FSGW 2026 Getaway Alphabetical List of Session Descriptions

Here are links to other forms of the schedule. The individual room schedules may be useful to those using a small screen device. The version with no tables is a text only version suitable for those who have trouble reading tables.


Singaround Descriptions

Session NameDayTimeVenueHostsDescription
Appalachian SongsSaturday11:00 AM EDT to
12:00 PM		Nature Center Charlie Baum and
Sarah Burkey		America's Appalachian region has long been a source of fine songs, some of which originated in the “old world”. Bring some of your favorites to share.
BalladsSaturday1:00 PM EDT to
2:00 PM		Peace Lodge Sarah WhiteA whole afternoon of story songs to share!
BalladsSaturday2:00 PM EDT to
3:00 PM		Peace Lodge Lorraine Van BurenA whole afternoon of story songs to share!
BalladsSaturday3:00 PM EDT to
4:00 PM		Peace Lodge Colleen ClevelandA whole afternoon of story songs to share!
BalladsSaturday4:00 PM EDT to
5:00 PM		Peace Lodge Heather Livingston and
Steve Woodbury		A whole afternoon of story songs to share!
Banjos: Songs, Tales and JokesSunday3:00 PM EDT to
4:00 PM		Peace Lodge Bill DestlerBill has an amazing collection of banjo instruments and lore. Bring your own to contribute!
Bible Stories in SongSaturday1:00 PM EDT to
2:00 PM		Ehlers Memorial Hall Martha BurnsFrom silly to sad, songs featuring characters like Jonah, Noah, Jacob, and Moses have long been a staple of folk tradition. Someone’s going to sing “Five Constipated Men,” that’s for sure. Will it be you?
Can You Follow ThisSaturday2:30 PM EDT to
3:30 PM		Retreat Center Charlie BaumThe challenge here is to volunteer to sing a song that somehow connects to the one that was just sung.
Celtic SongsSaturday4:00 PM EDT to
5:00 PM		Nature Center Kevin Elam and
Connie McKenna		Songs from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany and other Celtic lands.
Chesapeake and Other WatersSaturday1:00 PM EDT to
2:00 PM		Nature Center Janie Meneely, George Stephens, Kathy Westra Stephens and
Rob van Sante		As we gather on an inlet of the Chesapeake Bay, let's find songs about this important waterway, as well as some about other inland and coastal waterways.
Cumulative and Sequencing SongsSunday1:00 PM EDT to
2:00 PM		Ehlers Memorial Hall Judy Cook and
Steve Woodbury		There are lots of fun songs that keep adding elements – it's a challenge to remember where we are!
DADGAD Guitar tuningSunday4:00 PM EDT to
5:00 PM		Peace Lodge Rob van SanteCome pick up some tips from an expert on using this alternative guitar tuning. Bring your guitar!
Farms and FarmingSunday3:00 PM EDT to
4:00 PM		Nature Center Dan SchatzLet's bring some songs about those who provide our food, the local cultures that shape their lives, and the earth that feeds us all.
Fingerpicking GuitarSunday2:00 PM EDT to
3:00 PM		Peace Lodge Val FowlerVal is a fine guitar pickers who weill share some techniques and tips, and welcome some from others. Bring your guitar!
Folk Scare of the 60sSunday4:00 PM EDT to
5:00 PM		Ehlers Memorial Hall Al Kehs and
Leo Wermers		Many of us remember and love those song that were so popular back then!
Foreign Language SongsSaturday10:00 AM EDT to
11:00 AM		Nature Center Charlie Baum and
Miriam Isaacs		Plenty of great songs are in languages other than English. Let your worldliness show!
GospelSunday10:00 AM EDT to
11:30 AM		Retreat Center Kathie Mack and
Susannah Rose		Hallelujah!
Humorous Songs and ParodiesSaturday11:00 AM EDT to
12:00 PM		Retreat Center David Diamond, Brad Graham and
Bev Praver		Always time for a good laugh!
Labor SongsSunday11:00 AM EDT to
12:00 PM		Ehlers Memorial Hall George Stephens and
Fred Stollnitz		Working people and their unions have given us lots of great songs.
Love Gone RightSaturday3:00 PM EDT to
4:00 PM		Nature Center Jocelyn Day and
Bev Praver		We all know songs about love gone wrong – let's share the ones about love when it goes right!
Parting SongsSunday3:15 PM EDT to
5:00 PM		Retreat Center Susannah Rose and
Lorraine Van Buren		Goodbye, au revoir, so long, adios, farewell...
Pets and Other AnimalsSaturday10:00 AM EDT to
11:00 AM		Ehlers Memorial Hall Judy Cook and
Nancy King		Dogs and cats and ponies and bunnies and lots of other animals have inspired plenty of songs. Bring your favorites to share!
Pub SongsSunday2:00 PM EDT to
3:00 PM		Nature Center Darriel Day and
Al Kehs		Raise a (figurative) glass and join the singing!
Sea Songs and ShantiesSaturday10:00 AM EDT to
11:00 AM		Retreat Center Darriel Day and
Brad Graham		Shanties, forebitters, and other songs of the sea and ships.
Slow JamSaturday2:00 PM EDT to
3:00 PM		Nature Center Val Fowler and
David Scheim		Want to learn to play in a group? Here's a chance to get a few pointers and practice at a moderate pace. All instruments – not just guitars – are welcome.
Songs I Learned From Bob ZentzSunday10:00 AM EDT to
11:00 AM		Ehlers Memorial Hall Kathy Westra Stephens and
George Stephens		WE NEED A BLURB FOR THIS SESSION
Songs from a Lady's Point of ViewSunday4:00 PM EDT to
5:00 PM		Nature Center Janie Meneely, Lynn Noel and
Sarah White		Women often look at life differently from men. Let's find some examples in song!
Songs of RemembranceSaturday2:00 PM EDT to
3:00 PM		Ehlers Memorial Hall Heather Livingston, Connie McKenna and
Laura Sailer		Let's sing to remember and honor our loved ones, friends, and times no longer with us.
Songs of RevengeSunday11:00 AM EDT to
12:00 PM		Nature Center Colleen ClevelandThere are times when folks need to get back at those who wronged them. Let's find songs about those times.
Songs to Meet the MomentSunday3:00 PM EDT to
4:00 PM		Ehlers Memorial Hall David Diamond, Flora Dolak, Carly Gewirz and
Liz Milner		Songs have long been used to protest, to express solidarity, and to call for change. In these chaotic, anxious times, new songs are coming forward, and old songs revisited.
Songwriters' GatheringSunday2:00 PM EDT to
3:00 PM		Ehlers Memorial Hall Sarah Burkey and
Bev Praver		Bring your own songs and hear the creations of the many songwriters among us.
Sound Systems SetupSaturday4:00 PM EDT to
5:00 PM		Ehlers Memorial Hall Dennis CookLearn from an expert about setting up and running sound equipment.
Storytelling/Spoken WordSunday1:00 PM EDT to
2:00 PM		Peace Lodge David Diamond and
Helen Engelhardt		Come and share stories, poems, and recitations.
Utah Phillips SongsSunday1:00 PM EDT to
2:00 PM		Nature Center Bill Destler and
Dan Schatz		Bruce “Utah” Phillips wrote many different kinds of songs, all of them worth remembering. Come and share your favorites!
What Went Wrong at the Wedding?Sunday10:00 AM EDT to
11:00 AM		Nature Center Laura SailerShort stories and anecdotes abound of mishaps on this most perfect of days in a couple's life. In fact, some suggest that if nothing goes wrong at a wedding, that's grounds for annulment. Come share "oops" tales from weddings or wedding related events, from awkward to outrageous.

Concert Descriptions

Session NameDayTimeVenueHostsDescription
Bill DestlerSaturday3:30 PM EDT to
4:15 PM		Retreat Center Bill DestlerSinger-songwriter and former Rock Creek member Bill Destler sings an eclectic mix socially relevant and just plain good old songs, accompanying himself on guitar, banjo (see his separate session), and mandolin.
Colleen ClevelandSaturday1:00 PM EDT to
1:45 PM		Retreat Center Colleen ClevelandA5th generation ballad singer from th Adirondacks of upstate New York, Colleen began as a youngster learning songs from her grandmother, Sarah Cleveland, and is dedicated to keeping the old songs alive and passing them on.
George and Kathy Westra StephensSaturday4:15 PM EDT to
5:00 PM		Retreat Center George Stephens and
Kathy Westra Stephens		George and Kathy were mainstays of FSGW for many years. Now living in Maine, they join us with songs of the natural environment and wildlife, and much more.
Janie Meneely and Rob Van SanteSunday2:30 PM EDT to
3:15 PM		Retreat Center Janie Meneely and
Rob van Sante		Janie's wonerful songs, some serious and some funny, along with Rob's beautiful guitar work, combine to produce a wonderfully entertaining duo.
Kevin ElamSaturday1:45 PM EDT to
2:30 PM		Retreat Center Kevin ElamKevin is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and interpreter of Irish traditional music. In 2019 he was the All-Ireland Champion in Men's Singing,
Lynn NoelSunday1:45 PM EDT to
2:30 PM		Retreat Center Lynn NoelLynn will bring chanteys, ballads, and songs of the season from New England and Atlantic Canada, on dulcimer and a cappella.
Sarah BurkeySunday1:00 PM EDT to
1:45 PM		Retreat Center Sarah BurkeyRaised in Appalachia, Sarah sings of the people, places and events of that region. Her beautiful voice and fine instrumentals make for a great musical experience.

Presentation Descriptions

Session NameDayTimeVenueHostsDescription
Cherokee Songs and StoriesSaturday3:00 PM EDT to
4:00 PM		Ehlers Memorial Hall Sarah BurkeySarah can sing in the Cherokee language and will tell us about the role those songs played historically as well as in the present-day Cherokee community. She also will share a traditional Cherokee story about the importance of singing and dancing.
VoyageursSaturday11:00 AM EDT to
12:00 PM		Ehlers Memorial Hall Lynn NoelLynn Noel will teach canoe songs of French Canada, used by the voyageurs. One song complete with verses, & then choruses only.