Free “Berkeley Old Time Music” Festival in the Park (+ Free Ashkenaz Workshops)
All Over Berkeley | Berkeley, CA
Free / Learn More
Berkeley Old Time Music Convention 2026 (Sept. 16-20)
The Berkeley Old Time Music Convention returns September 16-20, 2026, for its 23rd annual festival with five days of old-time music, dancing, workshops, open jams, and concerts at venues across Berkeley.
The event features acclaimed local and national musicians, free daytime programs at Berkeley Central Library, family dance events, outdoor jamming at Ohlone Park, and a range of free workshops with optional donation.
Ticketed evening concerts and dances are $20–$44, but most daytime activities and workshops are free and open to all ages.
Berkeley Old Time Music Convention 2026
The Berkeley Old Time Music Convention returns September 16-20 for five days of old-time music, dancing, workshops, jams and performances at venues throughout Berkeley. The 23rd annual festival features local and national musicians, including Alice Gerrard, Justin Robinson, the Canote Brothers, Forty Drop Few, Joseph Decosimo & Stephanie Coleman, and members of the Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellowship.
A large portion of the convention is free, including open jams, Saturday’s full daytime program at the Berkeley Central Library, a Sunday family dance, and an afternoon of outdoor jamming at Ohlone Park.
*2026 WORKSHOP NOTE: All workshops are technically FREE admission this year, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Optional donations are encouraged to help cover artist fees and festival expenses. The suggested donation for instrument workshops is $25, but attendees may donate less, more, or nothing.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
- 8 pm – Welcome Square Dance Party featuring the Canote Brothers, Forty Drop Few, round-robin callers and an open jam with the Corn Likkers. $20
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
- FREE: 1-4 pm – Afternoon Open Jam at a private Berkeley home. Email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com for the address.
La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
- FREE WORKSHOPS / Optional $25 Donation: 4-5 pm – Southwest Fiddle workshop with Elliot Kennedy and Classic Banjo workshop with Ethan Francis.
- FREE: 5:30-6:30 pm – Hosted jam with Brandon Godman in the La Peña Lounge.
- 7 pm – Concert with Joseph Decosimo & Stephanie Coleman, Brandon Godman & Friends, and the Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellows. $39 advance / $44 day of show
The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
- FREE: 4-5:30 pm – Hosted jam with WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
- FREE: 1-4 pm – Afternoon Open Jam at a private Berkeley home. Email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com for the address.
The Freight, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley
- FREE WORKSHOPS / Optional $25 Donation: 4-5 pm – Two-Finger Banjo workshop with Joseph Decosimo, Fiddle workshop with Stephanie Coleman, and “How to Be Rooted in Tradition” workshop for all instruments with Justin Robinson.
- FREE: 5-6 pm – Outdoor open jam with the Canote Brothers in front of the Freight. Bring a chair if you can.
- 7 pm – Concert with Alice Gerrard, Reed Stutz & Suzy Thompson; Justin Robinson & Aaron Cooper; and Forty Drop Few. $39
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Berkeley Central Library, 2090 Kittredge St., Berkeley – ALL DAYTIME EVENTS FREE
- FREE: 10:15-11 am – Family concert with the Canote Brothers
- FREE: 10:30-11:30 am – Black Old Time Musicians panel discussion
- FREE: Noon-3 pm – String Band Contest
- FREE: 1-2 pm – Youth jam
- FREE: 1-2 pm – Alice Gerrard reads from her memoir Custom Made Woman: A Life in Traditional Music
- FREE: 2-3 pm – Old-time open jam with Justin Robinson
Private Berkeley home
- FREE: 4-6 pm – Afternoon Open Jam. Email BOTMCAfternoonJam@gmail.com for the address.
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
- FREE DANCE WORKSHOP: 6-7 pm – “Tricky Squares for Those Who Know Their Stuff” workshop with Janine Smith.
- 7:30 pm – Clogging Workshop with Evie Ladin, included with admission to the evening Square Dance Party.
- 8 pm – Square Dance Party with Skillet Licorice, Justin Robinson & Aaron Cooper, Joseph Decosimo & Stephanie Coleman & friends, with callers Janine Smith and Evie Ladin. $20
- 8 pm – Song circle with Mark Olson & Penny Critchlow in the back studio
- 9 pm-late – Open jam hosted by Forty Drop Few in the back studio
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
- FREE: 11 am-12:30 pm – Family Dance with the Manning Mud Stompers and caller Janine Smith. All dances are taught and the event is designed for the whole family.
- FREE WORKSHOPS / Optional $25 Donation: 11 am-noon – Fiddle Rags workshop with Greg Canote and Ukulele workshop with Jere Canote.
- FREE WORKSHOPS / Optional Donation: 12:30-1:30 pm – Backup Guitar workshop with Candra Edwards and Fiddle workshop with Joseph Decosimo.
Ohlone Park, near the North Berkeley BART station, Berkeley
- FREE: 2-5 pm – Open jamming and visiting
- FREE: 2-3 pm – Friendly Jam with Robin Fischer & Rowan McCallister
- FREE: 2-4 pm – “Shred Sesh,” with the first hour hosted by Shanice Richards and the second hour hosted by Joseph Decosimo & Stephanie Coleman. Bring a chair if you can.
Berkeley Old Time Music Convention: September 16-20, 2026 | Various locations throughout Berkeley | Many events FREE; 2026 workshops FREE with optional donations; ticketed concerts and dances $20-$44.
Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.
Cost: FREE*
