We will have FIVE Special Weekends of Music and Dance during 2026 featuring FIVE amazing bands; Hot Coffee Breakdown, Sister Haggis, The Hollertones, A Rare Privilege, and Shapeshifter.

The flyer below highlights the featured bands and the weekend dates. Please mark your calendars now and join us for some or all of the weekend events.

Our second Special Weekend of 2026 (July 24-26) will feature Sister Haggis comprised of Eileen Kalfass and Jane Knoeck. Bringing their wealth of experience to both Contra and English dance, Eileen’s lilting fiddle and Jane’s dynamic piano provide both high energy and exceptional musicality to the dance floor. Their repertoire features both traditional and modern tunes and draws from a number of musical traditions. The line-up for the weekend includes:

• Friday Night Contra at Wightman on July 24 from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. with calling by Gaye Fifer and Tiffany Okerman
• Saturday, July 25 English Dance at Friends Meeting House from 12:15 to 3:00 p.m. with calling by Gaye Fifer
• Saturday Evening House Concert (email gayefifer@gmail.com) from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
• Sunday, July 26 Afternoon Waltz at Avonworth Pavilion from Noon to 1:30 p.m.
• Sunday Afternoon Contra Dance at Avonworth Pavilion from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. (Beginner Lesson at 1:30) with calling by Gaye Fifer. Swim Party at Avonworth Pool follows the dance.

Typically, there will be a Contra Dance on Friday night, an English Country Dance on Saturday afternoon, a House Concert on Saturday evening, and a Waltz and Contra Dance on Sunday afternoon at Avonworth Pavilion. Sometimes there is a musician’s jam. We will be posting updates here as the times and locations are finalized and we will also include details in our email newsletters.

Locations and times: The Friday night Contra Dances are held at Wightman School Community Center at 5604 Solway Street in Squirrel Hill. There is a beginner lesson at 7:30 followed by a social dance from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.

The English Country Dances are held on Saturday from 12:15 to 3:00 p.m. at the The Friends Meeting House on Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside. Visit https://cdssp.org/ for details about English dances.

There may be house concerts on Saturday evening. N.B. There will be a house concert on Saturday, July 25, from 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. To reserve a seat, email gayefifer@gmail.com.

There may be musician’s jams on Saturday or Sunday morning. Details TBD.

The Sunday Waltz and Contra Dances are typically held at Avonworth Community Park at 498 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Waltz is from Noon to 1:30 p.m. There is a beginner Contra lesson at 1:30, followed by a social dance from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.

N.B. On Sunday, November 1 there will be a Waltz social dance at Wilkins School Community Center. There will not be a Contra Dance on Sunday, November 1.