Fiddling Frog Dance Festival

JOIN US IN 2025!

February 21-23, 2025

A full weekend of great contra dancing to fabulous bands and skillful callers in beautiful Pasadena, CA, February 21-23, 2025!

Doug Plummer’s video

TalentCOVID PolicyScheduleRegistration & Payments
Cancellation PolicyLocationParkingTravel-Airports, Transport & Lodging
FoodClothing ExchangeContact UsPast years

Talent for 2025

The Syncopaths – At the heart of the band’s sound are the twin engines of Ryan McKasson’s dynamic Scottish-based fiddling, and the understated-but-monster picking of mandolinist Ashley Hoyer. Jeffrey Spero provides wonderfully inventive and surprising piano accompaniment, anchored by the driving power of Christa Burch’s inventive bodhrån. Christa also lends her singular voice as lead singer – warm, supple, expressive, and intimate – to the band’s songs. 

River Road – Sarah-Hadley Yakir, Jesse Ball & Kristin Planeaux

Susan Petrick

Lindsey Dono

Gender neutral calling (Larks and Robins) all weekend.


Sound by Victor Garza.

Chef extraordinaire and volunteer coordinator Brenda Goodwin.

COVID Policy

In order to protect the health and safety of our dance community, attendees of Fiddling Frog 2024 must meet the following requirements before being allowed entrance:

  • Free of key Covid-19 symptoms
  • Agree to general and Covid-19 waivers
  • Agree to contact tracing policy
  • Same day rapid test results.  If you test before you arrive, please take a picture of you with the test results and show the photo at registration. Please provide your own text kits. If you have extra tests to share, please bring them to the registration table on Friday night. Thanks!
  • Masks are optional for all dancers and performers at all times. We ask you to respect the choice made by others and to refrain from making comments, expressing opinions, or joking about the choice made by others.
  • If you are not feeling well at any time during the course of the weekend, please let the organizers know immediately and excuse yourself from the dance location as soon as possible.
  • If you have air purifiers, please bring them with you for use in the side break room. Thanks so much!
  • Note that evidence of vaccination is not required.

These guidelines may change in line with current conditions and health advisories, and we will provide plenty of advance notice, while also refunding the fees for anyone who feels they cannot comply with any changes.

Fiddling Frog 2024 schedule

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED FOR 2024.
REGISTRATION FOR 2025 WILL OPEN IN OCTOBER 2024.

Registration and Payments

Registration for Fiddling Frog Dance Festival 2024 is now CLOSED

Online registration is preferred and encouraged. A link to a pdf of the registration form will be provided upon request. Registration closes on Tuesday, 2/25/25, to give us time to confirm payment, and to create registration lists, rosters and name tags. There will be no day-of or walk-up registration available

  • Early registration for payments before 1/1/25 is $180 per person. Late registration for payments after 12/31/24 is $190 per person.
  • Work/trade registrations for $100 fee and $0 fee are available. All applicants must pay $100 ($105 on Paypal). Please discuss with an organizer at 2fiddlingfrog@gmail.com BEFORE making payment
  • Dancers under 18 years old are welcome to the dance with no payment. Please complete the Google form for each individual and mark the box for “Someone else paid for you” and write a comment that the dancer is under 18. Thanks!
  • EACH DANCER MUST COMPLETE A REGISTRATION FORM REGARDLESS IF THEY ARE PAYING OR NOT (INCLUDING DANCERS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD, SOMEONE ELSE IS PAYING, ETC)

Online registration is preferred. Paper registration forms or a pdf link will be provided upon request.

Online Payment — We have ZELLE this year (for U.S. Bank accounts)! Also Paypal (with fees) and good old-fashioned checks. Digital payments methods are preferred.

OPTION 1 – Zelle (only for U.S. bank accounts, preferred method) – Complete the online registration form (scroll up) and make a Zelle payment of $180 per person to treasurer@caldancecoop.org. IMPORTANT! Write in memo section “Fiddling Frog 2025” and any add’l people you are paying for

OPTION 2 – Paypal – Prices below include registration plus PayPal fees ($185 for one person, $370 for two people).
•  Click on the button for 1 registration, 2 registrations, or click on the 3rd button to type in the amount of any donation or payment you would like to make, adding a 3% Paypal fee.

OPTION 3 – Checks – (Note: Do not mail checks after Thu, 2/13/25. No payment will be accepted at the door. Please use Zelle or PayPal after Thu 2/13/25) $190 per person after 12/31/23. IMPORTANT! Write in memo section “Fiddling Frog 2025” and additional people you are paying for.
NEW MAILING ADDRESS!
Checks payable to: California Dance Co-op
Send to: Fiddling Frog c/o Jacqui Grennan
P.O. Box 2732
San Pedro, CA 90731

Transfer & Cancellation Policy
Registration is not transferable, please contact us at 2fiddlingfrog@gmail if you need to cancel. Refunds will be issued in full (less fees) up to 2/13/25. Cancellations after 2/13/25 will be issued 1-2 weeks after the event has concluded and we will do our best to refund 100% of your payment (after fees) depending on our budget.following the event.

•  Questions? Contact Registrar – 2fiddlingfrog@gmail.com

Location

Fiddling Frog is held at the fabulous Pasadena Masonic Temple, at:
200 South Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, CA
Dance floor, Lounge overlooking the dance floor, Exterior photo, Grand staircase, Grand foyer

Parking

Pasadena has varying parking rules which change by days of the week and the time. Please plan your parking IN ADVANCE. On-street parking in the area is limited but usually possible within a few blocks, especially south of the hall. There are also paid lots in the area. Read the parking restriction signs carefully. Carpooling is recommended. THERE IS NO OVERNIGHT STREET PARKING IN PASADENA WITHOUT A PERMIT (WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE).
City of Pasadena parking rules

Alternatively, use Parkopedia and search for parking lots near 200 S. Euclid Ave, Pasadena, CA. Be sure to check the hours of operation, in/out options, and methods of payment available. Parkopedia

Travel – Airports, Public Transportation

Coming in from out of town? Click here to see more detailed information for airports and transport

Airports – Nearest airports are Los Angeles (LAX), Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), and Ontario (ONT, be sure you book to Ontario, California, NOT to the one in Canada).
Public Transportation – Google Maps is an excellent resource. Del Mar station on the Metro A-line is a 0.4 mile, 10-minute walk, from the hall.
Lodging – We cannot coordinate housing due to the scarcity of dancers who live close to the hall. A list of local hotels is provided below.

Nearby Lodging

Feel free to post in the Facebook group to coordinate any of your transportation and lodging needs. Fiddling Frog Contra Dance Weekend

NameAddressPhone NumberMiles From Hall
Hotel Dena (FKA Sheraton)303 Cordova St, Pasadena, CA626-469-81000.07
Hilton Hotel168 S Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA626-577-10000.10
GreenTree-Pasadena Inn400 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA626-795-84010.34
Westin Hotels & Resorts191 N Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA626-792-27270.50
Courtyard Marriott- Old Town Pasadena180 N Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA626-403-7600 0.65
Pasadena Rose & Crown1203 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA626-449-31701.03
Saga Motor Hotel1633 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA626-795-0431 1.53

Food
A wide variety of healthy & hearty refreshments will be provided throughout the daytime and evening dances. Or check with our friend Google for LOTS of restaurant options nearby to suit your taste, budget, distance, open hours, etc.

Fragrances
No Fragrances, please!: Please no perfume, scented lotions, aftershave, essential oils, etc. Many dancers have severe allergies to scented products. Thank you!

Clothing Exchange
Want your old favorites to become someone else’s new ones? Start perusing those closets now.

Contact

Questions or comments? Reach us at 2fiddlingfrog@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook


Performers in previous years
2024 – Susan Michaels, Lisa Greenleaf, Engine Room, Stomp Rocket
2023 – Gaye Fifer, Jeremy Korr, Root System (Audrey Jaber, Amy Englesberg, Ashley Hoyer), Dam Beavers (Scotty Leach, Ness Smith-Savedoff, Ben Schreiber substituted by Audrey Jaber, )
2022 & 2021 COVID closure
2020 – Frannie Marr, Lindsey Dono, Wake Up Robin (Audrey Knuth, Andrew Van Norstrand, Noah Van Norstrand, Amy Englesberg), Uncle Farmer (Ben Schreiber, Michael Sokolovsky)
2019 – Lisa Greenleaf, Bob Isaacs, Free Raisins (Audrey Knuth, Jeff Kaufman, Amy Englesberg), Eloise & Co (Rachel Bell, Becky Tracy, Andrew Van Norstrand)

2019 Bob Isaacs and Eloise & Co
2019 Lisa Greenleaf and Free Raisins

2018 – Steve Zakon-Anderson, Dana Parkinson, Groovemongers (Rebecca McCallum, Jane Knoeck, Tom Santarsiero, Ralph Gordon, and Mark “Pokey” Hellenberg), Gaslight Tinkers (Audrey Knuth, Peter Seigel, Garrett Sawyer, and Joe Fitzpatrick)
2017 – Lisa Greenleaf, Will Mentor, Latter Day Lizards, StringRays
2016 – Lisa Greenleaf, Luke Donforth, Giant Robot Dance, JEMS
2015 – Seth Tepfer, Cis Hinkle, Rhythm Raptors, Riptide
2014 – Steve Zakon-Anderson, Sarah VanNorstrand, Joyride, Great Bear Trio
2013 – Carol Ormand, Wild Asparagus with George Marshall, Notorious
2012 – Cis Hinkle, Will Mentor, Clayfoot Strutters, Canotes
2011 – Sue Rosen, Steve Zakon-Anderson, local callers, Nightingale, Figments
2010 – Lisa Greenleaf, local callers, Rumblestop, Great Bear Trio
2009 – Kathy Anderson, local callers, Contrazz, Lissa
2008 – Nils Fredland, Susan Michales, Sevens, Bonfire
2007 – Seth Tepfer, Jeremy Korr, Crowfoot, JAX