Fourth Annual Caspar UkeFest

An all-day ukulele festival is planned for Saturday, April 18, when Mendocino Stories and Events joins The Caspar Community to celebrate the ukulele as a friendly and playful instrument. The all-day festival features instructional workshops, jam sessions, retail sales and evening performances, complemented by "...fresh, local, and gourmet cuisine prepared by the volunteers in Caspar's kitchen." This is an “All Ages, All levels of interest and expertise” event.

The “UkeFest Kick-Off” event will be held at Caspar Community Center this year. Doors will open at 7PM for refreshments and ukulele display. Performances will open the evening and a jam session will follow. Cost is $5 if you bring a ukulele and $10 if you don’t.

Saturday’s activities start at 9AM with coffee, tea and muffins, a vendor area and orientation at 9:45AM. Morning ukulele workshops will be held at 10AM and 11:30AM, with instruction for beginners, intermediate and advanced players. After a break for lunch, two more workshops – one for intermediate/advanced players and one “Ensemble” workshop will be held and followed by jam sessions in small break-out groups and informal Q&A workshops with the instructors before the dinner break. Evening performances starting at 7PM will include producers Dennis Hudson and Pattie DeMatteo, The Ukeholics, Brook Adams and Hui Arago with the hula sisters O Lei Palaoa.

Ticket price for all-day is $40 and includes three workshops and evening performances, $25 half-day, one workshop only $15, sliding scale $5 -$15 for evening performances only. Tickets will be available by email at pattied@mcn.org and by phone at 707 937-1732