About Woodsong Arts & Music Festival

 

Burke and Barbara Thomas:

The Woodsong Festival grew out of the desire of Burke and Barbara Thomas to promote music when they moved from the Seattle area to their new community on Orcas Island.

This will be our 11th Annual Woodsong Arts & Music Festival! We anticipate that, like last year, this grassroots festival will be a fun, informal opportunity for those of you interested in art and music to enjoy spending time together. There will be no charge for the weekend, but we will gratefully accept any donations of time or money to help cover costs.

Basically, the weekend will just be a great excuse to get together and enjoy good friends and good music.

There are plenty of activities to keep adults and kids busy at the festival (volleyball, badminton, horseshoes, croquet, Frisbee golf, foosball, crafts) and of course, all the usual island tourist attractions. There will be a couple of barbeque grills available, but don't plan on campfires since there is usually a burn ban in effect during the summer. You should expect to provide all your own meals unless you let us know in advance that you would like to participate in the potluck breakfasts.

If you like hiking, try out Mt. Constitution in Moran State Park - there are several trails that wind around mountain lakes. At the bottom of the mountain is Cascade Lake - a popular place to swim, canoe, or just lounge in the sun. Kayaks can be rented in town to explore the sound, or try a guided experience on a Whale Watching boat! There are also quite a few unique restaurants and small shops to visit in Eastsound. A Saturday Market is held in the village square as well. If you'd like a nice evening out, reserve a table at Deer Harbor Inn, Christina's, Ship's Bay, or Rosario Resort.

The First Woodsong Concert:

Mark Heard was supposed to have been our first Woodsong Concert... but he died shortly before it happened.

Burke and Barbara Thomas had wanted to help him spread his music around... but then we decided to find other artists to help instead.

Our first Woodsong concert was Tonio K at Seattle's former Crocodile Cafe in the fall of 1992.

 

 

 

 

 

Please Register:

Please complete the online registration form or send in a paper-registration (contact us and we'll send you one) if you are interested in coming to the festival.

If you are a musician, poet, comedian, actor or visual artist who would like to participate, an additional form needs to be filled out so that we can work you into the schedule. We are currently looking for people who would like to lead workshops, presentations or small group discussions concerning anything in the area of the arts.

We are looking forward to seeing you and would appreciate any ideas you have to contribute to the planning of the weekend. We welcome your creative participation!

Costs:

Admission Fees / Suggested Donations:

We are not charging for the Festival in order that everyone can come regardless of their ability to pay. However, to help offset festival costs, there will be donation boxes located on site, with a suggested donation of $15 per day per person, or $40 per day per family.

Transportation Costs:

Getting to the island will incur some expense. Those traveling from the Seattle area will need to drive approximately 60 miles, and catch a ferry to the island. For up-to-date ferry fee information, please visit the Washington State Ferries Website or call 1-888-808-7977.

Food Costs:

There are potluck breakfasts being held on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8:00-9:30 am. If you wish to participate in a breakfast, please bring a topping or drink to share. You should bring or expect to purchase all other meals/food items. There is a grocery store and restaurants about 4 miles away in the town of Eastsound.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How much does it cost to camp on the festival grounds?

There is no fee for camping on the festival site. Read about the camping facilities below!

What are the festival camping facilities like?

The festival is located on 20 acres of woodland and meadows. When you arrive, you can park your car in the main parking area and then stroll around to hunt down the perfect camping spot. There are no camp-"sites" . . . you can camp wherever you like.

Picnic tables, some propane grills, an outdoor sink, and chairs are all located in a central area near the festival stage, so if you'd like to have any chairs, propane grills or tables closer to your campsite, feel free to bring them along!

There are no public restrooms, but there will be outhouses throughout the property. There is one sink with cold running water for limited cooking use. Showers are available at Moran State Park - located about 20 minutes from the festival site.

How do we cook? Can we build campfires?

There is one outdoor sink available, and a few propane grills and one propane stove will be set up for everyone to use. You can also bring along your own camp-stove.

There is a burn-ban in effect for the San Juan Islands throughout the summer, so campfires aren't possible during the festival.

What should we bring?

Camping equipment (tent, sleeping bags, mats to cushion against bumpy ground, pillows, chairs etc), meal supplies (potluck breakfast food, drinking water, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, utensils etc), and clothing for all weather!

What should we leave at home?

Pets, alcohol, any illegal substances, weapons, work, and rain!

What musicians are scheduled this year?

Check out our Home Page for details!

What else is there to do on Orcas?

For more ideas, visit San Juan Web: sanjuanweb.com.

Is Woodsong on MySpace or Facebook?

Yes! You can hear songs from many of the singers, songwriters and bands on our MySpace Page and stay connected with each other and share pictures on our Facebook Page.

Know of a festival related question that should be on this list? Send it along to us and we'll try to respond and add it to this page! woodsongconcerts@gmail.com.