BFMS 50th Anniversary Weekend Celebration
October 10-12, 2025
Stepping Up to the Next 50 years!
A full weekend of music, dance, community and fun!
Please join local BFMS members and folks joining us from across the United States to celebrate 50 years of music and dance in a warm and welcoming community.Welcome Party
The weekend will start Friday October 10th at R House from 6-9 for dinner, socialization, and jamming. 301 W 29th St, Baltimore, MD 21211BFMS 50th Anniversary Day of Dance
Saturday, October 11, 2025at Lovely Lane Church
Featuring Devine Comedy (Steve Hickman, fiddle and harmonica, Marty Taylor, whistles and concertina, John Devine, guitar), with Bobby LaRose, piano. And Laurie Andres, accordion.
Andy Kane, April Blum, and DeLaura Padovan, calling.
Order of the Dancing:
1:30-3:30pm: Family Dance with DeLaura Padovan calling beginner-friendly dances to the music of Devine Comedy
3:30-5:30pm: Couples dancing with Laurie Andres and Steve Hickman. Hambo lesson at 3:30pm led by Tom Zeller and Joyce Duncan
5:30-7pm: Dinner on your own at local restaurants
7:15pm: Grand March
7:30-10:30pm: The BFMS 50th Anniversary Dance with Andy Kane and April Blum calling contras, English country dances, and squares to the music of Devine Comedy
10:30-midnight: After-party at Fadensonnen, 3 West 23rd Street
50th Anniversary Festival (All Free!)
Sunday October 12th
At Oregon Ridge ParkGrab your folding chair and join us for a day of celebration with delights for folks of all ages from 12-5 at Oregon Ridge. Barring a major hurricane, this event will happen rain or shine.
At 12 sharp, pick up a kazoo and join the 50th Anniversary Parade (led by Hal and Jackie Ferguson) from the playground to the pavilion. Morris dancing (Mason Dixon Morris), juggling, jamming, craft vendors, and other surprises will await you outside! Bring a picnic or enjoy yummy food from local food trucks while you watch nine great acts on the Main Stage or try out the "jam room" for a session of strumming or singing.
Sequoia Room ( Main Stage )
12:00 - 12:20: Will Play For Fish - Old time music
12:30 - 12:50: Ann Porcella and Bill Schmidt: Traditional and original folk music
1:00 - 1:20: Joel Michael-Schwartz and friends - Klezmer Music
1:30 - 1:50: Camerata Musica -madrigal music
2:00 - 2:45: Just in Time Stepdancers
3:00 - 3:20: Neal Phillips and John Seay - Great original songs
3:30 - 3:50: Bill Destler and Rebecca Johnson - More great original songs
4:00 - 4:20: Jennifer Rudick Zunikoff - storytelling
4:30 - 4:50: Richard Osban and talented young Students of the Baltimore Irish Music School - Irish music
Seneca Room ( Jam Room )
12:00 - 12:55: Irish Session, hosted by Janina O’Brien
1:00 - 1:55: Old Time Jam, hosted by Sandy Hofferth
2:00 - 2:55: Klezmer Jam, hosted by Joel Michael-Schwartz
3:00 - 3:55: Sacred Harp shape note singing, hosted by Randy Gaul
4:00 - 4:55: Singing Circle- hosted by Jeff Peacock and Stuart Schoenfeld
To make this weekend a complete success we need volunteers! Most volunteers jobs last about an hour, but the warm feeling of contributing to this memorable event will last a lifetime! For questions or to volunteer to help:
specialevents@bfms.org
A big thank you to all of our sponsors!
