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

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sat, August 23 - Volunteer Appreciation Picnic

Volunteer Appreciation Picnic Harrisburg
All Susquehanna Folk volunteers, past and future, are invited to a cookout potluck with live musical entertainment by SFMS Board members! Saturday, August 23 at Fort Hunter Park, West Pavilion. MORE

Sat, August 30 - Swing Dance Classes at Mt Gretna

Swing Dance Classes at Mt Gretna Swing Dance Classes at Mt Gretna Mt Gretna
Carla Crowen of The Rhythm Lounge will be teaching swing dance classes for all levels, starting at 5pm. Dust off those shoes and get ready to dance in the aisles! Tuba Skinny concert is SOLD OUT! Tuba Skinny doesn’t just play music; they transport listeners to the heart of New Orleans — a city pulsing with life, with an unparalleled influence on American music and a profound love for its musical roots. They play jazz, ragtime, jug band and string band tunes, country blues and more. Swing dance classes and outdoor concert on Saturday, August 30 at Mt Gretna Playhouse. MORE

Fri, September 12 - The Kathleen Parks Band

The Kathleen Parks Band York
This fiddler, singer, and songwriter brings joyful and creative energy to the stage and studio. Her writing leans toward pop, folk, and classic jazz, while her virtuosic fiddle blends and reimagines traditional and modern musical styles with boundless groove, and a playful improvisational spirit. Concert on Friday, September 12 at UUCY. MORE

Sun, September 21 - Folk at Fort Hunter Day

Folk at Fort Hunter Day Harrisburg
SFMS hosts an open jam session as part of the annual Fort Hunter Day festivities. Afternoon music includes Van Wagner, Fire in the Glen, Hammer Creek Bluegrass, Forbes Road Frolic, and the St Thomas Dulcimer Society. Enjoy family-friendly activities and historical demonstrations, food, crafts, and more, all day Sunday, September 21 at Fort Hunter Park. MORE

Sun, September 21 - 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, September 21 at West Shore Theatre. MORE

Sat, September 27 - Shine & Grace at Celebrate Wildwood

Shine & Grace at Celebrate Wildwood Harrisburg
SFMS presents Shine & Grace as musical guests (10:30 am and 12:30 pm) at Celebrate Wildwood, a nature-filled day for the whole family. Rain or shine! Paint a pumpkin, learn about birds and butterflies, go on a guided walk, find a new favorite food truck... lots of FREE family fun and live music on Saturday, September 27 at Harrisburg’s Wildwood Park. MORE
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Four Fall Concerts Announced

Tickets are available now for four new shows: super‑groovy contemporary folk, snow‑scented music from Scotland, high‑spirited contemporary Québecois, and the amazing multi‑genre musician whose sea shanties enliven the Assassin’s Creed video game series.

Kathleen Parks Julie Fowlis Cécilia Seán Dagher
Kathleen Parks Band Sept 12
Julie Fowlis October 2
Cécilia October 9
Seán Dagher November 23

Kathleen Parks Band — September 12

A fan favorite from the genre-bending contemporary string band Twisted Pine, Kathleen Parks is also fantastic on her own. Grounded in Celtic and American roots music, but also in funky rhythms and groove-based improv, she’ll kick off our 2025-2026 Concert Series in grand style.

Julie Fowlis — October 2

Julie’s entire U.S. tour is about one week (fact!) and one of those evenings she’ll be performing for us. That’s a big deal! She’s a wonderfully charismatic ambassador for the songs, music and language of her native Scotland. Her shows reliably sell out in advance, and audience members come from hundreds of miles away. Grab your tickets now!

Cécilia — October 9

It is a pleasure to see how much enjoyment this Québecois trio finds in playing together. While honoring their musical heritage, they bring in fresh flavors, vibrant rhythms and unique twists, all resonating with a unique warmth and richness of expression. You’ll be smiling long after the final notes have melted away.

Seán Dagher

This Montréal-based über‑musician composes, arranges and performs in traditions from Celtic to Arabic, medieval to modern, from symphonies to sea shanties in video games. His weekly "Shanty of the Week" YouTube series has a large and loyal following from all over the world. We met him last fall as part of Skye Consort; he’s also the co-artistic director of La Nef.

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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.
Closeup of a Black woman’s hands stitching small hexagons of colored calico into a flower. In her lap is a clear bag holding several finished flowers.
A head-and-shoulders shot of Raye Zaragoza, a young multi-racial woman with long straight hair, dusky skin and full lips. She is wearing a black hat (only the underside of the brim is seen) and black T-shirt. Her expression is serious and a little sad.
Two Hispanic men with dark skin pose with large Puerto Rican drums in front of a Puerto Rican flag. They wear white shirts and trousers, and white hats with black bands. They are also holding other percussion instruments, including maracas and a basketball-sized shaker covered with colorful fishnet.
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.
IMBA Award winner Tray Wellington takes a forward-looking approach to the banjo, an instrument inextricably linked with the Black experience in America. Tray's innovative music puts the cultural touchpoints of the banjo — so often clichéd, stereotyped and whitewashed — solidly in his rearview mirror. [2024-2025 Concert Series]