Announcing 2026!
Retreat 2025
Note from Bing…This is my second year as Director of the Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat, and the changes to the program that co-Director Laurie Alsobrook and I have made are being embraced by both our staff and attendees. It was a beautiful three days of fun up at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, especially now that the lovely old carillon tower is back in operation playing Stephen Foster tunes. Thank you to those of you who came out to share your experiences over the past few days; I hope you had a great time.
And from Laurie…SFDR ’25 was a reunion of friends, a building of community, a welcoming of first-timers and new players. Extending heartfelt thanks to Bing, Susan, and Linda for being a huge part of the success of the retreat. And what would we do without the dedicated SFFCCSP staff? Events Director Andrea Turner and her assistants Lindsay andSavannah met every need we had with a smile! Can’t thank you enough!!
2024 Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat
Damage from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and then Milton almost shut down SFDR in 2024.
HURRICANE HELENE UPDATE – September 30 – Our hearts go out to the folks at the park as they make repairs to the campus.
HURRICANE HELENE UPDATE – OCTOBER 10 – The Retreat is happening!!! We just got the word! See you at the Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat in November!!! TWO camping spaces remain unclaimed…come on!
SFDR ’24 is now in the books! Many thanks to Andrea Turner, Elaine McGrath, and the staff at the park, who really knocked themselves out making repairs (after Hurricanes Debby and Helene and Milton)and preparations so the retreat could take place. We appreciate all that they did to make this a memorable weekend! Here’s a reminder of how much work that was required just a few weeks ago, right after Hurricane Helene.
AND…thanks to all who attended the retreat this year…what a terrific weekend!!
The 2023 Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat
It was a great gathering of dulcimer friends…old and new! Sure has been a while – with 2020 and 2021 cancelled and then 2022 blown away with Hurricane Nicole, we came back in full swing! Many thanks to all who participated this year.
Director Bing Futch, Jessica Comeau, and Co-Director Laurie Alsobrook led workshops for the mountain dulcimer while Tina Bergmann and Sally anchored the hammered dulcimer workshops. The classes were meaningful, the jams were fun, and the concerts were exceptional! The best part of all? Being with others!!!
As a part of his Dulcimerica series, Bing Futch put together two excellent videos that really give the feel of being there…ENJOY!
2022 Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat
UPDATE 11.09.22, 11:45am – SFDR ’22/T.S.NICOLE UPDATE – The Director of Florida Division of Recreation and Parks has closed ALL state parks in Florida. Sadly, this results in the cancellation of the Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat. The leadership at the park will be contacting all preregistered participants shortly.
Bing Futch Takes the Helm for 2022
Bing follows a line of very talented directors of the retreat. While director of the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, Jon Kay, a Folklorist and gifted dulcimer player, founded the retreat around 2000, and started the tradition of bringing in nationally recognized artists. After Jon moved to a new post, David Beede took the helm, offering with his unique wit and musicianship to the position.
The festival has enjoyed both mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer instruction, and in early years, autoharp instruction. Over the years, SFDR has been host to fine instructors, including Jon Kay, David Beede, as well as Bing Futch, Dan Landrum, Aaron O’Rourke, Guy and Sharrie George, Brian Bowers, Neal Hellman, Anne Lough, Susan Boyer-Haley, Jody Marshall, Lorinda Jones, Jessica Commeau, Butch Ross, Karen Alley, Stephen Humphries, Carol Crocker, Karen Ally, Marsha Harris, Gary Sager, Laurie Alsobrook, Gailanne Amundsen, Sally Anderson, Maddie MacNeill…and the list continues!
SFDR continued online in 2020 and 2021 as “Dulcimers Do Digital,” drawing instructors from across the country and participants from as far as Australia, Northern Ireland and Belgium, with David Beede and Laurie Alsobrook as co-directors.
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Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat 