What is a “hoedown”?

A hoedown is a weekend-long country-western dance event.  More than just a single evening dance, a hoedown features dance workshops, chances to socialize, and just a whole lot of fun!

We are expecting over 100 registered attendees for the 2009 hoedown, an increase of 25% over our 2008 projections, with more attending individual events like the afternoon workshops and the Saturday night dance.  And we’re already looking ahead to 2010!

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Is the “Emerald City Hoedown” going to be Wizard of Oz themed?

Yes and no.  In addition to being Dorothy’s original destination in the books and movie, the “Emerald City” is also the official nickname of the city of Seattle, because everything is so green around here.

But a little bit of The Wizard of Oz is bound to show up.  With the themes of outsiders, friendship, and teamwork — and the fabulous musical numbers — how could we avoid using Oz references?  So pull on your ruby cowboy boots and dance!

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Do I have to be a member of Rain Country to attend?

Not at all.  Anyone who dances — or wants to dance! — is welcome.

Rain Country members get $5 off their registration fee for the hoedown (not available for pre-registration), as well as other perks during the year.  For information on joining Rain Country, click here.

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Is this a charity event?

Part of Rain Country’s mission is to raise money for charity, to support other organizations within the GLBTQ community.  We have not yet selected a charity for the 2009 hoedown.

Rain Country will keep a portion of the proceeds from the weekend to provide seed money for the 2010 hoedown.

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How can I help out?

We are still in the early planning stages for the 2009 Emerald City Hoedown at this time.  We will be seeking volunteers at all levels later in the summer and throughout the rest of the year leading up to the Hoedown.

Most of all, though, you can register for the Emerald City Hoedown, and get your fellow dancers to register as well!  The more who attend, the more exciting the weekend will be for all of us.  (And the earlier you register, the lower the price!)

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Can I register online and pay by credit card?

The best answer is to download the registration form (Word) (PDF), print it, and send it in with your check.  The event pricing is included on the form. (Click here for help with Adobe Acrobat and PDF files.)

You register online via PayPal, using your PayPal account balance or by credit card.

As soon as we process your registration, we will send a confirmation letter or e-mail.  We will also have a special e-mail list for those attending or interested in attending the hoedown, to send you all the details as they come available.  (You are welcome to join this list even if you are not registered but just thinking about attending.)  As the weekend nears, additional contacts will be sent to ensure that you have all the info you need to make for a fantastic weekend.

If you register online, we will still need to have a signed waiver from you before you can attend the Emerald City Hoedown.  We will have a copy of the waiver with your name on it at Registration for you to sign when you check in.  Or if you prefer, you can download the Emerald City Hoedown registration form (Word) (PDF), fill it out and sign it, and mail it to the Rain Country address on the form; just indicate that you have already registered online.

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Can I attend just some of the events?

Definitely.  Every event can be attended individually.  Full details on the per-event pricing will be available later.

The best value for your dollar, of course, is to register for the entire weekend.  The further in advance that you regsiter, the better the price!  You can register on this page.

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Where are the events being held?

Emerald City Hoedown events will be held at several locations in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood (many of the same venues as we used in 2008).  Sepcific details will be made available as we are able to firm them up.

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Is there a host hotel?

Rain Country is investigating contracting for a room block at a local hotel for the Emerald City Hoedown, to better serve out out-of-town guests.  Details will be made available when we have them confirmed.

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What will be taught in the workshops?  Who are the instructors?

The 2008 Emerald City Hoedown featured beginning lessons on Friday night, two tracks of workshops on Saturday afternoon featuring both couples and line dance lessons, line dance standards reviews on Saturday evening, a 3-hour spotlight couples workshop on Sunday morning, and line dance reviews on Sunday afternoon.  We expect the 2009 Hoedown will parallel this schedule to a large degree.

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What other activities and entertainment will there be?

The 2008 Emerald City Hoedown featured a pizza buffet, morning coffee socials, an afternoon women’s social and a late night men’s social, and a Sunday afternoon BBQ sampler.  Entertainment on Saturday was from four performing troupes, one of them from out of state.  We expect the 2009 Hoedown will have similar social and entertainment opportunities.

If you are visiting from out of town, you may want to go sightseeing while you’re here.  You may want to go up the Space Needle, visit the Science Fiction Museum and the Experience Music Project, ride the 1960s vintage monorail, shop at Pike Place Market, tour Underground Seattle, ride the ferry to Bainbridge Island, or visit the University of Washington Arboretum, among other local sights.  We’ll be glad to direct you to locations that interest you.

If you’re looking for a delicious casual brunch on either day, we can direct you to some of our favorite local restaurants.

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What will the weather be like?  I’ve heard it rains a lot in Seattle.

Heh.  That’s what we tell people to keep them all from moving here!

The Seattle area is a notoriously damp climate, and late April is the heart of spring, so there’s no telling what the weather will be like.  We will hope for “the bluest skies you’ve every seen,” but we’ll prepare for rain.  Most likely will be our version of the classic “April showers”: mist and drizzle (especially overnight) and wet streets, with generally dry but overcast days including some sun breaks.

(For the 2008 hoedown, Saturday was sunny and warm enough to walk between our afternoon workshop venues.  Sunday morning was overcast, and late Sunday afternoon saw some rain.)

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I’m coming by plane or train.  Will there be a shuttle to the hoedown?

Taxi, bus, shuttle, and limo services are all available from SeaTac airport, and taxi and bus service are available from the train depot.  (Seattle’s burgeoning light rail system is not scheduled to be operational until the summer of 2009.)

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I plan to visit Seattle for a few days before or after the run.  Can Rain Country members host me?

Rain Country expects that some members may be able to host out of town guests for a couple days.  Such hosting will be on an as-available basis, so if you wish to plan for such, please let us know when you register, and we will put you in contact with Rain Country members who would be willing to host you during your stay.

We can also recommend hotels and bed-and-breakfasts which are convenient for longer stays.

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What vacation options are there for me in the Pacific Northwest?

The Pacific Northwest offers many options for travel and sightseeing.  We encourage you to turn your trip to the Emerald City Hoedown into a full vacation, either starting or ending a week’s vacation with the leather weekend.

The major cities are Seattle, Portland (2.5 hours drive south of Seattle), Vancouver, BC (3 hours north), and Spokane (5 hours east).  All the cities have spectacular views, assorted tourist attractions, shopping, and vibrant gay communities.  And of course there are many smaller cities and towns throughout the area, each with its own attractions.

Outside the urban areas, there are vast expanses of nature to explore.  The Cascades are littered with dramatic volcanic mountains, including Mt. Rainier National Park, Mt. Hood, and the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.  West of Seattle is the Olympic Peninsula, with craggy mountains and a temperate rain forest.  Further north, you can explore the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound, or venture to Vancouver Island and the city of Victoria, BC.  Eastern Washington has broad expanses of mostly high desert, but also areas full of wheat fields, apple orchards, and other agricultural products.

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