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...

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.

06/23/2025

Reminder!! There will be no July First Thursday Contra dance.
We are planning on a picnic July 31, 6pm. Details will follow so stay tuned!

05/15/2025

May Day is the traditional day of the beginning of summer in the UK. Morris sides (aka teams) all over the world get out and dance the Morris in public...waking up Mother Earth and whatnot! So in a wonderful twist of fate, 3 Morris dancers and a Morris musician happen to live within 2 blocks of each other here in Salem. Add to this wonder, our First Thursday dance was on May Day!!! Morris dancing had to happen. Lisa Gartland, Bill Galbraith, and Emily Standish are the dancers, Dennis Rothrock the musician, Murray the videographer. While you are watching bear in mind that each side has distinct traditions and styles...the 3 dancers come from different traditions. But we all had fun and the First Thursday dance provided an excuse and a nudge to get out the bells and the hankies! Enjoy!