Square Dance. Contra Dance. Circle Dance. Three great ways to celebrate Orcas Island’s folk culture are coming up May 17 and 18. The Folk Fest celebration is hosting a Friday Night Barn Dance in the Old Gym at Orcas School with dancing starting at 7 p.m. This tradition on Orcas is a popular gathering of all ages and features caller Amy Carroll with live music. If you need a refresher, Amy is hosting a how-to class at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at https://517folkfest24.eventbrite.com. Kids under 18 are free.

Saturday, May 18, the Folk Fest opens at 10 a.m. in Moran Park with Dances of Universal Peace. This spirited circle dance includes folk traditions from around the world. Led by Libby Garcia with friends from Orcas and across the PNW, the dances are a call for Peace through dance and music. Parking is limited and a day pass is required, so plan to arrive early at 9am. Tickets are available at https://518folkfest24.eventbrite.com and include the day pass for the full Folk Fest Fair and an afternoon of music. Scholarship passes for the morning dances can be requested at discover@orcaswondercamp.org .

Thanks to support from Washington State Parks Folk and Traditional Arts, the San Juan Islands Makers Guild, Heritage Ranch, and San Juan County LTAC, the Fest’s intersecting cultural programs are bringing together the many talents of island residents for a lively weekend celebration.