Harvest Moon Dance Festival

Stomp Rocket is a New England-based trio that delivers high-energy foot-stomping music for contra dancing! The band consists of fiddler extraordinaire Dave Langford (The Latter Day Lizards, Supertrad), DADGAD guitar monster and pianist Bethany Waickman (Anadama, Eloise & Co.), and mandolin and tenor banjo wild man Glen Loper (Frigate, Riptide). They’ve played for contras throughout New England, and at dance weekends from Alaska to California, and Quebec to Florida.

Syncopaths From dance floors to concert halls, the Syncopaths bring a fresh, contemporary spin to tunes and songs rooted in the Scottish, Irish, and American folk traditions. Evolving through their contradance origins, they are creating a “chamber folk” sound, characterized by the compelling rhythmic interplay of fiddle and mandolin, rich vocals, and unexpected colors and rhythms of the piano and bodhrán. The exuberant joy they derive from the music and each other is palpable and contagious.
At the heart of the band’s sound are the twin engines of Ryan McKasson’s dynamic fiddling, and the understated-but-monster picking of mandolinist Ashley Hoyer. Jeffrey Spero provides wonderfully inventive and surprising piano accompaniment, anchored by the driving power of Christa Burch on bodhrån, and rounding out the sound with her warm, supple vocals.
All in all, the Syncopaths are equally at home with high energy dance tunes and soft, contemplative melodies. They ably stretch melodic boundaries while keeping a compelling, danceable beat.

Our callers...

Frannie Marr is known across the country as that colorful West Coast dancer who brings a magic touch as a caller and dance organizer. Her lightning fast walkthroughs keep the music and dance flowing. Whether it’s a crowd of enthusiastic beginners or hard core “dancing fools,” Frannie's ability to read the room keeps the dance floor buzzing and flowing with lush, rhythmic dances filled with a wide variety of fun moves. Everyone knows that they are in good hands when Frannie is at the mic.

Jacqui Grennan A veteran contra dancer, Jacqui has taken deep dive into folk dancing, as both a contra and English Country Dance caller and choreographer, and now as a student of Modern Western Square Dancing. Taking on these challenges has enhanced her teaching and learning skills, helping her to deliver what dancers want. Her clear and caring teaching from the mic is blended with a calm and dynamic stage presence. She’s the quintessential host of a party, helping everyone have a good time.

On-line Registration starts on June 1, 2026. Mark your calendar!
(Please do not send registration forms or checks postmarked before this date.).

The details...

Cost: $195 Friday evening through Sunday night (open-to-the-public dance at 6 pm included)
Dancers under 35 years old, $95. Under 18 years old, free.

Work Trade: Free registration for dancers under 35 when you commit to 5 hour of work before or during the weekend.

Meals: We include light breakfasts and lunches Saturday and Sunday, and an ongoing delicious snack table Friday–Sunday for your graazing pleasure. Dinners are on your own. Many restaurants and a large supermarket are within walking distance of the dance hall.
NOTE: We do our best to offer a variety of foods, but cannot accomodate all diets.

Housing: We offer local housing accommodations, and we have a 100% track record for providing housing to those who need it (according to our amazing housing coordinator, Donnalyn).

For more info: contact Marisa Pasquini at:

or call 805-403-9115

For housing questions, please contact Donnalyn at:

or call 805-682-1877

The Thirty-Ninth Annual

	Santa Barbara’s Harvest Moon Dance Festival October 9–11, 2026 Join us October 9–11, 2026, in Santa Barbara, California, at the Historical Carrillo Ballroom, with its legendary sprung floor. We're ready to dance our _________ off with you! BANDS: Stomp Rocket and Syncopaths CALLERS: Frannie Marr and Jacqui Grennan About the Bands... Stomp Rocket is a New England-based trio that delivers high-energy foot-stomping music for contra dancing! The band consists of fiddler extraordinaire Dave Langford (The Latter Day Lizards, Supertrad), DADGAD guitar monster and pianist Bethany Waickman (Anadama, Eloise & Co.), and mandolin and tenor banjo wild man Glen Loper (Frigate, Riptide). They’ve played for contras throughout New England, and at dance weekends from Alaska to California, and Quebec to Florida. Syncopaths From dance floors to concert halls, the Syncopaths bring a fresh, contemporary spin to tunes and songs rooted in the Scottish, Irish, and American folk traditions. Evolving through their contradance origins, they are creating a “chamber folk” sound, characterized by the compelling rhythmic interplay of fiddle and mandolin, rich vocals, and unexpected colors and rhythms of the piano and bodhrán. The exuberant joy they derive from the music and each other is palpable and contagious. At the heart of the band’s sound are the twin engines of Ryan McKasson’s dynamic fiddling, and the understated-but-monster picking of mandolinist Ashley Hoyer. Jeffrey Spero provides wonderfully inventive and surprising piano accompaniment, anchored by the driving power of Christa Burch on bodhrån, and rounding out the sound with her warm, supple vocals. All in all, the Syncopaths are equally at home with high energy dance tunes and soft, contemplative melodies. They ably stretch melodic boundaries while keeping a compelling, danceable beat. Our callers... Frannie Marr is known across the country as that colorful West Coast dancer who brings a magic touch as a caller and dance organizer. Her lightning fast walkthroughs keep the music and dance flowing. Whether it’s a crowd of enthusiastic beginners or hard core “dancing fools,” Frannie's ability to read the room keeps the dance floor buzzing and flowing with lush, rhythmic dances filled with a wide variety of fun moves. Everyone knows that they are in good hands when Frannie is at the mic. Jacqui Grennan A veteran contra dancer, Jacqui has taken deep dive into folk dancing, as both a contra and English Country Dance caller and choreographer, and now as a student of Modern Western Square Dancing. Taking on these challenges has enhanced her teaching and learning skills, helping her to deliver what dancers want. Her clear and caring teaching from the mic is blended with a calm and dynamic stage presence. She’s the quintessential host of a party, helping everyone have a good time. On-line Registration starts on June 1, 2026. Mark your calendar! (Please do not send registration forms or checks postmarked before this date.). The details... Cost: $195 Friday evening through Sunday night (open-to-the-public dance at 6 pm included) Dancers under 35 years old, $95. Under 18 years old, free. Work Trade: Free registration for dancers under 35 when you commit to 5 hour of work before or during the weekend. Meals: We include light breakfasts and lunches Saturday and Sunday, and an ongoing delicious snack table Friday–Sunday for your graazing pleasure. Dinners are on your own. Many restaurants and a large supermarket are within walking distance of the dance hall. NOTE: We do our best to offer a variety of foods, but cannot accomodate all diets. Housing: We offer local housing accommodations, and we have a 100% track record for providing housing to those who need it (according to our amazing housing coordinator, Donnalyn). For more info: contact Marisa Pasquini at: or call 805-403-9115 For housing questions, please contact Donnalyn at: or call 805-682-1877 CREDITS The Harvest Moon Dance Festival is brought to you by the Santa Barbara Country Dance Society. We look forward to dancing with you, one and all! [ Previous year's page ] [ Last modified: February 7, 2026 7:43 AM Pacific Time ]

Santa Barbara’s Harvest Moon Dance Festival