"500 Red Thistles for 500 Performances"

Congratulations to all Red Thistle Dancers and Musicians, past and present, to those who originally inspired and founded the group, to those whose commitment and dedication provides for the continuation of the original mission, and to all the friends, family, and supporters who helped and help make this possible!

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With special thanks to those early archivists and record keepers, and to those who gave their time within the last 5 years researching performances, contributing photos, and analyzing materials which formed the basis of the Red Thistle Memory Book and the reckoning of this milestone - particularly, Bradley Baxter Kevin Lesko, Rosemary Thorne, Ann Lawson, Clare Lawson, Alan Twhigg and others.  

Thank you!

The namesake of The Red Thistle Dancers, the real red thistles, Cirsium arizonicum and Cirsium occidentale ("Cobweb thistle" or "Venus thistle") are species of thistle native throughout California's mountain ranges, valleys, and coastal deserts. Using a classic symbol of Scottish heritage, the thistle, The Red Thistle Dancers take their name from this brightly and unusually colored California native thistle found near their home base of the San Francisco Bay Area.