STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

There’s no figgy pudding on the agenda. But the Upper Big Wood River Grange will host a festive holiday Contra Dance from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Caller David Quinley will lead dancers through the steps, while Strings Attached provides the live music. The grange hall is at 609 South 3rd Avenue in Hailey. Dancers are asked to bring clean indoor shoes for dancing, as dirt or gravel on shoes can damage the dance floor.

Arrive at 6:45 p.m. for basic step instructions.

Contra dance is a lively folk dance involving social interaction between a long line of dancers, meaning it doesn’t matter if one has a partner or not. Quinley also leads dancers in squares and large circles.

Contra dancing evolved from 1700s English countryside dance and made its way to North America in the 1800s.The dance tunes draw on old-time mountain music with Irish and Scottish influences.

Admission is $15 for one adult and $25 for two. It’s $5 for teens and free for children 12 and under who are accompanied by an adult.

Those who would like to pay ahead of time may do so by going to https://www.grange.org/upperbigwoodriverid192/.