The 2021 Takoma Park Folk Festival (TPFF 21) is on!  The date is September 12, 2021, from 4-9 pm.  While some aspects of the Festival format are contingent on the status of COVID-19 conditions in the area, the music and spirit of this beloved annual event will be as strong as ever.  As past attendees know, the Festival’s music program is customarily held on local school grounds and is organized around 6 performance stages.  This year, reflecting the fluid pandemic conditions, the 2021 Festival will feature its usual diverse range of music, including traditional and new takes on American and international folk music and other genres, but will be live-streamed, with the possibility of in-person events contingent on public health guidance.  A Juried Craft Show is also being organized, which will be held in person at the Takoma Park Community Center from noon to 6:30 pm.

As Covid-19 conditions continuing to improve in Maryland, the Festival organizers are considering additional possibilities, including anchoring the live-streamed events at public limited-audience locations as well as multiple “watch parties” around town.  Viewers will also be encouraged to hold watch party gatherings in their homes and other venues.  Viewers will be able to get creative with their watch parties and enjoy this unique opportunity to be part of the festival from the comfort of their own homes.  They can even dress the part!  T-shirts and other merchandise are available online at TPFF.org.  And Takoma Park viewers are encouraged to order in from local restaurants who sponsor the festival!  Information about the musical program and the craft show will be posted on the TPFF website (TPFF.org) and Facebook (facebook.com/takomaparkfolkfestival) during the summer as well as in the September issue of this Newsletter.