Hello Mary Kate and welcome to So Cal. I live in the desert out by Palm Springs. (Here is a link to my profile.) http://profiles.yahoo.com/star2fire Summer Solstice Folk Music and Dance Festival is put on by the California Traditional Music Society. It is held on the weekend closest to the actual solstice, and takes place at the Soka University in Calabasas. Many of us have to travel far to get there and we stay at the Hyatt. (Here is the link.) http://www.hyatt.com/usa/westlake_village/ They let us take over the place and after a full day of workshops in storytelling, or dance, or whatever instrument you want, or shopping(!) or (for me) a combination of all of it, we have big jam sessions in the hotel lobby til the wee hours. I would recommend getting your tickets right away because they are on sale for $15 for each day, whereas if you wait til Solstice they are about $25 a day. (I am not exactly sure about that though because I volunteer every year at the front gate so I get free admission in exchange for working.) (Here is their link.) http://www.ctms-folkmusic.org/ If you go down and click on programs you will see the info on the 2000 (18th annual) festival. Denise