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General Information, Cascadia Irish Music (a bit shy of a) Week 2026
Cascadia staff:
Joe McDonough, Program Director – joe@cascadiairish.org
Randal Bays, Artistic Director – randal@cascadiairish.org
Abbey Ryle, Assistant Director - abbey@cascadiairish.org
The Evergreen State College
Housing, bedding, etc.: Conference Services (360) 867-6199 (or go to the office in Bldg. A)
Telephone: (360) 867-6000 (emergencies only)
Address: 2700 Evergreen Pkwy NW, Olympia, WA 98505
Parking
We will be using Parking Lot F on the north side of the campus (see map). Those who plan to bring vehicles on campus must display a parking permit issued by the College. Parking permits cost $6.00 per vehicle/per day, Credit card payments are made at the F Lot Parking Kiosk and should be made by 8:00am on Thursday. You’ll need to provide your license number. It may be possible to purchase a weekly pass. Parking permits are only required M-F. Camping overnight in the parking lot is not allowed.
Arrival and departure
Check-in on Wednesday, Aug. 12 is at Building A (see map). Our staff will check you in at an outdoor table and then you’ll get keys and directions to your lodgings inside at the Conference Services window. Please plan to arrive at Evergreen no earlier than 3pm on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Late arrivals please check in at the Conference Services window in Dormitory A, first floor. Our first scheduled activity is dinner at 5pm followed by the Orientation Meeting at 6pm, outside in front of the HCC (see map below). Everyone must be checked out and departing the Evergreen campus no later than 11 am on Sunday, August 16.
Very important: Don’t forget to return your room key to Building A where you picked it up. The college will charge you $250 for unreturned keys.
Schedule
Our first scheduled event is dinner on Wednesday at 5pm in the Greenery, in the College Activities Building (CAB, see Map), followed by the Orientation Meeting at 6pm outside in front of the HCC. This will be an informal introduction to the teachers and the Ceol Cascadia organizers and volunteers. Sessions will follow. Classes begin Thursday morning (see the schedule).
Lectures and discussions
Thursday, Friday and Saturday we'll have informal talks and intimate concerts featuring our instructors. These are a great way to get to know the people and the music in a relaxed setting.
INSTRUCTOR TALKS:
Catherine: Thursday 6 - 7 pm Rm. A1105
James Kelly: Friday 6 - 7 pm Rm. A1105
Flo Fahy: Saturday 1-2 pm Rm. A1105
Video and audio recording
Please remember that shooting video in the classes is not allowed at Cascadia Irish Music Week. Audio recording is OK. Feel free to shoot video at concerts, sessions, etc., just not in the classes. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation!
Office Hours
The Cascadia office is located in Room 108 of Building “F”, one of our housing units. Office hours are generally during meal times and whenever someone feels like being there. Announcements will be posted on the door of the office.
Wi-Fi
There is a free wi-fi signal at TESC. Be aware that cell service can be sketchy.
Sessions
See the Weekly schedule for times and locations of organized sessions. There will be both “guided” and “free-range” sessions in the evenings, led by our instructors. Other spaces will be designated for open sessions including hopefully a quiet place for singing sessions. Please don't play late in the sleeping areas, and be sensitive to those who are trying to get some rest.
Saturday Night Concert
The week ends with the Saturday night Teachers Concert in the Longhouse. Your CIMW name tag will be your ticket for the concert. This concert is also open to the public, see the Cascadia concert ticket website to purchase extra tickets online.
Meals, etc.
Please make note of the hours during which meals are served. At check-in you will be given a plastic “meal card” with a magnetic strip. It has a hole punched in the top to hang from the key lanyard. Some snacks, etc. can be purchased in the Evergreen bookstore in the CAB building, and at the little convenience store in the HCC. Unfortunately Einstein's Bagels will not be open during the summer. COFFEE DRINKERS ALERT! There is something called “coffee” served in the Greenery with meals, but if you're serious about your brew you might want to bring your own equipment.
The stoves and ovens in the dorms will be working and available for you to use, but you'll need to bring plates, cutlery, cooking pans etc. if you intend to cook. Lots of people bring electric kettles for tea and there's a fridge in each apartment.
Note that you'll need to bring your own soap and shampoo.
The residence units are NOT air conditioned. The buildings are in the tall trees, but a small electric fan might be useful.
Linens
Sheets, towels, etc. are included, no need to make special arrangements. Towels are available for daily exchange if left on the floor. You can also visit the Guest Services office in A Dormitory for fresh linens as needed as well. Guest Services is staffed 24 hours a day.
Laundry is available on the bottom floor of A dormitory as well as within the HCC Laundry room. You must purchase a card and then load money to the card. They are not coin-op machines.
Visitors
Due to insurance issues and TESC policies, please do not invite visitors to drop in on classes or evening activities. Visitors are welcome to purchase tickets for the Saturday night concert, see the Cascadia Concert ticket website for details.
Sunday Departure
Breakfast will be served at the usual time on Sunday morning, and everyone needs to be moved out of the lodging no later than 11 am. Keys must be returned either to the Guest Services office in Dorm A or to the Cascadia Week office in Building F, Room 108. Evergreen charges $250 for keys that are not returned.
Quiet Hours
All resident guests are expected to be considerate of their neighbors at all times. Thanks!
Alcohol, etc. - Evergreen State allows alcoholic beverages inside the lodgings, and we will have a banquet license allowing us to have drinks at our evening sessions in the Big Tent and in room A1105. Other than those locations alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the TESC campus. In particular there's a strict no alcohol policy in the Longhouse, where the Saturday night concert will be held. We're counting on everyone to conduct themselves appropriately and please remember that there will be other guests at TESC besides our group. Anyone providing alcohol to people under 21 will be asked to leave the campus for the remainder of the week.
Smoking is prohibited on campus . The only exceptions are areas with signage set aside for smoking, designated smoking rooms in housing, areas outside of the central core and outside of housing. For areas outside of the central core and housing, smoking is not permitted within 25 feet of a building opening, windows that open or ventilation intakes.
Also....although marijuana use is legal in Washington State, it is still prohibited on the Evergreen State College Campus.
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