Logo: Susquehanna Folk Music Society
Presenting fine traditional arts in Central Pennsylvania since 1985

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sunday afternoon, Nov 2 - Hubby Jenkins

Hubby Jenkins Hubby Jenkins Hubby Jenkins Highspire
An afternoon concert and workshop with an artist called “the joyous embodiment of the future of acoustic blues.” Articulate, enthusiastic and immensely talented, Hubby Jenkins is one of the brightest lights in a new generation of African American musicians. With special guest Hank Imhof. Admission includes “Blind Willie Johnson 101”, a post-concert Master Class focusing on the slide guitar techniques of that revered gospel blues artist (1897-1945). Like former bandmates The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Hubby goes deep, seeking blues from before it was blues, ragtime, jug band and string band music that became jazz and country... deeply American musical forms that all grew out of human experiences, stark social realities, and seismic changes in American culture. Sunday afternoon, November 2 at Champions in Highspire. MORE

Sun, November 23 - Seán Dagher

Seán Dagher Harrisburg
From Celtic to Arabic, medieval to modern, from symphonies to sea shanties in video games: few artists can match Seán Dagher’s scope! We met him last fall as part of Skye Consort, and now we’re excited to have him here on his own. Concert on Sunday, November 23 at the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg. MORE

Tue, December 9 - Windborne: Music of Midwinter

Windborne: Music of Midwinter Harrisburg
The Windborne singers released “To Warm The Winter Hearth“ late last year, smashing records for crowdfunded support of a folk album. Its music is even more exquisite live: ancient songs made new and fresh, familiar favorites better than ever. This will be the third SFMS show with these charming and masterful singers, and it’ll be too good to miss. Concert on Tuesday, December 9 at Unitarian Church of Harrisburg. MORE

Sat, February 21 - Winter Coffee House

Winter Coffee House Harrisburg
Susquehanna Folk Coffeehouses are intimate evenings showcasing Central Pennsylvania's fine amateur acoustic musicians, who play a wide variety of material for an attentive, music-loving audience. Interested in performing? Apply now! FREE Coffeehouse concert on Saturday, February 21 at Fort Hunter Barn. MORE

Sun, March 1 - Open Mic Night

Open Mic Night New Cumberland
Spend the evening at the lovely West Shore Theatre in New Cumberland, enjoying some fine local music and maybe taking center stage yourself. Be there at 5:15 to sign up to play! Sunday, March 1 at West Shore Theatre. MORE

Date TBA - Spring Coffee House

Spring Coffee House Harrisburg
Susquehanna Folk Coffeehouses are intimate evenings showcasing Central Pennsylvania's fine amateur acoustic musicians, who play a wide variety of material for an attentive, music-loving audience. Interested in performing? Apply now! FREE Coffeehouse concert on Saturday, date TBA at Fort Hunter Barn, Harrisburg. MORE

Hubby Jenkins joins our Fall lineup

“the joyous embodiment of the future of acoustic blues”

Hubby Jenkins
Hubby Jenkins — November 2

One of the brightest lights in a new generation of Black musicians! Articulate, enthusiastic, and immensely talented, Hubby seeks the deepest roots of blues, early jazz and pre-country.
That uniquely American music (not to mention that uniquely American instrument, the banjo) sprang from life experiences within our complex American culture. Through that musical lens is a rich and nuanced perspective on American history, and also fine music, well played, by a knock-your-socks-off multi-instrumentalist.
Stay for his Master Class after the Sunday afternoon show, even if you don't play guitar.

Hubby joins a fall lineup that includes super‑groovy contemporary folk, snow‑scented music from Scotland, high‑spirited contemporary Québecois, the amazing multi‑genre musician whose sea shanties enliven the Assassin’s Creed video game series, and off-the-beaten-path music to warm the winter hearth.

Julie Fowlis Cécilia Seán Daghe Windborne: Music of Midwinter
Julie Fowlis October 2
Cécilia October 9
Seán Dagher November 23
Windborne Dec 9

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Pennsylvania Relief Sale Quilt Auction

In this Folk Artist spotlight, we visit the Pennsylvania Relief Sale, a quilt auction that supports humanitarian work around the globe. More than just a fundraiser, it’s a family-friendly event centered around one of the most enduring cultures in our region.

An applique quilt showing a colorful array of tulips in a wooden cart or buggy. A bluebird perches on the cart’s handle.
This cheerful wall hanging won "Best in Show" at this year's Pennsylvania Relief Sale

For anyone who loves quilts and other handwork, the annual Pennsylvania Relief Sale is a must. A cultural staple in our region since 1957, it reflects generations of Central PA traditions of handwork, foodways, gardening, games, and music.

Besides the exhibition and auction of quilts, the event features food, live choral music, a plant sale, quilting supplies, and the contagious joy of quilt enthusiasts in a creative calico wonderland.

What began on a farm in Berks County, now fills all 172,000 square feet of the Giant Exposition Hall at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Next year's sale — April 2026 — is their 70th sale, and it's well worth marking your calendar now!

A montage of six quilt patterns. Top left is two squares of Veggie Cats: an orange cat curled in the shape of a pumpkin, and a maroon cat curled in the shape of an eggplant. Top center has blue swirls like cresting waves between long-pointed stars. Top right is a crazy quilt, with various shapes sewn together and ornately embroidered.

photos by Amy Skillman

The quilts showcase a wide variety of designs and techniques, from patchwork to applique to embroidery.
Read more about the Pennsylvania Relief Sale...
See more Folk Artist Spotlights
The board and staff of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society are committed to celebrating and affirming diverse cultures through programming which explores the music, dance, craft and stories of many people. We stand in complete solidarity with the Black community and all marginalized communities to speak out against injustice, bigotry and racial violence.
Crys Matthews, a young Black woman, wears a crisp white button-down men’s shirt, black tie and black suspenders. She has her thumbs underneath the suspender straps, pulling them up off her shoulders. Her curly hair is long on top and cropped close at the sides.
Curtain call at a Black Opry show, with several Black artists (mostly women) celebrating.
A Black man stands in the corner of a brick-walled room, playing a banjo and gazing down toward his hands.
A head-and-shoulders portrait of Sug Daniels. She is a young black woman with a strong, direct gaze. She has thick arched eyebrows, a broad nose with a stud on one side, very full lips, and medium-brown skin. She is wearing a black hat with a broad brim, tilted up, so all we see is a wide black disc behind her head. The photo is cropped so the edge of the hat almost doesn’t show. She also has a red bandanna wrapped around her head, with an inch or so showing beneath the hat brim.
Sheila Arnold, an older Black woman with very short hair, holds her fingers up in L shapes, like a frame that she is looking through. She smiles as she speaks to her audience.
Master storyteller “Ms Sheila” Arnold is a historic character interpreter, teaching artist and “Professional Imaginator” with a passion, vision and ministry of healing hearts, unifying communities and reminding people to share their stories. Her thoughtfully researched historical presentations reach people’s hearts, filling in what textbooks and museums leave out. [2022 Susquehanna Folk Festival - Liars Content judge]