Helvetia Hoot 2019 - Mountain Music, Dance, Craft, & Culture

Hi Friends, I am excited to announce the dates for Helvetia Hoot 2019! We used to call it Dare to Be Square, but we wanted to make it an event for more than just musicians and dancers (so bring your friends). Food, craft, and mountain culture workshops have been added to the usual gamut of music and dance opportunities. Helvetia, settled by Swiss in 1869, is a sweet mountaintop town with a current population of 59. The community is known for maintaining Swiss cultural traditions in their seasonal gatherings such as Fasnacht and monthly dances. Rustic camping is available in a tree lined field alongside the creek between the town's two dance halls, general store, and Swiss restaurant. It's 1 hour from Elkins and a 3 hour drive from the Pittsburgh airport. I hope you'll put it on your calendar and try to bring the whole family. I'm happy to help coordinate ride-shares and work trade if that makes it easier for you to come. Even if you can't make it this year, we could really use help promoting, so we get enough folks to keep it affordable. Send me your mailing address if you want handbills to distribute. https://www.facebook.com/events/661652307617330/ Hold Fast and Never Let Go, T-Claw ___________________________________________________________ HELVETIA HOOT HELVETIA,WV August 31 – September 2, 2019 Looking for a Labor Day Weekend adventure? This weekend, formally known as Dare to be Square, is designed for aspiring and advanced callers, dancers, musicians, singers and those eager to try something new. Foodways, craft, and mountain culture sessions are also in the works. Workshops will be held Saturday and Sunday. Come up for just a day, or the whole weekend! Come experience a local West Virginia square dance Friday night at the Jackson Mill Jubilee in Weston. Camping will be available Friday – Monday morning. Workshops will be offered by Ginny Hawker, Val Mindel, Jesse Milnes, Mack Samples, Bill Ohse, Lou Maiuri, Becky Hill, T- Claw, Ellen & Eugene Ratcliffe and many others yet to be determined! Workshop highlights include Helvetia Fiddle Tunes with Jesse Milnes, a Gospel Sing with Ginny Hawker, Old Time Helvetia Baking, Calling 101 & 102 with T-Claw, Glenville Style Square Dances with legendary WV Callers, Flatfooting 1 & 2 with Becky Hill & friends, Appalachian Foodways with Mike Costello & Amy Dawson, Old-Time Singing with Val Mindel and so much more! There are two beautiful dance halls and there will be many opportunities to practice calling! Evening dances are open to the public on Saturday & Sunday nights with jam sessions at all hours. EVENT CHECK-IN: will start at 10am on Saturday, August 31 in the Community Hall Please bring CASH or CHECK when registering at the gate. VOLUNTEER: Please let us know if you can't come due to not being able to afford the admission price. There are several volunteer opportunities available for partial and full tuition. There are also several scholarships available to eager beginning callers! calling.t.claw(a)gmail.com for inquiries. SCHEDULE Public Nightly Dances start at 8 p.m. Admission is $10. Friday, August 30 – Jackson Mill Jubilee Square Dance Saturday, August 31 – Jesse Milnes & Friends Sunday, September 1 – Big Possum Stringband More details about workshops and schedule coming soon... SLEEP Rooms are available for rent at the Hutte: 304-924-6435 and Kultur Haus: 304-924-5160. To reserve a room please tell them you are with “Dare to be Square/ Helvetia Hoot”. For more information visit www.helvetiawv.com CAMPING Rustic camping is a $15 – 20 donation for the weekend. No showers are available, there is a small creek to play around in. There are real restrooms within walking distance of camping field. DIRECTIONS! Be warned that GPS to Helvetia doesn’t always work. There have been several hilarious adventures that involve people getting stuck in swamps. Please use these directions from the Hutte. There will be signs posted. Most cell phones will not get reception in Helvetia. Take Route 219 to 250 South for 16 miles to Mill Creek. In Mill Creek Turn Right on County Route 46 (Helvetia Road) 20 Miles to Helvetia. Take Route 20 South for 12 miles to the West Virginia Wildlife Center. Turn Left onto County Route 11 (Alexander Helvetia Road) 20 Miles to Helvetia. MEALS Saturday August 31st Breakfast: We will have COFFEE available (please bring a mug) Lunch is on your own. Dinner: POTLUCK 6 – 8pm (please bring a dish to pass) Sunday September 1st Breakfast: We will have COFFEE available (please bring a mug) Lunch is on your own. Hutte will be open noon to 7pm. Dinner: TBD Snacks, beer, t-shirts, postcards and other small items are available at the Helvetia General Store. There is no ATM, gas station or large grocery store in Helvetia. http://helvetiawv.com https://mountaindancetrail.org/364-2/ https://www.facebook.com/events/661652307617330/