The wait is over … Dust off your dancing shoes and join Birmingham Footmad for a Contra Celebration, Aug. 20-22, 2021, at Camp Skyline, Mentone, Alabama, just 1.5 miles from downtown Mentone. We will celebrate our return to dancing with moving music from Reelplay and The Red Mountain Yellowhammers, superb calling by Cis Hinkle and Vicki Herndon, late night Rock and Roll, Sunday morning gospel singing, jams and more!
Because of our concerns for our dancing community, we will restrict dancers to those who qualify as fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (we will require proof of vaccination at the weekend), with exceptions for children under the vaccination age of 12. The exceptions for children include restrictions on housing, dancing, mask wearing, and dining. You can read our general COVID-19 policy here and our Mentone specific policy here.
The Weekend in a Nutshell
On the third weekend in August each year, Birmingham FOOTMAD puts on its annual Old-Time Music and Dance Weekend near the resort town of Mentone, Alabama, this year in beautiful Camp Skyline, Camp Skyline has an open-sided dance hall with a springy wooden floor; great spots for jamming, singing, and children's actives; and a waterfront on the Little River, (whose chilly waters feel great in the late August sun).
For the past 30 years, the weekend has featured great bands and musicians such as James Bryan and Norman Blake, Lotus Dickey, Ralph Blizzard and the New Southern Ramblers, the Freight Hoppers, the Red Hots, Big Hoedown, Red Mountain White Trash, the Monks, Notorious, and many more. The core activity of the weekend is dancing, but also on the schedule are jams (slow and regular), a concert by the featured band, a late-night swing dance, Sunday morning gospel singing, a dance workshop, swimming, and a wacky waterfront drama or pageant.
For the past 30 years, the weekend has featured great bands and musicians such as James Bryan and Norman Blake, Lotus Dickey, Ralph Blizzard and the New Southern Ramblers, the Freight Hoppers, the Red Hots, Big Hoedown, Red Mountain White Trash, the Monks, Notorious, and many more. The core activity of the weekend is dancing, but also on the schedule are jams (slow and regular), a concert by the featured band, a late-night swing dance, Sunday morning gospel singing, a dance workshop, swimming, and a wacky waterfront drama or pageant.
Lodging On Site
Dancers who lodge on site will stay in clean, nice cabins equipped with bunk beds and good bathrooms and showers (not air-conditioned),. Each cabin has multiple ceiling fans. Feel free to bring your own box fans, floor fans, etc.. Normally, we experience comfortable nighttime temperatures. Camp Skyline does not allow tent or RV camping on site. If you desire to stay on site you must pay an additional fee.
Lodging Off Site
You have many options for lodging off site within a fifteen minute drive from Camp Skyline. You will find Chalets, cabins, B&Bs, DeSoto State Park hotel and cabins, etc.
Camping
Camp Skyline does not allow camping on-site. Those who desire to camp can choose between facilities within a 15 minute drive of Camp Skyline including Tranquility RV and Campground, Desoto State Park. and 1776 RV and Campground.
Meals
All dancers must provide for their own meals for Friday night and Saturday lunch. For Saturday breakfast, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast you can optionally purchase a meal ticket and eat in the Camp Skyline dining hall. For meals you provide for yourself you have the option of bringing your food in coolers, etc, and/or eating in nearby restaurants.
Showers and Restrooms
All cabins have showers and restrooms. Camp Skyline also has restrooms and showers available to everyone who attends regardless of where they lodge.
So Register Now
After you've registered, received a confirmation flyer, and joined us at Camp Skyline, you’ll find the Old-Time Music and Dance weekend an incredibly fun and friendly affair!
You may want to check out videos from past Mentone dance weekends.
Dancers who lodge on site will stay in clean, nice cabins equipped with bunk beds and good bathrooms and showers (not air-conditioned),. Each cabin has multiple ceiling fans. Feel free to bring your own box fans, floor fans, etc.. Normally, we experience comfortable nighttime temperatures. Camp Skyline does not allow tent or RV camping on site. If you desire to stay on site you must pay an additional fee.
Lodging Off Site
You have many options for lodging off site within a fifteen minute drive from Camp Skyline. You will find Chalets, cabins, B&Bs, DeSoto State Park hotel and cabins, etc.
Camping
Camp Skyline does not allow camping on-site. Those who desire to camp can choose between facilities within a 15 minute drive of Camp Skyline including Tranquility RV and Campground, Desoto State Park. and 1776 RV and Campground.
Meals
All dancers must provide for their own meals for Friday night and Saturday lunch. For Saturday breakfast, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast you can optionally purchase a meal ticket and eat in the Camp Skyline dining hall. For meals you provide for yourself you have the option of bringing your food in coolers, etc, and/or eating in nearby restaurants.
Showers and Restrooms
All cabins have showers and restrooms. Camp Skyline also has restrooms and showers available to everyone who attends regardless of where they lodge.
So Register Now
After you've registered, received a confirmation flyer, and joined us at Camp Skyline, you’ll find the Old-Time Music and Dance weekend an incredibly fun and friendly affair!
You may want to check out videos from past Mentone dance weekends.