This calendar page info is certainly not intended to be robust – info for only a few events provided. For a more comprehensive list, Swing Planit is a good source for info on US / Canadian events, and international events.
The events listed on this web page are generally (1) events Mike & Mary have attended, or (2) events we’ve heard good things about from others whose opinion we trust. Note some Lindy Hop events may also include classes & competitions for Balboa, and perhaps Collegiate Shag, i.e. Camp Hollywood.
Any type of dance event is subject to change. Make sure the event is taking place before you depart!
(Last updated April 27th, 2026.)
Notes:
o Over the years, Mike and Mary have attended a lot of out-of-town swing dance events; we’re happy to provide our thoughts on specific out-of-town swing dance events.
o Caveat emptor! Hyperbole is rampant and commonplace these days, especially in swing dance event promotion on Facebook (FB), event web sites, etc. You go to an event web site or find info on FB and what do you read: the event is…..“awesome”, “amazing”, “fantastic”, “coolest ever”, “legendary”, “fabulous”, “incredible”, “super amazing”…….. But when you attend the event, it turns out the event was just okay, or maybe not even okay, or maybe the event was just plain awful (been there, done that on more than one occasion, I regret to say!). It’s a challenge separating fact from fiction – – so buyer beware!
o You can also check out our What’s the scoop? No, not ice cream, but what’s the scoop on swing dance events? Mike & Mary are often asked about swing dance events – – what’s the event like, is the event worth attending, etc…. So we’re providing info on just a few (of the very many!) events we’ve attended over the years called What’s the Scoop?
Upcoming Hepcats classes:
o Next series of Hepcats classes start Sunday, October 25th! See this link for all the info.
Classes take place at 1801 Alexandria Dr., Suite 132 (Arthur Murray Dance Studio), Lexington, KY; in Gardenside, across from Kroger.
2026
May 2026
o Saturday, May 23rd, 7-10 pm: USO Swing Dance and Salute to Veterans, Coney Island Park, Moonlight Pavilion, 6201 Kellogg
Ave., Cincinnati, OH. Sponsored by the Cincinnati Warbirds. Music by the Tom Daughtery Orchestra, and their re-creation of the WW II Glenn Miller Army-Air Force Band. This is a fun, and patriotic event to attend.
A note about this event: Mike & Mary have attended this event for the last few years. I read on a Facebook post that this event “keeps getting better every year”. That’s actually not true. The event has pretty much been the same every year – and overall it’s a fun event to attend, with a patriotic theme, which you don’t see very often these days. The colors are posted before the event starts (guys, make sure you take off your hat for the posting of the colors), and Cincinnati area veterans are recognized during the intermission.
About the music…… The Tom Daugherty Orchestra is a good band and overall they do a nice job (although like many bands I’ve heard they have a problem maintaining the tempo for the entire song). Of course, they play a lot of Glenn Miller Orch. songs – so a lot of “mayonnaise and white bread” music at this event. You’re going to hear very few hard swinging arrangements from the 1930’s and 40’s big band era. (BTW, about the only places to hear the original 1930’s/40’s big band swing-era arrangements in this geographical area is events featuring the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra (KJRO) and the nightly big band dances at Lindy Focus.) Also check out our What’s the Scoop web page and look for the USO Swing Dance entry.
Click here for some info on Mike & Mary’s thoughts on over 20 years of previous Coney Island Big Band dances.
June 2026
o Friday, June 5th: Swingin’ on Main returns to downtown Lexington for 2026! Location: Phoenix Park, corner of Main and Limestone Streets, Lexington, KY.
Phoenix Park is located right next to Lexington’s Downtown Public Library; the park went through an extensive renovation and reopened in September of 2025. There is a stage for a band,
plus a very good flat sized area for dancing in front of the stage.
For 2026, Swingin’ on Main will be a paired with the Lexington Parks & Rec Friday program “Phoenix After 5″ – – after 5 pm, that is!
Music provided by the Walnut Street Ramblers. The Ramblers promise to jazz up Swingin’ on Main!
Food and refreshments available from food trucks parked on Main and Limestone. Note there are also several restaurants near Phoenix Park.
A few other details:
o 5:00 – 5:30 pm: Swing dance lesson taught by the Hepcats.
o 5:30 – 6:25 pm: 1st set by the band.
o 6:25 – 6:50 pm: Break for the band; dance contest, with cash prizes, during the band’s break!
o 6:50 – 7:50pm: 2nd set by the band.
Parking information. The Central Library Parking Garage is available for parking. Plus some street parking should be available.
Swingin’ on Main is a Lexington Parks & Rec event, with assistance provided by the Hepcats Swing Dance Club and Lexington Arthur Murray.
September 2026
o Sep. 3rd – 7th: Camp Hollywood, LA. If you can make it to LA, this is a great event to attend.
o Cincinnati Museum Center’ss 1940’s Day – normally on a Saturday, in early September – check out their web site for the exact date.
Location: Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45203. A fun event to attend! A bit of info about this event. This is an overall fun event to attend. We recommend you attend, and note vintage clothes are not required – but if you got ’em you should wear your best 1930’s/40’s vintage clothing to get in the spirit of the event!
Mike and Mary have been attending this event for a few years. It keeps getting better each year, so we decided to create a separate web page for the event!
The event takes place at the Cincy Museum Center, a beautiful and historic art deco designed 1930’s facility. There is a vintage car display featuring vehicles from the 1920s, 30s and 40s, sometimes a flyover of vintage aircraft provided by the Cincinnati Warbirds (the group that sponsors the Coney Island USO Swing Dance), vintage fashion contest, historical presentations, vintage wares for sale from Casablanca Vintage, plus other activities.
October 2026
o Sunday, October 18th: Hepcats Swing Dance Practice Session. 6:30-9:00 pm – Lots of great swing music for your dancing (and listening) enjoyment, DJ’d by Mike Richardson of the Hepcats. See the Hepcats Dances web page for more info.
o Sunday, October 25th: Hepcats Swing Dance classes start. See the Hepcats Classes web page for all the details.
January 2027
o January 21st – 24th, 2027: California Balboa Classic, Burbank, CA. January 21st – 24th, 2027. See their web site for info. If you can make it to LA, this would be a great event to attend.