What: 20^th annual Traditional Arts Weekend held every year in Remus, Michigan over the Memorial Day weekend.

Where else can you learn to play the fiddle, go to a day-long bluegrass school, learn songwriting tips, tie a fly for trout season, explore yeast dough baking, practice yoga, learn to Tango, Clog or Swing dance, stargaze with fellow astronomers, weave a black ash basket, make a pine needle rimmed gourd and paint a silk scarf – all in one weekend? … 

Over 80 workshops, dances, performances and hands-on activities for the entire family taught by over 60 instructors.  This very popular Wheatland event is for those seeking more personal instruction in traditional dance, music, song, arts and crafts. 

Traditional Dance workshops scheduled are beginning calling, salsa, Cajun, African, clogging, Cape Breton, waltz clog, French Canadian, swing, tango, Céilí irish dancing and the sword dance as well as evening Contra and Square Dances.  The Traditional Arts workshops include watercolor, essential oils, screen printing, carving fruits & vegetables, mosaic jewelry box, painted silk scarf, black ash baskets, stone bird houses, fly tying, scrimshaw, yeast dough baking, herbal infusion paper making, wheatweaving, goat milk soap & salves, copper punch, pastel chalk drawing, hemp bracelets, hair wreaths, hats, pine needle rim gourd, stippling on gourds and mosaic on the pillar project.  Traditional Music and Instrument workshops are -vocals, bones, uke, banjo, fiddle, songwriting, drumming, hammered dulcimer, mandolin, guitar and a new day long bluegrass school.  Children can take part in yo-yo, juggle sticks, juggling, wool sheep, hats, and block printing.

 

Scholarships for youth and adults wishing to enhance their traditional arts skills (music, arts, poetry, dance and more).  Download the application form and guidelines from the www.wheatlandmusic.org website; click on Giving and Receiving, then Elyce Fishman Scholarships.

 

Wheatland Music Organization, Inc. is based near Remus, Michigan.  The charitable and educational nonprofit organization has grown from offering a single event in 1974, to offering activities year-round, to meet its mission of preserving and presenting the traditional arts. Traditional arts are considered those learned person to person, passed from generation to the next, and influenced by culture, family, ethnicity, and era.

 

 

Chippewa Lake