We are hoping to return in Summer 2025 for our
9th Dutchland Dulcimer Gathering!
Last year, we hosted a mini Gathering in July, with two fine instructors, Bill Collins and Butch Ross. We have been eager to bring back an in-person Gathering, but there are obstacles to creating a full program. Costs for rental of an appropriate space have skyrocketed, the number of available volunteers has fallen, and other logistical concerns all combined make it difficult to plan a full gathering that would be fun for everyone and still keep our costs reasonable. Currently, we are looking into a grant that may allow us to rent an appropriate space.
A bit about Dutchland Dulcimers…. we’re a group of folks in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The area is known best for being the home of the Amish in Pennsylvania. However, Lancaster is so much more… a hub for music… art… gourmet dining… education… and more.
Bing Futch challenged us to form a club…so we did. Two years later, with only three months to plan, we held our first gathering (or perhaps pulled it off would be the more appropriate term)… and after 8 Gatherings…. here we are. We moved from a small church…. to taking over a school…. to using a wonderful church setting…. and next the wonders of zoom technology, which allowed people around the world to join us in 2020 and 2021, during the pandemic.
These gatherings have been a wonderful way to share the love of this instrument, meet some amazing players and business owners.… and hopefully provide a place of some solace during turbulent times.
So….looking ahead…
We are still meeting on the first Saturday of every month, and looking to the future…. be sure to keep track of us on Facebook. And enjoy our return this July with the Mini Dutchland Dulcimer Gathering.
Jeffrey Hamilton, chief wrangler of Dutchland Dulcimers