Bring and play your drum, dance, hula hoop, spin fire, take photos, or just be a spectator! This is about community and about gathering each week to simply have a great time. We gather an hour and a half before sunset on Front Beach every Saturday (weather permitting) across from Ft Maurapas Park. If it rains, we gather under the pavilion at Ft Maurapas. So, bring your Djembe, bongos, tambourines,
and/or any other percussion instrument, and plan to play along with others until sunset. Come and play or just come to watch. Hula hoops, dancing, and general merriment are all encouraged. *Note - You are responsible for your safety and health. Social distance and mask up according to your own comfort level and personal practices.
⚠️Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
1) Do I have to participate in the drumming? Everyone is welcome to simply come and be a spectator. Bring a towel or chair and simply relax and enjoy yourself!
2) Can I participate? We encourage you to participate! If you have a percussion instrument, bring it! Anyone is welcome to join the circle. Some of the drummers bring extra drums or percussion instruments to share. Please just ask before grabbing an instrument to play. Also, drumming is not the only way to get involved. We have hula-hoopers, dancers, fire spinners, and all sorts of other talents show up at the circle. We love to see it all!
3) Are my children welcome at the drum circle? We love seeing kids of all ages enjoying themselves.
4) Can I bring my dog? We gather on a public beach where dogs are allowed. Please abide by the beach's rules regarding pets.
5) Is this drum circle some kind of a religious, political, or cult gathering? Not in the least. We are simply gathering to enjoy the collective experience of playing our drums together on a beautiful beach. We are organized, in that we do play traditional West African rhythms. Here is a YouTube channel link where videos of many of the rhythms can be heard/practiced - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnDFYQjjo7WpCluOD6Q-A2SmtCNaq_ERL. This is about community, culture, fun, and music...nothing more.
6) Is alcohol allowed? Again, we gather on a public beach and we abide by the rules. Alcohol is allowed, but no glass containers.
7) Who is in charge of the drum circle? There is no one person "in charge". There is a core group of drummers and several are admins on this page. If you have questions or concerns, you can reach us by posting or commenting here on our page. We hope this helps everyone to understand a little more about our weekly gathering. If you have been to the circle before, please keep coming back! If you have never attended, we invite you to come and be a part and see what you've been missing! The Drum Circle asks that the community help out by sharing our events with people in your own circles who might be interested. We love seeing the circle grow and we have plenty of room on the beach!
