Drum Camps – All The Best Worldwide

Drum Camps - Worldwide List

What Are Drum Camps?

If you're a drummer and love a wild weekend out, this is for you. There are many outdoor events for percussionists and these multi-day festivals are called drum camps.

Drum camps usually feature drum circles, performances, lessons, workshops, dancing and singing. You can camp out, meet people and drum to your heart's content.

We love them because they're not only a great way to improve your skills, they're something you can bring the whole family to.

So we've put together a list of the best drum camps from all over the world.

Drum camps

Photo: William Neuheisel

Things you might find at a drum camp

The camps usually have both formal and informal activities. Here are a few things you might find:

  • Scheduled percussion performances
  • Drumming lessons and workshops
  • Facilitated drum circles
  • Informal drum circles
  • Dancing / singing workshops
  • Performance art
  • Bonfires
  • Late night jams
  • Yoga, massage, meditation and other holistic therapies
  • Market stalls selling food, drink, clothing and other weird things.
  • Drum shops selling drums and accessories
  • Other activities like hiking and swimming

Many of these events started off as small gatherings, like a group of friends meeting up to drum. Over time, some have grown into huge festivals. This is why there's usually a chill vibe and a happy sense of community throughout.

It's best to bring your own drum as well as all the usual camping gear if needed. Most of them are family and pet friendly, although it's good to check.

An outdoor drum camp

Photo: Steven Damron


Drum Camps and Festivals Worldwide

Fancy wandering the world to visit all the drumming camps?

Here they all are.

UNITED KINGDOM

Bath & Bristol/LeicestershireTribe Of Doris
Malmesbury, WiltshireWOMAD

UNITED STATES

Austin, TexasEeyore's Birthday Party
Black Rock Desert, NevadaBurning Man Festival
Bozeman, MontanaRhythms World Drum Camps
Flagstaff, ArizonaCamp Merveilles
UtahMerveilles Utah
Kapa'au, HawaiiCamp Merveilles Hawaii
Maui, HawaiiMaui Drum & Dance Ohana
Lake Wales, FloridaCamp Africa Florida
New Lebanon, New YorkSpiritfire Festival
Little Switzerland, North CarolinaKumandi African Drum and Dance Camp
Pocono Valley, PennsylvaniaWula Drum & Dance Retreat
Dunlap, CaliforniaCamp Fareta
Santa Cruz Mountains, CaliforniaKosmos Music & Dance Camp (cancelled)
Oakland, CaliforniaBorn To Drum Camp
Seattle, WashingtonWorld Rhythm Festival
Tallahassee, FloridaAnnual Florida African Dance Festival
Madison, WisconsinDrum Power Summer Camp

AUSTRALIA

AdelaideWOMADelaide
Near MelbourneCamp Samatou
Belgian Gardens, QueenslandDrum & Dance Camp
Mid North Coast, New South WalesBellingen Community African Drum and Dance

NEW ZEALAND

New PlymouthWOMAD

CANADA

Toronto, OntarioMuhtadi International Drumming Festival
Land O’Lakes (near Kingston), OntarioOntario Womyn’s Drum Camp

NETHERLANDS

The HagueThe Hague African Festival

GERMANY

WürzburgAfrika Festival

SPAIN

Cáceres, ExtremaduraWOMAD

INDONESIA

Candidasa region, BaliBali Drum Camp

What are you waiting for? Get packing!

Let us know your favorite drum camp in the comments. Also, if you know any more, leave a comment.

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