Bear Hug Mountain Festival 2026
Contra Dance & Music Camp
September 11 - 13, 2026
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, Raven and Goose and the Unstrung String Band will be providing the music to the calling of Susan Petrick and Rab Cummings. 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!
Download a Bear Hug 2026 flyer for your dances and friends!
Raven and Goose
Raven and Goose are a nationally touring contra duo. With fiery fiddlin' from Corwin Zekley and foot stompin' piano by Grace Fellows, they play original compositions and breathe new life into traditional tunes, all delivered with a passion that will get you up and dancing!
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Virtuoso violinist, Corwin Zekley was born with a fiddle in their hands and plays with an intensity yet delicacy that pulls on the heartstrings of all who hear them. Corwin has eclectic musical roots, and enchants audiences playing anything from Celtic to Jazz to Country to Metal. Corwin studied at the Berklee College of Music, has played thousands of concerts, appeared on dozens of records, and has published books and albums of their own compositions
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Grace Fellows grew up playing traditional musics on fiddle, and she synthesized her broad musical influences while studying at CalArts, and doing her masters at BIMM London. She became an accomplished pianist while performing as a singer/songwriter, and in the last couple years has become a powerhouse contra-pianist whose potent sense of rhythm will propel you around the dance floor.
Unstrung String Band
The Unstrung String Band is a hard driving, old time quartet based in northwest Montana, even though two of its members recently made the move from Bigfork to New Zealand. The band specializes in playing for contra dances and loves nothing more than the energy flow between dancers and band. Unstrung is:
• Al McCurry of Trego on guitar - Al’s background runs from rock & roll back in the ‘70s to Irish music in our current era. His resulting style is the perfect driver for Unstrung’s rhythm section. And around the campfire ... man, the boy can sing!
• Bill Rossiter of Whitefish on clawhammer banjo - Bill is Mr Everything - storyteller, musicologist, jam leader, and more. If it’s got strings, Bill plays it. If it’s got lyrics, he sings it. If there’s a story behind it, you can count on Bill to tell it. And he does it all so darn well it’s almost crazy!
• Carol Dietrich of Cape Foulwind, New Zealand on bass - Carol is a dedicated contra dancer. Back in western North Carolina she was a long time regular at the legendary Old Farmers Ball and Riverfalls dances. This set her up beautifully for being the bassist for Unstrung. After all, somebody’s got to keep these boys in line!
• Marion Boatwright also of Cape Foulwind NZ on fiddle - In Marion you find an old time fiddler that really “gets” contra. His repertoire is rooted in Southern Appalachian tunes he sourced first hand from storied old timers back in the ‘70s. Marion’s authentic, raw energy leads to Unstrung’s unique feel for dancers.
An avid dancer for many years, Susan Petrick started calling for contra dances in 2000, and teaching couple dances, including waltz, cross-step waltz, and hambo, shortly thereafter. Susan lives in Redwood City, CA and has become a regional treasure with national prominence, calling for dance weekends and festivals throughout the country.
She is known for her clear teaching, efficient guidance, and expert pacing, making even complex dances accessible to all. Recently retired, Susan is a cognitive psychologist who managed teams of User Experience researchers at Google.
Susan Petrick
Rab Cummings
Bozeman, MT based dance caller Rab Cummings has been calling contras and squares for over 30 years. He is noted for his clear, efficient, teaching, melodic calling, and infectious joy.
Rab is a longtime coordinator and caller for the Bozeman Folklore Society and recently helped establish the Second Saturday Contras and Squares series in Bozeman, a dance series focused on cultivating the next generation of dancers, musicians and callers.
At Camp
Arrival
1. Per the FLUMC Director, the camp will open at 4:00 PM on Friday.
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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!
2. Park in the designated parking area above camp.
3. Walk downhill to the Dining Hall (see photo below) to check in.
4. The Registration folks will help you choose a cabin (or tent/RV site.)
5. Then you can drive there to unload and choose a bunk.
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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Everyone is encouraged to bring a POTLUCK DISH to share for 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.)
What To Bring
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Indoor Only DANCE SHOES, preferably with smooth soles
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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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ear plugs
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POTLUCK DISH (Friday)
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toiletries
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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 toiletries AND clothing. No perfume or cologne or heavily scented soap, shampoo, hair spray, clothes, etc. Many folks have scent allergies!
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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
CAMP RULES - Please respect ... so we can continue to return to this beautiful spot each year!
More Info
Friday evening begins with a community potluck at 6:00 PM, 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.
Explore
Schedule
Workshop Descriptions
Will be finalized in July
Communication
All of our communication with registrants will be via email, usually from bearhugfestival@gmail.com. Please check your Inbox (and Spam folder!) 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 check in. The Registration folks will assist you in picking a cabin (or tent/RV site.)
Once you decide on a cabin you can drive there to unload.
Registration & Fees
Registration is limited so sign up early -- last year we had a waiting list! Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis but we must receive your payment in order to reserve your spot. Registration closes August 21 at midnight. To be added to the Bear Hug Waiting List after August 21, please contact Judith Mendelsohn: bearhug@missoulafolk.org or call/text 406-282-1746.
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 2026
​ 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 ---------------------------------- >>>
$285
Supported Bear
$250
Standard Fee
$265
Pay-It-Forward Bear
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 March 26, 2026