Cajun Music and Dance Festival

Featuring Balfa Toujours

Welcome to a weekend of Cajun music and dance with the very finest tradition-bearers. 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of legendary Cajun fiddler Dewey Balfa came to Folklore Village, as well as the 40th anniversary of the Terr family’s involvement with Folklore Village’s Cajun Weekend. To celebrate these anniversaries, our 2024 weekend will feature the fantastic Balfa Toujours.

Balfa Toujours has been together for over 30 years. Christine Balfa formed the band after the death of her father, the legendary fiddler Dewey Balfa, wanting to carry on the traditional Cajun music and message of the Balfa family. Balfa Toujours means “Balfa still and always.” The band plays Cajun songs from their Louisiana culture and continues to write expressive and incredibly danceable original songs.

Folklore Village’s Cajun Weekend includes multiple levels of instruction in fiddle, accordion, guitar, and dance, plus cultural discussions, jam sessions, parties, traditional food prepared by RedBarn Catering, and more!

Schedule of Events:

8:30-9:15: Breakfast - RedBarn Catering - Main Hall

9:30-10:30: Beg./Int. Guitar - Amelia Powell - Craft Room
Beginning Fiddle
Beginning Accordion - Gene Losey - Music Room
Bass - Shane Guidry - Gallery

9:30-11:30: Dance Workshop - Ellen Keane - Main Hall

10:45-11:45: All-Levels Jam - Gallery

12:00-12:50: Cajun Cultural Discussion - Balfa Toujours - Main Hall

1:00-1:45: Lunch - RedBarn Catering - Main Hall

2:00-4:00: Dance Workshop II - Ellen Keane - Main Hall
Intermediate Fiddle - Eric Mohring - Craft Room
Intermediate Accordion - Charlie Terr - Schoolhouse
Advanced Fiddle - Blake Miller - Gallery
Advanced Accordion - Jean-Jacques Aucoin - Music Room
Int/Adv Guitar - Amelia Powell - Costume Room
Cajun Vocals - Christine Balfa - Church

4:00-6:30: Open Jamming - Everywhere!

6:30-7:30: Dinner - RedBarn Catering - Main Hall

7:45: Dance Party - Balfa Toujours - Main Hall

Click Here for Registration

PLEASE NOTE: Confirmation emails are sent manually by the program manager. You will receive your confirmation email once your registration has been processed.

Cost:
Full-Time Adult before 12pm Central Time on April 5: $295
Full-Time Adult after 12pm Central Time on April 5: $315

Part-Time Adult Rates
Friday evening dance: $30
Saturday all day (breakfast – evening party, includes 3 meals and all workshops): $210
Saturday breakfast: $15
Saturday AM workshops: $60
Saturday lunch: $20
Saturday PM workshops: $60
Saturday dinner and evening dance: $65
Saturday evening dance (no dinner): $30
Sunday breakfast: $15
Sunday AM workshops: $56
Sunday lunch: $15

Full-Time Teen before 12pm Central Time on April 5: $215
Full-Time Teen after 12pm Central Time on April 5: $235

Full-Time Youth (ages 5 – 12) before 12pm Central Time on April 5: $145
Full-Time Youth (ages 5 – 12) after 12pm Central Time on April 5: $165

Kids under 5 are admitted free but must be registered.

For part-time teen and youth rates contact the Program Manager, Kelli Emerson, at programs@folklorevillage.org or by calling (608) 924-4000.

For policies, including cancellation policies, click here.

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