Old-Time Music & Dance Week, July 12-18, 2026
(Note: Old-Time Week & Celtic Weeks have swapped order for 2026)
More 2026 information coming later in the fall!
Our oldest program, Old-Time Music & Dance Week at the Swannanoa Gathering, features fabulous jams, great food, a beautiful location and the best old-time musical line-up in the country! The week explores the rich music, dance, and singing traditions of the Southern Appalachian region through a wide variety of classes taught by an experienced and supportive staff. The many diverse offerings enable students to explore new areas; fiddlers sing, singers dance, and dancers learn to play instruments. Students enroll in 2 to 3 regular classes (capped at 15 students unless otherwise noted) during the week. During the afternoons, our stellar teachers present 20 additional, engaging workshops called “Potlucks” open to all participants. Guest master artists come daily sharing stories and music. Evening activities include jam sessions, singing, square-dances, concerts, a film, the Old-Time Social open mic and the popular Late-Night Honky-Tonk! To accommodate families, we offer Young Old-Time, an evening jam for young players, and a Children’s Program for ages 6-12. Food and craft beer trucks are open nightly. It’s hard to beat the fun, community vibe of everyone jamming and visiting during the pleasant summer evenings at Swannanoa, nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina—a hotbed for traditional old-time music in the U.S.