Enjoy family dances, concerts with live music and more on the beach
OLYMPIA – May 16, 2019 – The Washington State Parks Folk and Traditional Arts Program and the Cama Beach Foundation invite the public to the Summer Music and Dance Series at Cama Beach Historical State Park. The series brings old time music and dance to the park once a month in June, July and August.
Performances and dances feature fiddle, guitar and banjo and experienced callers who aim to get everyone on their feet and dancing. Whether event visitors stay at a cabin on the beach or visit for the day, they’ll want to stick around and join in these fun, family-friendly activities.
Live music and family square dances were a traditional part of 1930s summer activities at Cama Beach when the state park was a fishing resort, and this series allows visitors to experience the historic flavor of the resort.
All programs take place on the park’s lawn near the beach. In the case of inclement weather, they will move to the Cama Center.
WORKSHOP: Make and Take Home Your Own Crankie!
Saturday, June 8
1 - 2:30 p.m.
Participants age 7 to 90 are invited to join artist and performer Sue Truman along with the band Podorythmie to make their own moving picture show. No art skills required. A crankie is an old storytelling folk art where a long-illustrated scroll is wound onto two spools and loaded into a box with a viewing screen. The scroll is hand cranked, revealing one scene at a time while a story is told or a tune is played. Crankies were known as moving panoramas in the 19th century. Learn more about this art form at: thecrankiefactory.com.
PERFORMANCE: Podorythmie
Saturday, June 8
7 to 9 p.m.
Podorythmie, Quebecois for “foot rhythms,” is a four-member group hailing from France and the U.S. They're known for their high energy and good-time performances of Quebecois music and step dancing. Fiddle and accordion songs and lots of hard shoe step dancing interspersed with crankie shows combine to make a unique performance full of surprises.
JAM: The Fret Collective
Friday, July 12
8:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Join musicians Tom Collicott, David Pearlstein, Johnny Fitzpatrick, Alex MacLeod and Brittany Newell for tunes on the beach and an informal jam as the sun sets.
FAMILY DANCE: The Fret Collective
Saturday, July 13
7 – 9 p.m.
The Fret Collective leads a family dance on the lawn with the help of caller, Alex MacLeod. No dancing experience is necessary. Caller will teach circle, square and contra dances.
JAM: Rattlesnail
Friday, Aug. 16
8:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Join musicians Gabe Strand, Morgan John, Kate Lichtenstein and Adam Price for tunes on the beach and an informal jam as the sun sets.
FAMILY DANCE: Rattlesnail
Aug. 17
7 – 9 p.m.
Rattlesnail leads a family dance on the lawn with the help of caller, Gabe Strand. No dancing experience is necessary. Caller will teach circle, square and contra dances.
The Cama Beach Summer Music and Dance Programs are made possible in part by the generous support of the Cama Beach Foundation, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that supports Cama Beach Historical State Park and Camano Island State Park by offering educational and interpretive programs. To support the Cama Beach Foundation, stop by and visit the Cama Beach Store, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week during the summer months. For more information and current store hours: http://www.camabeachfoundation.org/
About the Folk and Traditional Arts Program
The Cama Beach Summer Music and Dance programs are part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts Program, with funding provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as support from the Washington State Parks Foundation.
For more information about the Folks and Traditional Arts in the Parks program, including upcoming events, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/folkarts, or contact Makaela Kroin, Program Coordinator, at Makaela.Kroin@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-8635.
Programs and events at Washington state parks
All year long, Washington’s state parks play host to numerous fun, educational and inspirational concerts, events and programs for visitors of all ages. Events are listed on State Parks’ online calendar here: https://parks.state.wa.us/calendar.aspx
News media contacts:
Makaela Kroin, Folk and Traditional Arts Program Coordinator, (360) 902-8635
Toni Droscher, Communications Office, (360) 902-8604
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About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
News release number: 19-028