Lark Traditional Arts (LTA) is a nonprofit formed in 2019, but the community of talent and spirit it supports has been growing for over 40 years in Mendocino and the Bay Area.
LTA began primarily to ensure the continuation of Lark Camp, an 8-day traditional music, song, and dance educational event held annually in the Mendocino Woodlands. Now, six years and one global pandemic later, LTA has carefully grown.
Besides our magical 8-day Lark Camp (August), we host our annual Jug Handle Campout (October) on the Mendocino Coast, Virtual Lark (February), a weekend of free live-streamed workshops and jams, and our new “LTA Presents” education series, presenting in-person workshops, sessions, and performances in the Bay Area and the Mendocino Coast.
Your Musical Journey, Your Way
We’re excited to help you create memories, learn skills, and take your musical abilities to the next level. Whether you’re a beginner looking to start learning traditional music, song, or dance, or a professional wanting to expand your creative toolkit, LTA has you covered with camps, workshops, jams, classes, and events led by culture-bearing instructors from around the world.
Lark Traditional Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 83-2424940)
Our Mission Statement:
“Lark Traditional Arts (LTA) is dedicated to creating educational events and assets that bring people together through traditional song, music, dance, and arts.”
Jug Handle Campout is this weekend!!
Drop in for Day Passes/Overnight available, come on over.
Registration for Jug Handle Campout 2025 is OPEN!
Join us October 10–12, 2025 for Jug Handle Campout—a cozy, joy-filled weekend of music, dance, and community on the breathtaking Mendocino Coast.
Think relaxed, mostly acoustic magic where you help shape the soundtrack. With world folk music flowing from every corner, it’s truly a BYOTAT—Bring Your Own Tunes And Traditions. In other words… pure Lark-style!
Hosted at the gorgeous Jug Handle Creek Farm and Nature Center in Caspar, CA, this intimate gathering is the perfect blend of adventure and ease. Expect:
✨ Volunteer-led workshops
✨ Endless jam sessions
✨ Beach hikes and mushroom foraging
✨ Starry-night dances that keep the magic alive
Stay in a cozy farmhouse room, a rustic cabin (some ADA accessible), a tent under the trees, or bring your RV. Day passes are also available for locals and nearby visitors.
Whether you’re a longtime Lark camper or brand new to the community, Jug Handle Campout is your chance to laugh, sing, dance, and recharge by the ocean. Come join us for a weekend where every moment is unforgettable!
Visit the Jug Handle Campout website for pricing, and more info.
2026 Lark Camp T-Shirt Design Contest!
Hey Larkies—ready to show off your creativity?
We’re launching our first-ever Lark Camp T-shirt design contest, and we want your ideas! Got a vision for the perfect Lark shirt, sticker, or graphic? Now’s your chance to make it real and see your art worn, shared, and celebrated across our community.
🗓 Submissions open Sept 20 – Nov 30
🏆 Winners announced around the New Year (prizes TBA—stay tuned!)
By entering, you’ll give LTA permission to feature your artwork on shirts, stickers, social media, and more. Most importantly—you’ll help shape the look and spirit of Lark Camp 2026.
We can’t wait to see your designs light up the camp!
👉 Send submissions to: executive.director@larktraditionalarts.org
We are excited to announce:
LARK CAMP 2026: July 31st-Aug 8th
Lark Camp 2025 is a wrap! Thank you for a great time!
Lark Camp 2025 was an amazing time. Thank you to all our campers, instructors, staff, and volunteers. Many a tune, many a dance, many a tasty morsel and jolly laugh were had.
Worlds Of Music
For Lark Traditional Arts, “Worlds Of Music” refers to the diverse and rich musical traditions, songs, and dances from cultures across the globe. It highlights the unique contributions of different communities, blending various musical expressions into a global tapestry that celebrates the shared human experience through rhythm, melody, and movement.
Because, at the core of our work, lies the truism that “Music Connects Community”.
LTA UPCOMING EVENTS
| WHEN | WHAT | WHERE | LINK TO MORE INFO/TICKETS |
| Oct 10-12, 2025 | Jug Handle Campout | Jug Handle Creek Farm and Nature Center Caspar, CA (Mendocino Coast) | LINK HERE registration opens early September |
| Feb | Virtual Lark | Online | LINK HERE registration opens early 2026 |
| July 31- Aug 8, 2026 | LARK CAMP | Mendocino Woodlands | LINK HERE registration opens early 2026 |
LTA ETSY STORE
for LTA and Lark Camp T-shirts, hats, merch, and more (https://www.etsy.com/shop/LarkTraditionalArts)
All sales go directly to LTA’s Educational Program, and support our vision of presenting, promoting, and preserving traditional music, arts, and dance from around the globe.