Special news:  the June/July issue of Set Dancing News, published in Kilfenora Ireland , included several photos  from the Irish Hooley held in Auburn, WA.   That was totally at the discretion of editor Bill Lynch & not this web lady !    He caught me by surprise too.  But it was great fun to discover Seattle musicians & dancers in an Irish dance magazine.   Bill's website is www.setdancingnews.net  if you'd like to sign up for an annual subscription or just buy a single edition copy.  
 
AND keep your eyes open for another venue to hold the next Hooley, Email mjhoiland@yahoo.com with suggestions !

June 29th - July 6th Festival of American Fiddle Tunes
Spend the week of June 29 - July 6, 2008 living, learning, and jamming with masters of North American fiddling traditions. The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes is a week-long, total-immersion workshop presenting many regional styles of fiddle music. The program’s particularly wide spectrum includes workshop classes, band lab classes, tutorials, dances, concerts, open jams, parties, and informal and spontaneous gatherings.

Irish Fiddler Paul Bradley from Co Galway will be an instructor.

http://www.centrum.org/fiddle/ft-description.html

July 3rd - 7th its the Tall Ships in Tacoma
Thirty-two ships will visit the Foss Waterway.  Experience the charm and romance 
of the ships along with the fun and excitement of this maritime festival.
Or sign up for a ride on  a sea going vessel !
Entertainment will be on site - including Sea Shanties.
Tall Ships® Tacoma Ticket Office is located at
Freight House Square, 2501 East D St., Tacoma, WA
Mon-Fri, noon to 6 p.m. and Sat, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 http://www.tallshipstacoma.com/

www.tallshipstacoma.com

Wkends in July its the  Northwest Renaissance Festival

 located 18.5 miles northwest of Spokane, WA

The festival takes place every Fri & Sat north of Spokane
and every wkend a different act is featured.
For more info  http://www.nwrf.com/nwrfevents.htm 
 

http://www.nwrf.com/nwrfevents.htm 

July 11th Mid-Summers Night ceili in Portland:  Tír Eoghain continues their 30th Anniversary with the Mid Summer's Night  Irish Gathering of music and dance, Friday, July 11, 7-11:30pm at the PPAA with the Hanz Araki Band. Admission is $10   Ages 9 & older are welcome to dance.   Family max $40
There's talk of a Seattle carpool - email mjhoiland@yahoo.com for details.
 
Tir Eoghain Ceili Classes every Monday in Portland OR
w/Sam Keator 7-9pm @ Yeates Studio 4231 North Interstate Avenue, Portland
 more details here: http://hometown.aol.com/aicsoregon/Dancing.html 
The Yeates studio is air conditioned but bring your water bottles to rehydrate often!
$3 fee is all,  phone 503.286.4812 for more info
 
 Ceili classes in Tualatin OR, Thursdays 7-9pm  see details here 

 see his website for questions:  http://mysite.verizon.net/res0i3uk/samkeator/
 

or email  sam.keator@verizon.net  

July 11th  at the Nat'l Folk Fest in Butte MT
its Liz Carroll, Kieran O'Hare, Jerry Holland & Donna Long
featuring Celtic & Cape Breton music
  http://www.nationalfolkfestival.com

This is  a wonderful opportunity to sample all varieties of folk music FREE of charge.
If you've never been to Butte MT and could use a map or suggestions on how 
to get around - email mjhoiland@yahoo.com.    Just remember 
to bring a pastie back with you for this web lady 
(that's a cornish delicacy - a pastry filled w/taters, meat and good stuff)

www.nationalfolkfestival.com/

 Salem Oregon's Ceili of the Valley dance classes
are held every Tuesday thruout June & July
VFW Hall, 630 Hood Street NE, Salem OR
Age 13 & older will enjoy learning these traditional Irish dance forms.
Bring a water bottle, loose clothing and comfortable shoes. 
Sean Nos dance is 5:45 to 6:45 PM and
Ceili & Set dance is 6:45 to 8:30 PM with Maldon Meehan
Each class is $6 for CVS members and $7 for non-members.
For more info call Susan 503.585.4542 or visit their website
 http://www.myspace.com/ceiliofthevalley 

www.myspace.com/ceiliofthevalley

July 5th thru 11th in Nanimo , Vancouver Island Canada its Celtfest 2008

Featuring Highland Piping & dance, Cape Breton step dance & music. Performances will be given by Wendy MacIsaac, Mac Morin, and Mairi Rankin of the Cape Breton Band Beňlach, the world-beat Celtic trio  and Doug Feaver from Toronto's Scantily Plaid, reigning World Champion Highland Dancer David Wilton, CeltFest Irish Dancers and more. Champion Highland piper Ken Eller, singer Eileen McGann, the  duo Alan Walters and John Fisher along with the young teen World Champion Highland Dancer Morgan Bamford from New Zealand will be onstage..  Tickets available online at  www.rmts.bc.ca

http://www.celticperformingarts.com/home.html

July 12 - 13  Skagit Highland Games in Mt. Vernon WA
There will be participation dancing with the Skagit Scottish Dancers at their stage.
www.celticarts.org/index.php
Tickets are available via their website from $6.25 - $15
Their fun wkend includes traditional Scottish games & competitions in 
sheep herding, harp, piping n drums, Highland Dance and lots of tasty Scottish food 
to sample along with some refined Scotch tasting onsite.   Checkout their website 
for more details.  Heather Evanger & her buddies are sure to be there dancing !

NEW: The Celtic Legends Concert features the Portland band  "Men of the West"  with
Hanz Araki, Cary Novotny, Johnny B Connolly, Ezra Holbrook and Eddie Parente.
The band will be participating in instrumental workshops from 9am - 2pm Sunday.
Listen to Men of the West Sound samples on their website  here

www.celticarts.org/index.php

July 11-13th Yakima Folklife Festival 
at Franklin Park, 2105 Tieton Drive,  in downtown Yakima 
& its FREE !   No charge for admission
including celtic acts like Ockhams Razor, Crescent & Shamrock, and Step Dancer Hillary Matson

You'll find the schedule of events here 

www.yakimafolklife.org/id4.html