Press

MEDIA INFORMATION

WHAT: The Flurry Festival is a celebration of music and dance from America and around the world, with genres including swing, blues, contra, square dancing, Cajun, Zydeco, English country, Balkan, Scandinavian, Latin, waltz, Scottish, fusion, international, Irish, balfolk, African, Appalachian, Asian, Haitian, hip hop, techno contra, and more. Participants come to dance, watch, listen, or participate in a variety of dances, workshops, and concerts, including dance lessons, singing sessions, instrument workshops, scheduled and impromptu jam sessions, yoga, crafts, and family events for all ages.

The Flurry is a major economic contributor to the City of Saratoga Springs, which has embraced the Flurry since 1994.  Flurry participants celebrate a variety of cultures from around the world. Engaging in other peoples’ cultures while creating one’s own community helps us understand and appreciate people who are different from us, rather than feeling threatened by them.

Dances are informal, participatory, and appropriate for singles and couples — you never need to attend with a partner for partner dances, and you will change partners between dances in many of the sessions. Dress is casual and comfortable, with soft-soled shoes preferred. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or musician, love to experience new types of dance, learn new musical tricks, or just enjoy listening to fantastic tunes among friends, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the Flurry!

WHERE: The majority of sessions take place within the Saratoga City Center and Hilton hotel, with additional 2026 venues including the Parting Glass Pub, the Saratoga Music Hall, Temple Sinai, and Yoga Mandali. Family programming on Saturday will be offered free to the public at the Saratoga Springs Public Library.

WHEN: Every President’s Day Weekend (Friday-Sunday, weekend of the 3rd. Monday in February).
Approximate 2026 Hours:
Friday — 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. (Pre-Festival Intensives are offered Friday afternoon 12-5pm.)
Saturday — 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Sunday — 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

COST — ADMISSION PRICES: (Children 12 and under are free).

Ticket Prices vary depending on type, time of purchase, and block of time desired (day, night, all-day or all-weekend). For 2026 prices range from $45 to $220. Scholarship tickets are also available for those with financial need. Visit www.flurryfestival.org/tickets for details.

Advance Discount Tickets are available online through February 6, 2026.

Full-Price Tickets are available during the Festival Weekend in the City Center lobby. We do not run out of at-door tickets.

Discounts for under 26, senior, and DanceFlurry Organization members. ID is required for discounts. Lower-priced scholarship tickets are also available.

Volunteer positions come with free admission and can be applied for at www.flurryfestival.org/volunteer/.

EVENT SIZE — ATTENDANCE:
In a typical year, roughly 5,000 participants, 400 performers, and over 200 separate sessions during the weekend. These include social dance parties, workshops (instruments, vocals, dance), concerts, dance performances, participatory singing and jam sessions, and family-oriented events.

FOR WHOM:

• Everyone! All ages. Primarily coming from the NY Capital District area and New England, others come from Central and Western states, Canada.
• Dancers and non-dancers. While most come to dance, many attendees come to sing, play music, learn or listen to music, or enjoy watching events.
• All levels, from beginner sessions to “experienced only” dances. There are workshops and dances for novices (“101” and “102” classes).
• Singles and couples. As a community dance event, people often switch partners after each dance. You don’t need to bring a partner.
• Adults, teens and families.
  — Sessions for families often include storytelling, sing-alongs, family dances, kid-friendly concerts, dances from other cultures.
  — Sessions that teens might enjoy might include hip-hop, improv, bellydance, swing, African dance/drum, Irish step, youth contras, and events performed by other teens.
  — Find family-specific information at www.flurryfestival.org/family.
• Instrument workshops and demos for a variety of ability levels may include: vocals, fiddle, wind instruments, banjo, mandolin, guitar, percussion and more.

WHAT KIND OF DANCING:

• A wide variety of dance forms is offered (though may change from year-to-year): Contras, swing, squares, circle, community, blues, Latin (salsa/tango), English Country, waltz, hip-hop, clogging, Cajun, zydeco, belly dance, improv, two-step country, line dances.
• Dances from many different cultures: African, Cajun, Scandinavian, Scottish, Celtic/Irish, French-Canadian, Indian, Israeli, Balkan, English, German, Cajun, Native American, Middle Eastern, French, Russian and more.
• The Flurry is not about “competitive”‘ ballroom-type dancing, nor is it formal; it’s about having fun with plenty of opportunities to learn new dances and meet new people. Dress is casual and comfortable. Soft-soled, clean shoes (shoes not worn outdoors) are required on all dance floors.
• After all these years, contra dancing remains the most popular dance form at the Festival. Contra dancing is easy to learn. If you can walk, count to eight, and you know your left from your right, you can learn to contra dance.

PERFORMER HIGHLIGHTS:
Please see website for complete performer list and links to their websites.
The weekend schedule is at www.flurryfestival.org/schedule.
To communicate with the Program Curator contact: programcurator@flurryfestival.org

VIDEOS

Dance Away The Winter Blues (Travel Blog – restortsandlodges.com)

Saratoga Springs, NY: The Flurry Festival (with Mickela Mallozzi, YouTube video)

WHAT ATTENDEES SAY / QUOTES:
Survey Responses to: “My Favorite Thing About The Flurry is. . . “

• The welcoming, joyful celebration of shared human emotions through music and movement.
• How can one festival open so many hearts at once?
• The collective love of dance and music is both contagious and restorative, inspiring a lifelong practice and participation in both music and community.
• The joy — the way it fills my heart and soul with hope as we carry on from here.
• Gracious, supportive, community-driven atmosphere can’t be beat! It’s rare!
• I always find something I never heard of, or haven’t been exposed to, or haven’t yet had the opportunity to try. It satisfies my spirit!
• It was my first time, and I came solo with no dance background, and everyone said that it was really brave, but it honestly didn’t require bravery because EVERYONE I met was so incredibly friendly and welcoming!
• Enjoying letting myself relax into “flurry time” — being off the clock for 2-1/2 days and filling up with as much dancing and playing music and listening to music as there is at the Flurry. It’s cool!
• The jam sessions, the contra dancing, the overall atmosphere, and just how friendly everyone is, whether they’re staff, volunteers, or attendees!
• The feeling on Friday when I start dancing, that I’ll be able to do this all weekend. Or maybe the feeling on Saturday when I’m in the groove and my whole body is dancing. Or maybe the feeling on Sunday evening when I’m exhausted and my batteries are fully charged.
• The people! Everybody is happy. Every place you look, people are laughing. They smile and say “Hi” in the halls, even if they don’t know you.
• Welcoming atmosphere for all ages, genders, orientation, expression and skill levels
• Combination of fun and security that makes us feel like anybody can talk, hang out, or dance with anyone else there.