Welcome to the Baltimore Folk Music Society

The Baltimore Folk Music Society is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to preserving and promoting folk music, dance, and tradition. BFMS sponsors regular dances, concerts, family events, and related activities year-round. Members are eligible for discounts to Society events by showing their membership card.

BFMS is a member of the Country Dance & Song Society and shares reciprocity arrangements with the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the Annapolis Traditional Dance Society.

This year, BFMS is participating in the CDSS Centennial Passport to Joy! If you are a member of CDSS then come to one of the BFMS events listed here and get a sticker for your Passport.

Contra dancing: One Person's Perspective

Check out this great video of Contra dance at Lovely Lane on the Wednesday Night Dance page.

2015 MidWinter Ball

See the MidWinter Ball page for more information.

Attention BFMS Members

Recently moved or changed your email address? Wondering why you aren't getting anything from BFMS? Please contact BFMS Membership (membership @ bfms.org) and update your contact information.
If you have recently joined BFMS or renewed your membership and did not get anything in the mail (such as a membership Card) please contact the Membership Chair at membership @ bfms.org. Thank you.

Download the current newsletter on the Newsletter page or get a copy of the Mini News here.

Special Events

January 31 2015
Midwinter Ball 2015
Save the Date!
Dancing to Giant Robot Dance from 7:30 - 11:30 with Dana Parkinson calling
Location: Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 3800 North Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218

February 14 2015
Valentine Extravaganza
Don't miss our 5th Annual Chocolate Valentine Extravaganza from 2 pm to 11 pm with a dance workshop, couples dancing, advanced dance, potluck, evening dance AND the Chocolate Extravaganza Dessert contest during the break in the evening dance.
Band: Larry Unger (guitar) & Audrey Knuth (fiddle)
Caller: Rachel McCandliss

June 19 2015
Catoctin Weekend
30th Annual Spring Catoctin Mountain Music and Dance Weekend Friday June 19 to Sunday June 21 - 2015

See our Events page for a complete listing of events and details.

How to Contact Us

By E-mail - use our Contact page.

We can also be reached by conventional mail at

Baltimore Folk Music Society, P.O. Box 7134 Waverly Station, Baltimore, MD 21218-0134.

Call the Baltimore Folk Music Society's Music & Dance Hotline! (888) 646-BFMS
or email president at bfms.org.

Membership expired? Renew on-line! See the Membership page for details.

Search our website

Weekly Event Listing by E-mail

Have any ideas, comments or complaints that you would like to convey to the BFMS Board? Just click on the Suggestion Box!

The Baltimore Folk Music Society is funded by an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.

Coming up:

See our Events page for a complete listing of events and details.

January 31 2015
Midwinter Ball 2015
Save the Date!
Dancing to Giant Robot Dance from 7:30 - 11:30 with Dana Parkinson calling
Location: Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 3800 North Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218

February 02 2015
English Country Dance
Free New Dancer orientation at 7:45

Carl Friedman calls to Tina Chancey (violin), David Crandall (winds), and Jonathan Jensen (piano, etc.)

February 04 2015
Square/Contra Dance
Nils Fredland calls to Triple Helix: Colleen Reed (flute, sax), Keith Gillis (guitar), and Alexander Mitchell (fiddle).

February 08 2015 (Member Sponsored)
Waltz Practicum
Waltz lovers, please join us for an open practicum. The format is very simple: there's a dance floor and there's waltz music playing on the stereo. The rest is up to you. http://tinyurl.com/waltz-practicum.

February 09 2015
English Country Dance
Sharon McKinley calls to Jeff Steinberg (violin), Brian Cardall (winds), and Mark Vidor (accordion)

February 11 2015
Square/Contra Dance
Laura Brown calls to Old Time Jam Band. New dancer orientation at 7:30 pm.

February 14 2015
Valentine Extravaganza
Don't miss our 5th Annual Chocolate Valentine Extravaganza from 2 pm to 11 pm with a dance workshop, couples dancing, advanced dance, potluck, evening dance AND the Chocolate Extravaganza Dessert contest during the break in the evening dance.
Band: Larry Unger (guitar) & Audrey Knuth (fiddle)
Caller: Rachel McCandliss

February 16 2015
English Country Dance
Susan Taylor calls to Heather Martley (flute), Paul Oorts (strings, accordion), and Laurie Andres (piano)

Baltimore Folk Music Society