The Summer Hoot was “pay what you want” and we sold over 1200 tickets this year! The music began at 7pm on Friday night and ended at 6pm Sunday. I felt, once again, like I never stopped moving and smiling and singing and soaking in the good energy all weekend. There were also 300+ children in attendance (!) many of them returning with great excitement to see their Hoot buddies and play and dance together on Hoot hill. The craft and food vendors, the local community organizations, and the amazing volunteers each brought something very special to the gathering.
This year I was the caller for the late-night square dance on Saturday night. The band was hot and began to play a wild tune straight away. The first handful of folks to arrive were a little shy but together we danced the chairs off the floor and then formed a spontaneous circle. We did a few more improvised moves til the crowd from the hill began to filter down… cheerful, rowdy as usual. Before long we had about six squares going. I remember one particular moment when the set in the back of the room was totally lost. I had taught “allamande left your corner, then do-si-do your partner” which is harder than it sounds – especially when nobody in your square has a clue who their corner is. The band and the room full of dancers were rearing to go but I decided to ask, “Hey everybody! Should we take a sec and help that square in the back?” “YEAH!!” roared the crowd and they all cheered again 2 minutes later when I got the stragglers back on track. To me that’s the spirit of Ashokan and the spirit of The Hoot – just the right balance of chaos and teamwork. Before long we were spinning and promenading and generally whooping it up.
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Mike and I are honored to curate the music and the overall experience of the Summer and the Winter Hoots. We’re proud to welcome the community to the beautiful land and share a weekend together with the many families and individuals who form a big, growing “Hoot family.” By honoring handmade music, food, art, and the preservation of our sacred natural environment, we can all keep things rolling in the right direction for future generations and kindle the spirit of connection in our own hearts.
The Winter Hoot is coming right along. This year it will be January 29-31st. Get the info at www.homeofthehoot.com.
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