This post will be updated for events in 2026. Please let us know of any additions or corrections. The post that was being updated with events throughout 2025 has been retired and will no longer be updated.
Zoom or Hybrid Events
Many weekly or recurring events are listed on https://nfo-usa.com/virtual-events-calendar/ and https://facone.org/. For monthly Zoom Global Folk Dance Parties see https://www.facebook.com/PFDCouncil/ and https://www.folkdance.com/?post_type=tribe_events . Ethnic Dance Chicago's Virtual Dance Room calendar/event list is linked here: https://www.ethnicdance.net/virtualdanceroom/2020_virtualdanceroom-index.html
Some of the live events listed below may also stream some portion of the events (often the evening parties) online, check their websites to see what's available.
Live events in the Chicago area:
Lots of ethnic and folk festivals are listed in https://festivalguidesandreviews.com/illinois-festivals/
https://navypier.org/pier-events/pier-dance/
Navy Pier Dance
Free Dance Lessons
Wednesdays in June, 2026
Chicago, IL
https://chicagolandecd.org/chicagoland-west-ecd/
Chicagoland West ECD and IFD
Sun Jun 21, 2026
Glen Ellyn,IL
https://www.goodtemplarpark.org/events/2023/6/18/113-swedish-day-9xyfp-c5bxc
Swedish Midsummer Festival
Sun Jun 21, 2026
Good Templar Park, Geneva, IL
https://genevachamber.com/events/swedish-days
Geneva Swedish Days Festival
Jun 24-28, 2026
Geneva, IL
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_summerdance.html
Chicago SummerDance
Jul-Aug, 2026
Chicago, IL
https://twowaystreet.org/cultural-connections/
Two Way Street Coffee House Nordic Jam
Thu Jul 2, 2026
Downers Grove, IL
https://www.gulyasfestival.com/
Hungarian Gulyas Festival
Jul 11-12, 2026
Norridge, IL
https://www.peruvianfest.com/
Peruvian Festival
Jul 11-12, 2026
Chicago, IL
https://woodstockfolkfestival.org/2026/01/20/2026-woodstock-folk-festival-spring-benefit-concert-upcoming/
Woodstock Folk Festival
Sun Jul 19, 2026
Woodstock, IL
https://cantigny.org/event/voyage-en-france-2026/
Voyage en France
Sun Jul 19, 2026
Cantigny Park, Wheaton, IL
https://www.pierogifest.net/
Pierogi Fest
Jul 24-27, 2026
Whiting, IN
https://ginzaholiday.com/
Ginza Holiday
Aug 7-9, 2026
Midwest Buddhist Temple
Chicago, IL
https://www.wheelinginternationalfestival.com/
Wheeling International Festival
Sun Aug 9, 2026
Wheeling, IL
https://chicagogaelicpark.com/irish-fest/
Irish Fest
Aug 21-23, 2026
Chicago Gaelic Park
Oak Forest, IL
https://www.fvfs.org/festivalinfo-1
Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival
Sep 6-7, 2026
Wheeler Park, Geneva, IL
https://scandinaviandayil.com/
Vasa Park Scandinavian Day
Sun Sep 13, 2026
South Elgin, IL
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/wmf.html
Chicago World Music Festival
Sep 25 - Oct 4, 2026
Chicago, IL
Live events elsewhere:
https://facone.org/pinewoods/pinewoods.html
FAC Pinewoods Camp International Sessions
Jun 25 - Jul 2, 2026
Plymouth, MA
https://dcff.net/
Door County Folk Festival
Jul 9-12, 2026
Sturgeon Bay, WI
https://kentuckydanceinstitute.org/
Kentucky Dance Institute Folk Dance Camp
Jul 12-18, 2026
Murray, KY
https://www.swifdi.org/
SWIFDI New Mexico Folk Dance Camp
Jul 16-19, 2026
Montezuma, NM
https://stocktonfolkdancecamp.org/summer-camp/
Stockton Summer Folk Dance Camp
Jul 19-26, Jul 26 - Aug 2, 2026
Santa Cruz, CA
https://www.mainewoodsdancecamp.org/
Mainewoods Dance Camp
Aug 16-22, Aug 23-29, 2026
Fryeburg, ME
https://facone.org/labor-day-weekend/labor-day-weekend.html
Labor Day Weekend at Pinewoods
Sep 4-8, 2026
Plymouth, MA
https://tifd.org/
Texas International Folk Dance Camp
Oct 9-12, 2026
Bruceville, TX
https://fallcamp.org/
Fall Folk Dance Camp
Oct 30 - Nov 1, 2026
Simi Valley, CA
