North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association

10/12/2026

Dulcimer Oktoberfest was a month ago, and we're still hearing from folks about how much fun they had! Thanks to Stephen Seifert, Susan Trump, Mark Alan Wade, and Bing Futch for bringing dulcimers back to Helen, Georgia!

09/20/2026

🎶 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! 🎶

The NGFDA Virtual Fall Festival returns November 19–21, 2026, and registration is officially OPEN!

Join the North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association for three days of music, learning, and community, all from the comfort of home.

This year’s festival features:

🍂 217 online workshops
🍂 32 instructors
🍂 Mountain and hammered dulcimer, plus much more
🍂 Three nights of concerts
🍂 Players and instructors joining us from across the dulcimer community

Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been playing for years, there’s a LOT to explore at this year’s Virtual Fall Festival.

Registration is open NOW!

👉 https://www.ngfda.com/register-for-2026-fall-festival

November 19–21, 2026

NGFDA Virtual Fall Festival
Preserve • Present • Promote

Come learn, play, and celebrate the music with us!

North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association 2026 Virtual Fall Festival Three days of live online workshops, community, and concerts—wherever you play. Festival: Nov. 19–21, 2026 Registration: Sept. 20–Nov. 8 217 WorkshopsLive, 60-minute Zoom workshops taught by 32 instructors. $12.50 EachEver...

09/08/2026

Dulcimer Oktoberfest has SOLD OUT. Thanks to everyone who registered - we're looking forward to sharing the Gemütlichkeit with you this weekend! PROST! 🍻

09/06/2026

Dear members,

There is a moment that nearly every dulcimer player remembers.

Maybe you heard a mountain dulcimer across a campground. Maybe someone placed one in your hands at a festival. Maybe you heard a hammered dulcimer ringing across a room and stopped to discover where that extraordinary sound was coming from.

Somewhere along the way, you discovered this music and fell in love with it. Now you have an opportunity to help someone else discover it.

The North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association has spent decades bringing people together around the mountain and hammered dulcimer. As we prepare for 2027, four important leadership opportunities are opening:

President

Vice President — Programs & Membership

Treasurer

Virtual Fall Festival Director

Serving on the Board is an opportunity to have a direct hand in deciding what NGFDA becomes. You can help us create new programs, strengthen and connect dulcimer clubs, and reach players who have never heard of NGFDA.

You do not have to know everything on the first day. We welcome people with professional experience, people who have a natural ability for this work, and people who are interested and willing to learn. Training and transition assistance will be available.

Detailed descriptions of the four available positions are attached.

Players. Teachers. Organizers. Administrators. Volunteers. Club leaders. People with professional skills. People with fresh ideas. There is room for all of them in the future of NGFDA.

If one of these roles interests you—or if you would simply like to learn more about serving on the NGFDA Board—we would very much like to hear from you.

Contact us at [email protected].

Help us Preserve. Present. Promote.

And help us shape what comes next for the North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association.

Warmly,

Barbara Stevens
President
North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association
NGFDA.com

08/27/2026

The countdown continues with only 9 registrations remaining for Dulcimer Oktoberfest! The available number has dropped by two today alone, and we're very close to selling out with 91 out of 100 spots filled. Don't miss the return of dulcimers to Helen, Georgia!

Join Stephen Seifert, Susan Trump, Mark Alan Wade, and Bing Futch, September 11th and 12th during the 56th Helen Oktoberfest!

Register today (tonight) at: https://www.bingfutch.com/dulcimer-oktoberfest

08/20/2026

The 2026 NGFDA Virtual Fall Festival Preview is now live! 🎶
Visit NGFDA.com to explore:

• 217 live online workshops
• 32 instructors
• Three evening concerts
• Complete schedules and workshop descriptions
• Instructor biographies
• Festival downloads and planning resources

The festival takes place November 19–21, 2026.
Registration opens Sunday, September 20 at noon Eastern. Until then, look through the complete festival lineup and start planning your workshops!

Preview the festival:
https://www.ngfda.com/register-for-2026-fall-festival

North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association 2026 Virtual Fall Festival Three days of live online workshops, community, and concerts—wherever you play. Festival: Nov. 19–21, 2026 Registration: Sept. 20–Nov. 8 217 WorkshopsLive, 60-minute Zoom workshops taught by 32 instructors. $12.50 EachEver...

07/30/2026

🎶 Meet the Dixieland Dulcimers! 🎶

Based in Griffin, Georgia, this fun and active group recently performed at the Music Summer Series hosted by the Brooks Woman’s Club in Brooks, Georgia. Their May 7 program featured old gospel favorites, mountain and folk songs, vocal solos, and a special performance of “Grandfather’s Clock” by their banjo player.

The Dixieland Dulcimers have been invited back to the series for four seasons, and it is easy to see why!

The group meets every Monday from 10 a.m. to noon. They are currently taking a summer break, but meetings will resume after Labor Day. Swing by, bring your instrument, and join the fun!

📸 Pictured: The Dixieland Dulcimers at their May 7, 2026, performance in Brooks, Georgia.

07/27/2026

In seven weeks, we'll be back in Helen, Georgia, with Dulcimer Oktoberfest! Stephen Seifert, Susan Trump, Mark Alan Wade, and Bing Futch will teach 14 workshops in mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer during the opening weekend of Helen Oktoberfest.

Out of 100 available registrations, only 20 spots remain as of 5:31 pm ET on July 27th.

Everything takes place at The Yonah Event Center in the heart of Helen, with a schedule that includes breaks for the Oktoberfest Opening Weekend Parade and plenty of time to enjoy dining and all the festivities during this celebratory weekend.

Vendors include McCafferty Dulcimers, The New Harmony Dulcimer Company, and Bella Dulcimers.

We're looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Helen after an extended absence, and hope that you'll join us for a magical weekend of music, merriment, and the charm of the North Georgia Mountains!

You'll find all of the details at: https://www.bingfutch.com/dulcimer-oktoberfest