April 28, 2026
GAYS MILLS, Wis. — The 32nd annual Gays Mills Folk Festival will bring music, dancing and community celebration to Gays Mills during Mother’s Day weekend, May 8–10.
Families, neighbors and visitors are invited to take part in a weekend of dancing, picking, grinning and listening to a wide range of musical acts and hands-on activities.
“Bring your moms,” said festival organizer Mia Sondreal.
The festival begins Friday, May 8, at 7 p.m. with a square dance at the Gays Mills Community Commerce Center, 16381 Highway 131. A $10 suggested donation supports the festival.
“All dances are taught, no experience necessary, and they’re fun for all ages,” said Jesse Downs, a festival organizer and square dance caller.
Saturday’s events begin at noon, May 9, outside the Gays Mills Community Commerce Center. All afternoon activities are free and include an open stage where community members can share songs, tunes or other talents, as well as a Maypole dance, fiddle bee, and music and dance workshops.
Food will be available on the festival grounds, with tacos by Ladi served from noon to 3 p.m. A chili dinner will be offered at the Kickapoo Exchange Coop from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Saturday night concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Gays Mills Community Commerce Center and will feature Stay Tuned, Native Intertribal Dance Company and Slapdash Bluegrass. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $5 for children.
Stay Tuned, a group of seasoned musicians from the Dodgeville area, will open the concert with classic country and Western swing music by artists such as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson.
The Native Intertribal Dance Company, formerly known as the Little Priest Singers, will also perform. The group of speakers, singers and dancers from several Woodland tribes has shared traditional tribal music and culture for more than 40 years.
Slapdash Bluegrass will close the evening with a mix of original and traditional bluegrass and old-time songs.
The festival concludes Sunday morning, May 10, with a gospel sing overlooking the Kickapoo sloughs behind the Gays Mills Library.
The Gays Mills Folk Festival is a project of the Kickapoo Cultural Exchange. More information is available at www.gaysmillsfolkfest.org.
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