bossa nova, this Harrisburg-area band celebrates and shares the captivating music of Brazil. As part of “Bringing It Home” programming in The Studio of the Appell Center, Brazilian Vibes will entertain us with a FREE mini-concert on Sunday morning, August 11.
Sun, Aug 11 - Tanjo & Crow
This gritty-funky duo is a no-holds-barred exploration of roots music through distinctive songwriting, Appalachian arrangements, and seemingly fearless improvisation. Tanjo & Crow, featuring Tanner Bingaman (our 2021 Emerging Artist!) and Allan Combs II, will perform a FREE mini-concert on Sunday afternoon, August 11.
Sun, Aug 11 - Limberjacks & Limberjanes
Randy Heisley-Cato’s charming little wooden dancers are coming to the festival! See them “perform” on Sunday at noon and 1:20 pm. Come the Young Folks Zone, adjacent to the Studio Stage, at the Appell Center in York, PA for FREE limberjack demonstrations on Sunday afternoon, August 11.
Sun, Aug 11 - Archive Challenge
Artists delve into the Library of Congress’s extensive collection of American folk music, and choose a song to make their own. This year’s artists are "Cigar Box Guitar" aficionado Shane Speal, Blue Sky Quartet’s Sarah Fiore, and local music advocate Zach King. Join us in The Studio of the Appell Center for our Archive Challenge on Sunday afternoon, August 11.
Sun, Aug 11 - Larry & Joe
Larry Bellorín and Joe Troop play a surprising fusion of Venezuelan and Appalachian folk music, promoting a message of unity between the two folk traditions — on harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, maracas, guitar, upright bass, and whatever else these two master musicians decide to throw in the van. Join us in the Capitol Theatre at the Appell Center in York, PA, for a matinée concert on Sunday afternoon, August 11.
Sun, Aug 11 - The Klezmatics
Joyously unconventional Eastern European Jewish music ends our Susquehanna Folk Festival in grand style! The Klezmatics’ music is steeped in tradition and spirituality, incorporating contemporary influences from jazz to punk. It’s wild, mystical, provocative, reflective, and ecstatically danceable. Join us at the Appell Center in York, PA, in the lovely Capitol Theatre, for our headline concert on Sunday evening, August 11.
Sun, Aug 11 - Sunday Night Swing Dancing
Lively roots jazz by Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Five brings the Susquehanna Folk Festival’s weekend of dance to a rousing finale! An intro class will get you started; open dancing follows. Join us at the Appell Center in York, PA, in the Studio, for swing dancing on Sunday evening, August 11. MORE
Social dancing is fun, great exercise, and a lifetime learning opportunity. Jump right in! All of our evening dances start with an introductory workshop, and the local dance community is very welcoming to new friends. Join us at the Appell Center in York, PA, in the Studio, for contra and swing dance workshops at the Susquehanna Folk Festival.
Click here to view the full program and for tickets.
