Because traditional square dances or old-time square dances are danced as part of the program at many contra dances, I have made a list of groups and dance series which appear, on description, to be as informal in attitude as the crowd you'll see and meet at a contra dance. That means, for the most part, I have not included groups that appear to have an emphasis on Modern Western Square Dancing. These inclusions and exclusions are not meant to place a value on any type of dancing, just that I have to limit, at some point, what types of dancing I will include on these lists. This is an adjunct page to my links about contra dancing.

To differentiate these types of square dances from others, here's a quote from Jaso's FAQ on old-time square dancing

Q: What's the difference between old-time square dancing and modern western square dancing?

A: "Modern western square dancing" evolved after WWII and has a strong focus on performance and exhibition. Western squares often involve costumes, pre-recorded music, club membership, and difficult dance figures that people actually practice. Old-time squares are more informal and party-like and always have live string band music.

Or, in my words, if there are mentions of levels, clubs, badges, colors and/or costumes, links to that type of dancing are not included here. Not that either type of dancing is better, just that I'm trying to limit the list of links to a certain type of square dancing.

Tony Parkes has contributed an article in Wikipedia that provides information and resources for those who want to find out more about traditional square dancing.

I do understand that a significant number of contra dancers do not like square dances, with attitudes ranging from, "This is a good time to sit one out" to "Kill me now". Obviously, this list is not for them. But, I do enjoy having a little variety during the course of an event. Ten or so contras (plus a couple of waltzes), while not necessarily boring, can be less interesting. In any event, I'll see you out on the dance floor.

As always, if you have additions or corrections for this list, please e-mail me.

New links are simply new to me, not necessarily new to the World Wide Web. Change in URL means that a link has changed its WWW address or URL.

• Alabama, Delta: Georgy Alabam Square Dance Weekend in January.
• Alaska, Fairbanks: Annual festivals in February and June includes square dancing New entry (January 22, 2010)
• California, Berkeley: Berkeley Old Time Music Convention in mid-September
• California, Los Angeles Annual Old-Time Social in May
• California, San Francisco: San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival in early February.
• Canada: Canadian Olde Tyme Square Dance Callers' Association lists dances across the nation.
• Canada: Fiddle Events in Canada lists many events which include dancing.
• Canada, Cape Breton Island, Inverness County: square dances are held almost every night of the week.
• Canada, New Brunswick, Tobique: The Tobique Fiddle Camp is held in late June each year.
• Connecticut, Killingly: 2nd Saturdays.
• Delaware, Arden: Some Wednesdays as part of international folk dancing
• Georgia, Dahlonega: Bear on the Square Annual Mountain Festival in April includes square dancing.
• Germany, Berlin: 1st and 3rd Sundays.
• Illinois, Hudson: Four to five dances each year, including New Year's Eve.
• Kentucky, Morehead: Morehead Old Time Fiddlers Convention each July.
• Kentucky, Whitesburg: Check the calendar for information about dances on various Saturdays.
• Maryland, College Park: various dates.
• Massachusetts, Belmont: 4th Fridays.
• Massachusetts, Goshen: 2nd Saturdays.
• Massachusetts, Watertown: Various Saturdays (Canadian-American squares)
• Minnesota, Minneapolis: 1st Mondays
• Missouri, Hallsville: 2nd Saturdays
• Missouri, Pacific: Some square dances are held at the Tri-County Senior Center
• Missouri, West Plains: Old Time Music Ozark Heritage Festival in June
• Netherlands, Hengelo (Gld.): Summer camp in late July including English Country Dance and squares.
• New Hampshire, Wentworth: 1st Fridays Mention of this series is missing (April 5, 2009)
• New York, Ashokan: Southern Week at Ashokan each August includes a fair amount of square dancing.
• New York, Jacksonville: Occasional square dances on Saturdays New entry (January 17, 2010)
• New York, Schroon Lake: Wednesdays, mid-July to end of August
• North Carolina, Asheville or North Carolina, Asheville: Last Sunday of the month skipping summer months.
• North Carolina, Brasstown: Southern Appalachian Square Dance weekend in late October.
• North Caroina, Denton: 3rd Saturdays (generally)
• North Carolina, Denton: Every Monday
• North Carolina, Glendale Springs: Mountain Music Jamboree on Saturday nights.
• North Carolina, Hot Springs: Bluff Mountain Festival in mid-June with square dancing.
• North Carolina, Pleasant Green: 2nd Saturdays
• North Carolina, Sparta: Every Saturday
• North Carolina, Sparta: Alleghany Jubilee on Tuesdays and Saturdays Change of URL (May 12, 2010)
• Ohio, Lucas: Dances on various Saturdays from May to October
• Ohio, Wooster: 2nd Saturdays (discontinued until further notice)
• Oregon, Milwaukie: Last Saturday Old-time square dance.
• Oregon, Portland: 1st Thursdays On hiatus (April 5, 2009)
• Oregon, Portland: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
• Oregon, Portland: Dare to Be Square - West in December.
• Oregon, Portland: Portland Old-Time Music Gathering in mid-January
• Oregon, Portland: Pickathon, an annual music festival with some square dancing in early August.
• Oregon, Portland: Last Monday
• Pennsylvania, Cochranville: 3rd Saturdays
• Utah, Gardner Village: Annual Frontier Fest in June includes square dancing.
• Vermont, Montpelier: Square Ball (a full day of square dancing) on June 26, 2010. New entry (June 26, 2010)
• Vermont, West Newbury: 4th Saturdays
• Virginia, Ararat: Every Saturday
• Virginia, Blacksburg: 1st Saturdays
• Virginia, Floyd: Every Friday
• Virginia, Floyd: Some Saturdays
• Virginia, Fries: 1st and 3rd Saturdays
• Virginia, Rocky Mount: Festival in the Pines/Tripple Creek Music Festival in late April/early May
• Virginia, Patrick Springs: Every Saturday
• Virginia, Stuart: 1st Saturdays (?)
• Washington, Seattle: Last Fridays
• Washington, Seattle: 2nd and 4th Mondays
• West Virginia, Charleston: Vandalia Gathering in late May
• West Virginia, Clifftop: Appalachian String Band Music Festival in late July/early August
• West Virginia, Glenville: West Virginia State Folk Festival in mid-June
• West Virginia, Helvetia: 1st Saturdays; also check FOOTMAD for information. Also check town site for information. First link has problems; added town site (October 26, 2008)
• West Virginia, Morgantown: Gardner Winter Music Festival in late February
• West Virginia, Morgantown: Dances on various Saturdays.
• West Virginia, Various Locations: Dance series in State Parks from July to October.

Bands and Musicians

• Portland, Oregon's Foghorn String Band's line-up fiddle, banjo, mandolin, bass and guitar - is reminiscent of early bluegrass, but their powerful approach is whole-heartedly old-time, centered largely by the fiddle. MySpace page.
• The Jugbusters play at square dances in Floyd, Virginia on occasion.
• The Striped Pig String Band often plays at the square dances in Arcata, California.
• Uncle Wiggily plays on a regular basis for square dances in Portland, Oregon.

This page is part of the Contrdancelinks.com web site. For more information about contra dancing, visit these other site pages:

http://www.contradancelinks.com/square.html
Produced by Charlie Seelig
This page last updated on July 5, 2010.