Click here to donate to The Danny Fund to help a less fortunate folkie attend Fall Fling!
Interested in sponsorship opportunities for Fall Fling? We would love to hear from you!
From on-site activities to snacks to equipment, we have many opportunities for you to share your brand with our attendees. Contact Jennifer at jrajotte@pfs.org for more information and to start a conversation!
What is Fall Fling?
Each Fall, the Philadelphia Folksong Society gathers folk performers, enthusiasts, and music fans of all ages for a long weekend adventure at Appel Farm with attendee-run workshops, activities, opportunities to learn from an Artist-in-Residence, and outdoor leisure in a supportive and welcoming community.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ATTENDEES:
Below you will find important information for Fall Fling attendees as of 10am October, 4, 2018.
Please confirm all cabin assignments upon arrival at Parking, and all workshops and work shifts at Check-In as all information is subject to change.
Taste a sample of some Fall Fling workshops this year:
Workshop: Song Writing
with Meghan Cary
Join Meghan for an opportunity to hone your songwriting with inspiring coaching and critique. Bring a work in progress, or finished but not-yet-refined song to share in a supportive environment and receive coaching from Meghan as well as positive critique and suggestions from the group. Participants are encouraged to rework and re-share their song through the weekend.
Workshop: Giving “Voice” to Your Guitar
with Tim Campbell
This workshop will explore the possibilities that different guitar voicings can bring your playing. Instead of just strumming along with the same chords the singer/guitar player or other guitarist is playing, you will learn how to look for other places around the neck to open up a different voicing, better accent the melody, and expand possibilities for soloing melodies and ideas, as well.
Announcing 2018 Fall Fling Artist-in-Residence: CHRISTINE LAVIN!
Collage photos by Susan Rostran (left and center) and Lisa Schaffer (right)
We are thrilled to welcome 2018 Philadelphia Folk Festival co-Emcee Christine Lavin as the Fall Fling Artist-in-Residence!
Attendees will enjoy an exclusive concert with Christine on Saturday night, as well as not one, but TWO different workshops to tickle your fancy. Join Christine for a memorable weekend at Appel Farm by snagging your Fall Fling tickets today!
Christine Lavin began her professional life as a waitress at the Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs in 1975. That’s where she met Dave Van Ronk, who encouraged her to relocate to NYC so that he could teach her how to play her guitar properly. Forty-two years later she’s recorded 23 solo albums, produced 10 compilations, has written two childrens’ books, and an award-winning memoir, COLD PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST, whose cover photo was shot by Bob Yahn at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in the 1980s. Christine was a founding member of The Four Bitchin’ Babes, and still appears with them onstage every once in a while. In her spare time she loves to knit, bake, fold napkins Downton Abbey style, plus make videos, many of which are posted at her website, christinelavin.com.
A crisp fall day in a sylvan setting where the most difficult questions you have to face are: “Do I go to a workshop featuring classic folk songs of the 60’s, pull out a T-shirt and create a tie-dye worthy of the memory of Jerry Garcia, wander over to a cabin for some informal jamming, get out a racket and smack the tennis ball around, or simply collapse in a lounge chair and let the sounds of hundreds of people having fun wash over me?”
Can you also imagine a social gathering of people who come back every year for one special weekend to see old friends and make new ones?
That’s Fall Fling! Get your tickets here.
Workshops galore – A full schedule of participant-led workshops on Saturday & Sunday. At Fall Fling, you can make all of your workshop dreams come true: you volunteer to lead a workshop, and we put it on the schedule! Workshops can include vocal and instrumental themes and styles, songwriting, performance techniques, dance, tie-dye, yoga & massage, crafts, kid’s activities, sports, etc. Sign up to lead a workshop when you register!
Meals all weekend – NEW THIS YEAR: Fall Fling will be getting back to its roots with delicious meals crafted by the Festival Food committee and Sysco chefs! As such, we are offering Fall Fling attendees the opportunity to aid staff in meal prep and cooking for the first time in years! Fall Fling includes a Friday Potluck (bring something to share!), and breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Sunday.
Campfire Sings & informal jamming – There is a designated campfire area where formal campfire sings can be arranged. S’mores anyone?
Informal jamming also spontaneously pops up in cabins, dining hall, gazebo(s) or anywhere the acoustics sound good! All are welcome to join in.
RV & tent camping – Itching to get one more weekend outdoors this year? A large field close to all activities provides a great location to pitch a tent or park your RV. Sorry, no hookups available, but we have designated nearby bathroom and shower facilities for those not staying in a dorm.
Heated dormitory accommodations – On-site dorm buildings each include 5 – 7 interconnected separate “cabins” that each sleeps up to 7 people using just the bottom bunks, or 14 including the top bunks (don’t worry, we generally reserve the top bunks for kids and won’t make you climb up there unless you really want to!).
**We only accept up to 135 bed registrations, so sign up early!
**Have some friends or family to share a dorm? Make sure you specify with whom you would like to bunk, and/or who your “cabin organizer” is on your registration form!
**Did we mention that almost all of dorm buildings are heated?
Kid’s Open Stage – Since music is in your family’s blood, this is the opportunity to engage kids (up to age 18) to the thrill of performing in front of an audience in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. Let’s get ’em started early!
Adult’s Open Mic – This is your opportunity to showcase and share your talents in front of an audience with professional audio engineers that work hard to make you sound even better! Sign up when you arrive on Friday (slots will be given on a first come, first served basis).
Join us and get your Fall Fling tickets today!
Photo Credit: Laurence Kelly