Program Overview
What Can I Study in 2024?
Each year, the Festival will feature these six core disciplines: Fiddle, Guitar, Piano, Flute, Dance – and new in 2024, Community Singing. In addition to our core disciplines, we include additional disciplines each year. In 2024, we will also offer: Accordion, Bouzouki, and Harp.
Classes will run from Monday June 24 – Friday June 28, with check-in Sunday 23rd afternoon and check-out Saturday 29th at 9am. Please refer to the Schedule Overview to see a “day at a glance”. Keep reading to dive into more detail on what the week has in store!
– Mornings
Students will attend the “major” class they signed up for in the two morning class periods, with a coffee break in-between. Major classes will be progressive, so it will be to your benefit to choose the class that is the best fit for you as early in the week as possible – ideally, Day 1!
(If you are uncertain which level will be the best match for your musical goals and skill set, we are happy to help advise you — click here for more info.)
– Afternoons
In Period 3 (after lunch) all camp participants join together for Community Music and Dance: Faculty-led Jam Sessions, Community Singing, and Social Dances – where you can choose to dance, or play for dancing! Each of these sessions are open to all instruments and experience levels.
In Period 4, students can choose to join a faculty-led Student Ensemble. These dynamic, collaborative ensemble classes welcome all instruments and dancers. They will be progressive classes, so students should plan to attend the meeting of their chosen ensemble each day.
There will also be a selection of Enrichment Workshops offered on a variety of topics and instruments in both afternoon periods.
Participants don’t need to sign up for afternoon sessions in advance and can choose what they would like to do day by day.
– Evenings
Each evening will feature faculty concerts, dances, an end-of-the-week student concert, and of course, jamming!
Click the buttons below to read more about our Dance & Music Programs where you can explore and choose the class experience where you’re going to dance and play your best.
Note: For those just wanting to attend the festival in afternoons and evenings, daily/weekly passes for workshops and concerts will be available for purchase at a later date.
Also note: The AFTMD is programmed for students who are 12 years of age and older. Certain exceptions may be made for children younger than 12 years who are especially promising and dedicated. If you would like to discuss such an exception with the artistic team, please contact our Festival Director.
The Acadia Festival of Traditional Music & Dance is governed by Friends of the Acadia Trad Festival, a Maine nonprofit corporation, and supported by Fractured Atlas, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit devoted to empowering arts organizations. Website art by Anabelle Keimach and Annelise Papinsick.