The Cambridge Center for Adult Education
30th Annual Spring Dulcimer Festival
APPALACHIAN and HAMMERED DULCIMER
held each year on the first weekend in May at
The Blacksmith House
56 Brattle St.
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA
April 30 - May 2, 2010
Featuring
Old-Time music and the Appalachian Dulcimer
- Festival overview
- Saturday workshop schedule
- Courtyard vendors
- Directions
- Local weather and accommodations
Please contact the Cambridge Center for Adult Education at (617) 547-6789 or visit their web page www.ccae.org if you would like to be put on the mailing list to receive a brochure, to register, or for additional information.
NOTE: To insure a personal and positive learning environment workshop registration is limited - early registration is highly recommended.
Festival Overview
The Spring Dulcimer Festival was founded in 1981 at the former Palfrey Street School in Watertown, and for years was known as the Flower Carrol Dulcimer Festival. In 1991 it moved to the Cambridge Center and celebrates its 30th continuous year this spring.Note that all events except the Saturday evening concert take place at the CCAE Blacksmith House. Presented in conjunction with the Folk Song Society of Greater Boston, the Saturday night concert will be held at the First Parish in Cambridge, 35 Church Street, Watertown, MA.
Click here for a map and directions from the Blacksmith House.
Click here for a map and directions to the First Parish of Watertown.
| Friday evening 8:00 PM |
Dulcimers in Concert - featuring The Hammonds 56 Brattle St., Cambridge. $10.00 Dulcimer music and a celebration of songs brighten the festival kick-off concert in the Center’s superb acoustic listening space. The Hammonds, Boston Folksong Society singers, and festival workshop leaders will ‘Sing into Spring.’ |  |
| Saturday morning and afternoon |
A DAY OF DULCIMERS and more... Music, laughter, learning! Try your hand at playing hammered or fretted dulcimer. Join a jam session with welcoming musicians. Attend a Folk Song Society of Greater Boston ballad workshop, or a session for the "confidence impaired" singer. We'll offer beginning and experienced level workshops for Appalachian dulcimer players, and the easy-access space with master player and teacher David Neiman, joined by Missouri hammered dulcimer whiz Cathy Barton, will give Hammered Dulcimer students of all levels a chance to develop their skills and explore the instrument. With Hi-Rise Bakery on the premises, lunch is close by and delicious. Workshop leaders will include Cathy Barton, Dave Para, Lorraine and Bennett Hammond, Pam Weeks, Lucy Sollogub, Ruth Perry, and David Neiman.
Courtyard Vendors |
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| Saturday evening 8:00 PM |
Cathy Barton and Dave Para in Concert First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church Street, Watertown
These superb Missouri musicians play the lively dance tunes they have collected in their home region, and their repertoire ranges from haunting traditional ballads to engaging new songs. Their particular expertise includes songs from the Civil War and songs of American rivers. Cathy’s hammered dulcimer skills link them with this year’s festival, but they are banjo and guitar masters as well. We are fortunate to feature them in a rare New England appearance. CCAE is pleased to co-sponsor the Saturday night concert on May 1st at First Parish Church, 35 Church Street in Watertown, with the Folk Song Society of Greater Boston. $15 general admission, $10 for dulcimer festival ticket holders and FSSGB members. All children 17 and under are free. |
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| Sunday afternoon 3:00 PM |
Family Folk Concert and instrument petting zoo with the Hammonds - for kids of all ages! Lorraine’s expertise as a Music and Literacy teacher for pre-schoolers is at the forefront here as the duo entertain with timeless traditional songs and music games. "Quite simply acoustic music at it's finest." Dirty Linen Review. 56 Brattle St., Cambridge. Free admission as part of Harvard Square MayFair celebration. |
Courtyard Vendors
Some of the vendors scheduled to attend this year's festival include:- Dwain Wilder of Bear Meadow Appalachian Dulcimers
- Jeremy Seeger of Jeremy Seeger Dulcimers
- George Haggerty of Folk Craft Music
Directions
The CCAE Blacksmith House is located in the Harvard Square area of
Cambridge, MA. There are many restaurants and stores close by for
lunch, shopping, bookstore browsing, etc.
Parking: If possible, please park at the Alewife lot and use public transportation. If parking the Square we recommend the Charles Hotel parking garage, which is only a short walk from the festival site. We will be able to offer a small discount on the parking rate for the day if you bring your parking ticket to the festival desk.
Click on the map on the left to zoom into a street map with more details. For personalized driving directions, after clicking on the map enter the address you will be coming from on the bottom of the page.
Nearby Accomodations for those travelling
- Super 8 motel in nearby Watertown Square - (617) 926-2200 - reasonable prices and convenient to both the Blacksmith House and St. John's Methodist Church (concert site)
- Days Inn, 1234 Soldiers Field Road - (617) 254-1234
- Howard Johnson's on Memorial Drive
- Suisse Chalet, 211 Concord Turnpike (Rt. 2 near Fresh Pond) - (617) 661-7800