12th Annual Driftless Spoon Gathering 2024

A Spoon Gathering is an event for spoon carvers—and would-be spoon carvers or people curious about spoon carving—and green woodworkers of all sorts. We get together to carve spoons, talk carving and carving tools, share techniques and tools and carving wood, trade or sell spoons or tools.

The 12th Annual Driftless Spoon Gathering will take place Friday, September 13th through Sunday, September 15th. Even though programmed activities don't start until Saturday, more and more people are coming early—on Friday, and some on Thursday, to start carving and renewing old or starting new friendships.

A beginners’ spoon carving class happens first thing Saturday morning, with carving knives and wood available, for no extra charge. (There's no extra charge for any event at the Gathering!) Demonstrations of axe skills, sharpening techniques, detailing, etc. get organized on both Saturday & Sunday according to interests and available expertise.

Two special events are scheduled: a potluck Saturday night with live music and a Spoon Pass at noon on Sunday. Never been to a Spoon Pass? Just bring a spoon blank and your carving tools. We’ll sit in a circle and carve on a spoon blank for 5 minutes, then pass the blank to the person on your left. At the end of an hour or so, you’ll go away from the Circle with the last spoon you carved on. (Worried you won’t have a blank? Someone will knock one out for you.)

The 12th Annual Driftless Folk School Spoon Gathering will be held in our usual place: the beautiful 4 acre Village Park in La Farge, Wisconsin where we have all three shelters reserved for the weekend.

The entrance fee, $15/person or $25/family, covers the entire weekend. Registration can be paid here in advance, or when you arrive.

Camping is first-come, first-served for the camping places with firepits, tables, and electricity. Tents can be set up anywhere in the park. Camping fees are $10 or $20, paid separately at the park to the Village of La Farge.