Cotati Accordion Festival is a yearly event. The 2008 festival will be the 18th annual. The venue is open air under the oak trees of the central Cotati plaza. If you plan to stay for the whole day, bring your own comfortable folding lawn chair. You may have to find parking on the street several blocks away. Annual attendance reaches 2,000 - 3000 a day.

Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, there are plenty of those darn accordions at the festival. At the Cotati Accordion Festival the sound stage features a cast of rotating acts who play 45 minutes sets. Musical styles range from traditional Tex-Mex to whacky Rock-pop-San Francisco-mischief music. The festival is family friendly wholesome fun!

If you like to dance there is a separate tent that features polka music and the like. There is also an "old timer" tent complete with washboard base were festivals goers play their favorite tunes in unison.

Cruise the vendor displays. There are 100's of accordions for sale, music books, and related merchandise.

Enter one of the fund raiser sweepstakes for a chance to win an accordion. Ticket sale proceeds support music education for Northern California students.

2008 Cotati Accordion Festival - Line Up

Saturday, August 23rd;
9:45-10:15....The Golden State Accordion Club(stage one)
10:20-10:50..Amber Lee and the Anomalies(Stage two)
10:55-11:25..The Hurricane(stage one)
11:30-12:00..Hugh Morrison(stage two)
12:05-12:45..Alex Meixner(stage one)
12:50-1:05...The Great Morgani(stage two) - See video, click on Great Morgani picture on left side of page..
1:10-1:55 ....Limpopo(stage one)
2:00-2:25.....Lady of Spain
2:30-3:05.....Simka(stage two)
3:10-4:00.....Dick Contino(stage one) Click on Dick Contino picture on left to see video.
4:05-4:20.....The Great Morgani(stage two)
4:25-5:15.....Polka Freakout(stage one)
5:20-5:30.... Hugh Morrison(stage two)
5:35-6:25.....Vagabond Opera(stage one)
6:30-8:00....Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers(stage one)

2008 Cotati Accordion Festival

Sunday, August 24th;
9:45-10:15...The Golden State Accordion Club(stage one)
10:20-10:50..Tango #9(stage two)
10:55-11:30..The Internationals(Stage one)with guest tenor Oracio Aiello
11:35-12:15..Monterey International(stage one)
12:20-12:35..The Great Morgani(stage two)
12:40-1:20...The Georges Lammam Ensemble(stage one)
1:25-1:50.....Lady of Spain
1:55-2:25....Joe Domitrowich(stage two)
2:30-3:20....Dick Contino(stage one)
3:25-3:40....The Great Morgani(stage two)
3:45-4;30... Polka Freakout(stage one)
4:35-4:45...guest soloist(stage two)
4:50-5:45..Vagabond Opera(stage one)
5:50-6:00 guest soloist(stage two)
6:00-7:00..Limpopo(stage one)

Zydeco tent on Saturday...Motordude Zydeco and Sunday The Wild Catahoula's
Zydeco club dance party on Saturday is Mark St. Mary and Sunday Motordude Zydeco

In the polka tent both days is the Steve Balich band with guest artists opening

There's a very friendly family vibe to the Cotati Accordion Festival. You can easily watch you kids play on the swings set and jungle gym. The park is completely enclosed by fences with only a few ways out. Bottom line it's pretty darn safe which allows parents a little room to breathe and enjoy themselves.