The 19th Harp Guitar Gathering™ (HGG19)

Hello to all. First, a couple of us have recently been hospitalized and so I’d like to send my best wishes for their improved health situations. I’m talking about Tony Barnard and Martin Pleass. Get better soon, guys!

Okay, on to business! Our 19th Gathering will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Milford, Connecticut, October 29-31. The rest of the schedule will be forthcoming as it develops but the first “event” will be a couple of hours of socializing around the Registration check-in table at 4:00 on the 29th, followed by dinner and an Open Mic.

This year we’ll be holding the entire event at the hotel rather than shuttling back and forth to the Methodist church as we have done previously.

As happened at HGG7, this year’s Gathering falls on Halloween. Maybe we’ll work with that theme as we did 12 years ago in Williamsburg, maybe we won’t. Regardless of that and a few other details not yet having been worked out, I wanted to post the Registration and Hotel Reservation info here for you.

The hotel is holding a block of rooms for us until Thursday, September 30th so if you wait until after that date to make your reservation you might well be out of luck. Be sure to say that our group code is HARP. The room rate for our block is slightly lower this year at $124 (plus applicable taxes) per room per night. As usual, we have a mix of rooms with either one king size  or two queen size beds reserved. Our group rate includes a daily hot breakfast for up to two guests per room. The Hilton Garden Inn is located at 291 Old Gate Lane in Milford, CT 06460.

By the way, all attendees are obligated to follow whatever rules might be in effect concerning Covid-19 while at the Gathering. That might still include wearing a mask. Do not attend if you are not willing to follow the rules as we are contractually obliged to do.

Note: for anyone who might be put off by the possible need to wear a mask or follow other rules in place to prevent the transmission of Covid-19, perhaps you might set those feelings aside simply as a favor to me? Though fully vaccinated, as an immune-suppressed individual for life because of my kidney transplant, I have less protection against the virus than those of you with unsuppressed immune systems do. Thanks!

I look forward to seeing you at the Gathering!

REGISTRATION FOR HGG19

The Advance Registration fee for 1 person is $175. That includes all event activities and the Friday dinner. See below for the Sunday dinner. And you’re on your own for Saturday’s dinner!

The Advance Registration fee for 1 person from outside the US is $75. Note: this is a change and is made possible by the generosity of the Harp Guitar Gathering’s supporters in recognition of the extra effort made by our international friends to get here.

The Advance Registration fee for each additional person (family member or significant other) is $80. This includes all event activities and Friday’s dinner, but not Sunday’s.

The Advance Registration Fee for each additional person from outside the US is $50 each. This includes all event activities and Friday’s dinner, but not Sunday’s.

Sunday dinner at the hotel is $35 per person.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CUTOFF DATE FOR ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS THE SAME AS THE CUTOFF FOR THE HOTEL GROUP RESERVATIONS: SEPTEMBER 30th

If you don’t register in advance, you will still be able to register at the door beginning Friday at 4 PM.  The at-the-door prices are $200 for the weekend and $90 for additional persons ($100 and $50 for international attendees).

Please note that if you are planning on registering at the door on Friday, we can’t guarantee that there’ll be food available as we have to submit a count of attendees several days in advance. We always pad the numbers a bit but if we unexpectedly get a bunch of folks registering at the door, it could be an issue.

To register, please send payment via either of the two methods below. Please include the names of all those you are registering. Thanks and see you at HGG19! Please send any questions you might have regarding registration to Joe Morgan. His email address is jmm55@verizon.net

If you are old school and don’t want to use the PayPal buttons to register, you could also send a check made out to the Harp Guitar Gathering for the applicable amount (along with the relevant info – names and contact info, etc) to 26 High Street, Milford CT 06460.