Free Workshops
The Bear offers free workshops featuring some of the festival’s finest musicians, singers, and other artists who share their talent, experience, and knowledge.
2026 Schedule
In Hancock Park
Saturday
3 pm: Old-Time Fiddle
Billy Hurt is a well-traveled fiddler from Boonesville, Virginiawho is performing on the Main Stage with Five Mile Mountain Road. In this workshop he will share tunes and techniques for old-time fiddlers of all levels.
4 pm: Old-Time Guitar
Conner Vlietstra is a talented multi-instrumentalist equally at home in old-time and bluegrass styles who is performing on the Main Stage with Five Mile Mountain Road. In this workshop he will share approaches to old-time guitar that will really make your playing stand out!
5 pm: Jazz Guitar
Brennan Ernst is a multi-instrumental multi-genre musical daredevil who is performing on the Main Stage with Five Mile Mountain Road. In this workshop he will introduce the fundamentals of jazz guitar playing and help you to integrate these techniques into your style.
Sunday
1 pm: Clogging
Cindy Barnes is a celebrated local clogger and clogging teacher whose family has lived in Dahlonega for generations. Her workshop will feature live fiddle accompaniment as she teaches all the basic steps you need to start dancing!
2 pm: Ballad Singing
Hannah From first developed her musical skills in the local after-school music program, Georgia Pick & Bow, but now she is a professional banjo player and singer whose talents have graced stages from Georgia to New York City. Don’t miss her beautiful singing as she shares traditional ballads and stories from the Southern Appalachians.
3 pm: Concert: Rusty Rooster String Band
The Rusty Rooster String Band is made up of current UNG students. This year they have performed at IBMA in Chattanooga, TN and the String Band Summit in Johnson City, TN. Enjoy their selection of bluegrass favorites, crossover songs from other genres, and original compositions.
Holiday Inn Express Conference Room
Saturday
11 am: Flatfoot Dance
Maggie Holder is an expert dancer who is eager to share her unique flatfoot style with festivalgoers. All levels are welcome at this interactive workshop!
12 pm: Singing with Fiddle Tunes
Did you know that lots of fiddle tunes have words? Local duo Max & Maggie love to sing while they play, and they also love to share their music with others. Get in the habit of singing a verse at every jam! All are welcome to play, sing, or listen.
1 pm: Old-Time Slow Jam
This jam welcomes new players who are still mastering their instruments and learning tunes. Local music educators Ann and John will lead familiar tunes at a slow pace and help out with chords, melodies, and technique. All are welcome.
2 pm: Sacred Harp Singing
Sacred Harp singing is a Georgia tradition that dates back to1844. This workshop will offer a brief introduction to reading shape notes before we sing some old songs that have sounded in the mountains for centuries. Each section will have an experienced singer to lead the way, so please join us, no matter what your ability level!
3 pm: Bluegrass Banjo
Trevor Holder is an award-winning banjo player from Ringgold, GA who is performing on the Main Stage with Five Mile Mountain Road.
4 pm: Bass
Come learn the bass with Austin Janey of Five Mile Mountain Road! All are welcome at this workshop, which will equip you to hold down the bottom end in any jam.
5 pm: Bluegrass Slow Jam
This jam welcomes new players who are still mastering their instruments and learning tunes. Bill Long will lead familiar songs at a slow pace and help out with chords and technique. All are welcome.
Sunday
1 pm: Harmony Singing
The Solstice Sisters of Athens, GA are perennial favorites at Bear on the Square. Come learn how they blend their voices so beautifully, and even sing along!
2 pm: New Old-Time Tunes
Old-time has “old” right there in the name, but musicians actually write new fiddle tunes all the time. Come learn a few of the best ones from Andy Howard!
3 pm: Pickin’ Porch Jam
Pickin’ Porch is the local old-time jam, meeting every Friday at the Vickery House for two hours of tunes and friendship. All are welcome to join their Bear jam!
Vickery House on W. Main St. across from the UNG Campus
Saturday
3:00 pm: Concert: The Four O’ Clocks
The Four O’ Clocks are Max Godfrey, Maggie Hall, Jenna Mobley, and Jeremy Aggers, a traditional old-time string band from Atlanta! They are creatures of the golden hour, summoning weary, solitary travelers together to dance and howl harmoniously at the rising moon. Check out their album at fouroclocksband.bandcamp.com, and follow them @fouroclocksband on Instagram and Facebook.
In the year since recording their debut album, they’ve played at Eddie’s Attic, Fiddler’s Green, Flicker in Athens, The John C. Campbell Folk School, and contra dances in Birmingham, Athens, Atlanta, and Brasstown, NC.