Bear Hug Mountain Festival 2025
Contra Dance & Music Camp
September 5 - 7, 2025
On the Shores of Beautiful Flathead Lake, Montana
Get ready to contradance, sing, swim, canoe, and play music at the 2025 Bear Hug Mountain Festival weekend on the shores of Montana's Flathead Lake! The bands, Countercurrent and Banna Damhsa, will be providing the music to the calling of Michael Karcher and Emily Faulkner. Singles, couples, families, and all ages are welcome! Entertainment, meals, and lodging (shared cabins) are provided. You can also tent or RV. Hope to see ya!
Countercurrent
Performing together since 2009, Countercurrent is one of the most in-demand bands for contra dance weekends and camps across the country. Being highly collaborative musicians, Alex and Brian are part of several other bands (together or separately) including One Dollar Whiskey, Gallimaufry, The Iona Fyfe Trio, The Engine Room, Dear Crow, and others.
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Brian Lindsay (he/him) spent much of his youth going to sessions in the NY area and studying with respected Irish fiddle player, Brian Conway. An accomplished performer and Mid-Atlantic Irish Fiddle champion by the age of 17, Brian incorporates the influences of many musical styles. The dynamic, living tradition of contra dance embraces the new and the old, and the creativity in Brian’s playing draws on both a wealth of traditional influence and an enthusiasm for new improvisation. Brian is also an accomplished sound engineer and provides live sound support for concerts and festivals across the Pacific Northwest. He lives in Pierce County, Washington, and sometimes finds time outside of music to pursue his passions for farming, woodworking, and rock climbing.
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Born into a musical household, Alex Sturbaum (they/them) fell in love with the jigs and reels of Irish and Scottish music, the sea songs of the Canadian maritimes, the fiddle tunes and ballads of Appalachia, and more. Alex studied at the Riley School of Irish Music in Cincinnati before attending Oberlin College, where they began playing music for contra dances and never looked back. Alex is perhaps best known for powerhouse guitar and accordion playing. They have performed on many recordings, and have released four solo albums: River Run Wide, Loomings, Atlantic Dreams, and Slash. When not performing music, Alex also organizes community music events, produces albums for other musicians, teaches lessons on many instruments, and enthusiastically educates friends about marine biology.​
Banna Damhsa
(pronounced BONna DOWsa)
Swiftcurrent
A professional fine art painter (janclizerpainting.com), fiddler Jan Clizer’s passion for Celtic culture and music has been lifelong, and is the focus of both her paintings and music. In Jan/Feb 2019, she toured Scotland with Alasdair Fraser and the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, and performed in their spring multi-concert series in the Bay area in 2022. You can visit her Coeur d’Alene art studio by appointment.
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Husband and wife team, Dave and Char Beach are a musical force to be reckoned with! Dave, a veteran of a long list of bands in the Inland Northwest, plays hard-driving guitar and melodic, fast-moving mandolin. Among his many talents are instrument making, and you will see them both playing his own "Howling Dog" brand of instruments.
Char, a long-time elementary school educator, now shares her wealth of knowledge and talents through the Coeur d’Alene Library’s active Outreach Program. She plays guitar, harp and bodhran, is a dab hand (or foot!) at Quebecois footwork. Singing is her true passion.
Whistle player Brent Edwards brings his extensive jazz saxophone experience to spice up Celtic tunes. Originating from Wisconsin, his exposure to Celtic music began early at home and honed his taste for edgy, eclectic Celtic fusion. The band likes to refer to him as the Jethro Tull of Celtic music!
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Together, they are Banna Damhsa (pronounced BONna DOWsa) which means "Dance Band" in Irish Gaelic. Their musical focus is decidedly Celtic – Irish, Scottish, French, Canadian jigs, reels, strathspeys, waltzes and more. Their various musical backgrounds bring you energetic and fun music for your dancing and listening pleasure!
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Michael Karcher got hooked on contra dance and English Country Dancing at Swarthmore College, and fed his habit at CDNY in New York City. He started calling after moving to Seattle and honed a clear, friendly style over the next decade before returning to the east coast.
Michael now calls dances across the US and Canada, and dreams of bringing contra dance to Japan, and taking contra away from France (just kidding.) He helps with the Lehigh Valley contra dance, and is a coordinating caller in Philadelphia.
Off the dance floor, Michael teaches statistics as an assistant professor at Muhlenberg College.
Michael Karcher
Emily Faulkner
A longtime dancer, Emily Faulkner started calling contras in 2011 to help revive her local dance scene. As a teacher, she had plenty of practice giving directions with a smile. Her goal is to conjure joy and delight with supportive teaching and clear walk-throughs, then call just enough and get out of the way.
Emily calls many of the regular second Friday dances in Sandpoint, Idaho. She also calls and dances frequently in Spokane, Idaho, Washington, Montana, and beyond. Emily’s been part of the organizing community at Lady of the Lake since 2015. She plays flute in two dance bands.
After the dance floor, her next-favorite places are the garden, the barn, the kitchen, and the hills, and after all that: the couch with a pile of wool.
At Camp
Arrival
Per the FLUMC Director, the camp will open at 4:00 PM on Friday. Before 4:00 PM, the camp staff is often still cleaning the facilities, e.g. bathrooms, cabins, etc. Please don't make their job harder. Please wait until after 4:00 PM to unload your vehicle or use the cabins, bathrooms or facilities. Thank you!
Facilities
Dining Hall
Cabins
Accommodations
You can choose bunks in more than a dozen rustic cabins of various sizes, or set up a tent along the shore or in an open field. Other facilities include: dining hall; restroom and shower facilities; dock, swimming area and canoes; basketball and volleyball courts; ping pong pavilion; tenting and RV space.
Cabins
Stove and refrigerator; living room and porch. Bath and shower facilities are a short walk from the cabins.
Food
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Local dancers will provide a potluck dinner on Friday night, 6:00 to 7:00 PM.
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The camp provides three meals on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday.
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The kitchen staff can accommodate most standard dietary needs WITH ADVANCE NOTICE. (Specify in Comment field on Registration Form.)
CAMP RULES - Please respect ... so we can continue to return to this beautiful spot each year!
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NO DOGS!
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NO alcohol or recreational drugs
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NO indoor smoking
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Park only in designated areas
What To Bring
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smooth sole dance shoes
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dance clothes
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pillow
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bedding (blankets, sheets, and/or sleeping bag)
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warm clothing
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rain gear
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swim suit
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towel
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personal drink mug
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musical instruments
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cash for CDs
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fragrance-free hygiene products (toiletries)
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towel
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ear plugs
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smiles, humor & savoire faire
More Info
Friday evening begins with a potluck at 6:00 PM, supplied by local dancers, followed by a dance at 7:45 PM.
The full weekend schedule will be posted here a few weeks before the event AND available at the registration table.
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Camp ends with lunch at 12:45 PM on Sunday.
Cell reception may be spotty. Emergency phone messages can be left at (406) 844-3483. There is Wi-Fi at the dining hall.
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Dancing shoes should be without black rubber soles/heels -- with smooth leather soles -- to protect the dance floor from black marks. No outdoor shoes, please.
COVID Policy: Masks are optional and vaccinations are recommended but not required. We will have N-95 masks at the festival as well as COVID test kits.
Carpool!
More info coming!
Communication
All of our communication with registrants will be via email, usually from bearhugfestival@gmail.org. Please check your email for information and updates.
Directions to camp
Bear Hug is held at the Flathead Lake United Methodist Camp (FLUMC) located off Highway 93 on the western shore of the lake, between Polson and Somers.
Coming from the south on Highway 93, the Bear Hug ''turn here'' sign stands about three-quarters of a mile north of the Rollins Store, on the Right.
Coming from the north on Highway 93, look for the sign on your left at mile marker 89, about nine miles south of Lakeside. Turn east (left) onto Rollins Lakeshore Drive and follow the Bear Hug and Methodist camp signs, keeping to the middle fork at the Fire Hall.
Park in the lot above camp and walk to the dining hall to register, You might bring a small personal item (i.e. pillow) you can put on a bed to claim it.
Once you decide on a cabin you can drive there to unload.
Registration & Fees
Registration is limited to 110, so sign up early! Enrollment is on a first-come, first served basis but we must receive your payment in order to reserve your spot.
Sliding Scale Fees
In order to make Bear Hug more accessible, we use a sliding scale for registration fees. The Standard Fee of $265 is our break-even for event costs including dance and music programming, and room and board. Those who pay more (thank you!) help folks who are unable to pay that much.
We also offer a Student Rate (Junior High, High School and College) as well as a Child rate for anyone aged 12 and under.
Finally, a limited number of volunteer Worker Bear slots are available at the rate of $140. If you are interested in applying to be a volunteer, select that option below before submitting your payment. We'll get back to you.
Fee Schedule
Supported Bear
$250
Standard Fee
$265
Pay-It-Forward Bear
$285
Generous Bear
$305
Student: $140
Children (age 12 & under): $90
Worker Bear: $140
To Register for Bear Hug 2025
​ 1. Complete and click Submit button on the form below for each and all registrants in your group.*
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If the form "freezes" up, please call Judith at (406) 282-1746 to register.
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Payments for couples/group/families may be combined into a single payment.
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Sending us a check reduces our cost for PayPal fees -- thank you for considering this option.
* As an alternative to the online form, you may call us to register by phone: (406) 282-1746. Please leave a clear message with your name and phone number, and a good time to return your call.
Registration Form & Questions
Questions ? Please contact Judith Mendelsohn:
Call or Text: (406) 282-1746
Email: bearhug@missoulafolk.org
In order to make Bear Hug more affordable for some, we have instituted a sliding schedule for adult registration fees. The break-even amount of $265 pays for the dance and music programming, and room and board costs. Those who pay more than the break-even amount help to fund those who are unable to pay that much. If you have more than one person in your group, you can pay for all of them with one payment using PayPal or by mailing us a check.
>>> ---------------------------------- Individual Sliding Scale ---------------------------------- >>>
Supported Bear
$250
Standard Fee
$265
Pay-It-Forward Bear
$285
Generous Bear
$305
Student
$140
Children (age 12 & under)
$90
Worker Bear
$140
Total Fees
(Include any T-shirt fees)
Total Fees
Donation to MFS (optional)
Donation
Tax Deductible
Check
1. Make payment to:
Missoula Folklore Society
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2. Please mail to:
Missoula Folklore Society
Attn: Bear Hug
PO Box 9296
Missoula, MT 59807
3. On your check, please write the name of registrant(s) in the Comment field.
Cancellation Policy
Folks canceling on or before August 15 will receive a full refund minus a $40 administrative fee. For cancellations after August 15, no refund will be made. For cancellations due to health or other emergency, please contact registrar, Judith Mendelsohn. Phone: (406) 282-1746. Email: bearhug@missoulafolk.org.
Looking forward to dancing with you!
The 2025 Bear Hug Committee:
Marty Albini, Georgia Cobbs, Sky Cova, and Judith Mendelsohn
Special thanks to our Missoula Folklore Society leadership, members, donors, & friends. This festival would not be possible without your incredible support!
The Bear Hug Mountain Festival was founded in 1984 by Robert Logan, Lael Diehm, Michelle "Sunni" (Stolpa) Bradshaw, Carla Majernik, Tamara (Blank) Gatchell, Rex Blazer, Gary Morris, and Teri (Vehrs) Vore. Since 1984, many MFS members have stepped up to organize, shape, and run the festival. It was the first contra dance weekend festival in Montana and helped spawn the [re]birth of the Missoula Folklore Society under the guidance of Mike Sweet, Rick Ryan, John Joyner, "Sunni," and several others.
- Robert Logan
Last updated April 1, 2025