French Creek Music Retreat

Photo by Bonnie Leigh Photography

We’re looking forward to our annual acoustic folk music weekend at French Creek State Park near Elverson, PA. The park is about an hour from Philly. French Creek Music Retreat is a resurrection of a family folk music festival of old.

Due to park rules, we can no longer accept payment at the group camp. Please fill out and mail the registration form available here: REGISTRATION FORM. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at fcmusicretreat@gmail.com.

Or you can pay with Venmo – @CliffBCole last 4 digits of phone 5390. Include number of attendees and if joining for spaghetti dinner.

Weekend Basics:

The FRENCH CREEK MUSIC RETREAT is held at the French Creek State Park in Elverson, PA. We meet in Group Camp 1 (GPS coordinates: 40.204856, -75.796087 – On the map it may say “French Creek Bible Conference), which has a large lodge and cabins available that sleep 2 or 4. The camp is reserved for the weekend of Sept. 19-21, 2025 for this event that focuses on acoustic instrumentalists and singers. We will have great jams with workshops throughout the day! The registration fee ($30 festival fee, children 12 and under free) includes a bed in a 2 or 4 person rustic cabin with old metal or wooden bed frames. This event begins at 5:00 Friday evening, and we need to be cleaned up and out of the lodge by noon on Sunday.

If you have not been here before and a reminder to all, please bring all supplies necessary (pots, plates, silverware) to prepare your meals. The lodge kitchen with large stoves and ovens does not come with kitchen supplies. Please bring your own plates and utensils. There is a large walk-in refrigerator available for perishables.

Bring an air mattress or foam pad for the platform or spring beds in the rustic cabins. There are many rustic cabins that vary in size and number of beds, tables, chairs, etc. along the road behind the camp. Some have electricity and some do not. Cabins are first come first serve.

Also, bring a good flashlight and bug spray. Please bring your own folding chairs for outdoor jams and workshops. Tent camping is NOT allowed in Group Camp 1, but there is tent/RV camping allowed in other designated locations. See https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/FrenchCreekStatePark/Pages/Stay.aspx to make reservations.

Pop-up workshops will be offered if attendees would like to offer them. Any acoustic instrument (fiddle, banjo, guitar, mountain or hammered dulcimer, mandolin, ukulele, bass, etc.) at any level. If there’s a workshop you want to take, let us know and we’ll try to accommodate within reason. These are free for the benefit of those who want them. No sign up, just attend what you want from what’s offered.

Beyond jamming and attending workshops, you can go hiking, boating, playing frisbee golf, badminton, enjoy campfire circles, and more.  You can become friends on Facebook to see photos of the camp at https://www.facebook.com/groups/158619740929577/.

Meals

Bring your own breakfast(s) and lunch. The kitchen is available for use. Supply your own plates and utensils.

On Friday night there will be a $5 spaghetti dinner. Please indicate your interest on your registration email (fcmusicretreat@gmail.com) so we can plan adequately for the Spaghetti Dinner.

A POTLUCK is planned for Saturday evening, so please bring a dish to share (bring your own dishes & utensils).

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Registration

Due to park rules, we can no longer accept payment at the group camp. Please fill out and mail the registration form available here: REGISTRATION FORM. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at fcmusicretreat@gmail.com.

Or you can pay with Venmo – @CliffBCole last 4 digits of phone 5390. Include number of attendees and if joining for spaghetti dinner.

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Schedule

Friday

5:00  – Registration –   $30.00 for the festival

6:30  –  Spaghetti Dinner – $5.00 donation to cover food costs

7:30  –  Evening Jam

Saturday

8:00  –  Registration  – $30.00 for the festival

8:00  –  Breakfast – Bring your own food. Coffee is supplied

9:30 – 11:45 Pop-up workshops – Various folk instruments

12:00 – 1:00: Lunch – Bring your own food. Coffee is supplied.

1:15 – 2:30: Jam: Location – Main dining room or outside

1:15 – Possible workshops by request and jamming

2:30 – 5:30: Jamming

Saturday Evening – Events in the Main Dining Room

5:30 – 6:30:  POTLUCK Dinner; please bring a main dish and dessert to share if you are able.

6:30 – 7:00: Kitchen clean-up (if you can’t bring food please be a part of this crew)

7:00: Open Stage

After Open Stage – Jam ’till you drop

Sunday

Breakfast – Bring your own food. Coffee is supplied.

Pack up and help clean up. Saying our ’till we meet again,” to our old and new friends.

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French Creek Music Retreat is a member of Folk Arts Consortium, a 501C3 Organization.