Salem Contra Dance

02/28/2026

The Cascade Promenade starts March 8. The very popular MEGABAND dance is Saturday March 14th, 7:15-10:30. Smith Memorial Ballroom, 1825 SW Broadway Portland. See image for details!

01/30/2026

Westwind Weekend 2026 is scheduled for May 1-3.
Westwind Weekend is an all-volunteer weekend where campers (that’s you) bring their music & dancing talents to create the magic. Expect two evenings of dance, a campers’ concert Saturday night, and impromptu music jams around every corner. Don't forget to take plenty of time to walk on the beach, dig in the sand, or hike to the high meadow.

​Camp Westwind is located just north of Lincoln City and just south of Cascade Head. It can sometimes be reached by crossing the Salmon River by boat; or by walking in along a beautiful forested road. Transportation is available for those with mobility needs.

​Registration opens February 23.

Camp begins Friday evening (arrival between 5:30 and 7:30 pm). There is an optional arrival time Saturday morning, 9:00 to 10:00 am. Departure is on Sunday at 2:00pm. Campers will arrive and depart by driving through the Westwind gate and parking in a field. From there campers will walk approximately 2 miles along a flat forested road to reach the main lodge. Luggage will be transported for you by the Camp Westwind staff. We will arrange vehicle transport for people with limited mobility.

Sleeping accommodations are shared cabins or tents.
No pets allowed.
Food is lacto-ovo vegetarian.
Due to increased costs from the host camp, we have had to raise the prices slightly from last year. However in an effort to make Westwind more affordable for families, we have also lowered the cost for Children and Teens, and condensed those into a single fee. So the 2026 rates for Westwind Weekend are:
Adults $225; Youth (17 and under) $65
This covers all food and lodging for the entire weekend.

​Please direct questions to [email protected].
For more information visit

Westwind Weekend is an all-volunteer weekend where campers (that’s you) bring their music & dancing talents to create the magic.  Expect two evenings of dance, a campers’ concert Saturday night, and impromptu music jams around every corner.  Don't forget to take plenty of time to walk on the b...

12/23/2025

It's with a joyful heart that we share this video of snippets from our 2025 Holiday Concert, fundraiser for our contra dances. Everyone involved donated their time and talents to put on this concert. Many thanks to you all and to those of you who attended.

For those who couldn't make it, this video will give you an idea of what the concert was with snippets from each musical act. All video was made on an iphone by an amateur who didn't intend to do more with them but then was inspired to put this video together.

We wish you all the joy and peace of this magical season!

12/11/2025

Our Holiday Concert is 2 days away! Still time to buy your tickets online. Of course, tickets will be available at the door also. Friday, Dec 12, doors open at 6pm for eating and greeting, concert starts at 6:30pm. This is a fundraiser for Salem's First Thursday Contra Dance! What a great opportunity to hear some seasonal music you just won't hear most places!!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/salem-folklore-community-holiday-concert-tickets-1849487860979?fbclid=IwY2xjawOnEX1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5dk9EWVpQYW9kZ0x2T3hYc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsw0sbZ_lI8SdifzVjp4E7IYHQdmBu0PT2wuPLRQSIgjBJAeb1HG5fzntMOe_aem_T1IlLmBGL6OS7rq052ukog

Here are the performers:
Kathy Crosby - Master of Ceremonies
Kathy is a public speaker and professional entertainer who has led successful bluegrass and folk pop groups, served on various music and entertainment related boards, and is proud of her educational and advocacy work for all in the music industry. A full-time creative, she not only writes music, but is also author and vlogger.

Kristen Grainger – Poet
A former speechwriter for two Oregon governors and two university presidents, Kristen is a poet and short fiction writer, nominated for Oregon Poet Laureate in 2024 and received the Oregonian’s Young Writers’ Prize for Short Fiction.

Praise Ringers Handbell Choir
The handbell choir will play Christmas carols that have roots in European traditions of centuries past--a small sample of the variety found within this category of the world’s music. If you have never seen or heard a handbell choir before, you are in for a treat.

Marcia Christenson - Holiday Folk Music from Around the World
Marcia loves folk songs for how they tell stories about a time or culture. She will present holiday songs from various folk traditions around the world.

Free Range - Americana/Folk
With deep roots in the Salem music community, Matt Snook and Claire Levine are a bluegrass/folk duo based out of Portland. Their lovely harmonies will be accompanied by banjo, dobro ,and guitar.

Hector de la O - Latino Holiday
Hector plays Latin American folklore music in a group called Ecos del Sur (Echos from the South), most recently performing for the Portland Library system.

Kara Quello and Tova Mertz - A Celtic Christmas
Kara not only teaches private voice lessons from her home studio but has been the vocal director of several plays at the Pentacle Theater in Salem, Oregon. The master of many vocal styles, she and her daughter Tova Mertz will present songs from Ireland and surrounding countries.

A festive evening of acoustic music and poetry! General admission $20, kids 12 and under free

11/25/2025

Reminder! There will be no December First Thursday Contra Dance. The Salem Folklore Community Holiday Concert will be held on Friday December 12 at the UU Church on Center. Doors open at 6pm, concert starts at 6:30pm. Come early for hot cider and treats!

Details about the concert and the ticket URL are in the pinned event on this page. We hope everyone can come! It's a fundraiser for our First Thursday Contra Dances - to pay for callers, musicians, the VFW Hall, and more.