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

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sat, May 31 - Folk Artists Gathering

Folk Artists Gathering Folk Artists Gathering Hershey
The Susquehanna Folk Arts Center is hosting a networking get-together for people who practice or enjoy traditional arts. That term includes playing traditional music, singing in a church choir, making quilts or rugs or wood-carvings, cooking from grandma’s recipes, learning Balkan dances — the list is endless! Please join us to meet others, collaborate and brainstorm ways to support folk and traditional arts in our region. Saturday afternoon, May 31 at Hershey Public Library. MORE

Sun, June 8 - 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. Your returning hosts are The Winter Brothers: Peter and Luke Lee. Be there at 5:15 to sign up to play! Sunday, June 8 at West Shore Theatre. MORE

Thu, June 19 - John Doyle & Michael McGoldrick

John Doyle & Michael McGoldrick Harrisburg
Two of the finest Irish musicians in the world, masters of the tradition, innovative players and composers: Mike with flute, whistles and pipes; John with guitar and vocals. An open Irish music session at 5:45 pm kicks off the evening; musicians and listeners welcome! Irish Session & Concert on Thursday, June 19 at Fort Hunter. MORE

Fri, August 8 - American Patchwork Quartet at Mt Gretna

American Patchwork Quartet at Mt Gretna Mt Gretna
APQ re‑imagines Americal folk songs, blending jazz sophistication, country twang, West African rhythms, and East Asian ornamentation. A stellar lineup of Grammy-winning artists brings four widely varying perspectives to a vision of unity in diversity. Outdoor concert on Friday, August 8 at Mt Gretna Playhouse. MORE

Sat, August 9 - Apprenticeship Celebration

Apprenticeship Celebration Apprenticeship Celebration Camp Hill
Join us for performances, demonstrations, and stories shared by this year’s SFMS/PCA Traditional Arts apprentices and the master artists who mentored them. This event is part of our “Bringing It Home” series, presented by our Susquehanna Folk Arts Center. Sunday, August 6 at Fredricksen Library. MORE

Fri, August 15 - Cumberland Honey: Sunset Music

Cumberland Honey: Sunset Music Harrisburg
SFMS presents local band Cumberland Honey as part of Fort Hunter Park’s “Sunset Music and Movies” series. Sweet harmonies with folk influences, soul and a taste of bluegrass from the heart of Cumberland County, PA. Their original songs weave stories of life, love and a call to social action. Rain date August 17th. Friday evening, August 15 at Fort Hunter Park.
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NEWS FLASH!

John Doyle & Michael McGoldrick

June 19: John Doyle & Michael McGoldrick: Irish session & concert

TICKETS FOR DOYLE & McGOLDRICK
DOYLE & McGOLDRICK DETAILS

Just when you thought our season was over, here comes a blockbuster finish — an intimate evening at Fort Hunter with two of the best Irish trad musicians on the planet. Might we suggest getting tickets early?

If you follow folk music — and not just Irish trad, but also bluegrass, old-time or Americana — you have probably heard both of these guys. You might not know their names, but you've heard them play.

John Doyle is one of the most innovative and most imitated Irish/Celtic guitarists out there. He's rightly in demand for his ability to bring out the best in any music, but he's also a captivating singer and solo performer. He was a founding member of Solas (on our stage earlier this spring) and first came to our stage in 2005 with fiddler Liz Carroll.

For flute, whistles and pipes, the same words can be applied to Mike McGoldrick: innovative, influential, often-imitated, much in demand. Mike was a founding member of the ground-breaking Irish contemporary trad bands Lúnasa and Flook, and is a long-time member of Scottish band Capercaillie. He's also performed with Afro-Celt Sound System, Kate Rusby, Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton.

Both John and Mike have been regulars for many years with the Transatlantic Sessions, led by Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas. That ongoing project brings together musical luminaries from across the spectrum of roots music, from traditional Celtic to bluegrass, country, blues and folk.

TICKETS FOR DOYLE & McGOLDRICK
DOYLE & McGOLDRICK DETAILS

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.
Curtain call at a Black Opry show, with several Black artists (mostly women) celebrating.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The calico flowers that Cherry Lewis is making will become part of a “Grandmother’s Flower Garden” quilt. Cherry finds support and camaraderie in the African-American Quilters’ Gathering (AAQG) of Harrisburg, PA, which welcomes all quilting enthusiasts, regardless of race or gender. [Folk Artists Gallery and 2022 Susquehanna Folk Festival]