barn dance

American  

noun

1. a social gathering, originally held in a barn, and including square dances, round dances, and hoedown music.

2. any party featuring country dances, dress, music, etc.

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barn dance British  

noun

1. a progressive round country dance

2. a party with hoedown music and square-dancing

3. a party featuring country dancing

4. a disco or party held in a barn

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Etymology

Origin of barn dance

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95

Example Sentences

Another fundraising event, a Dance for Meg barn dance, will be held in her home town of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, on 12 August - on what would have been Ms Newborough's 26th birthday.

From BBC • Aug. 5, 2023

It’s like a corn-shucking, a barn dance — an earlier iteration of the tradition Giddens learned from Thompson.

From New York Times • May 19, 2022

Despite acquitting herself well on numbers such as “Wonderful, Wonderful Day,” her performance was largely overshadowed by a richly acrobatic barn dance sequence.

From Washington Post • Sep. 16, 2021

Alan’s desired venue for a millennium barn dance, hosted by Jet from Gladiators.

From The Guardian • Feb. 23, 2019

One other thing happened at that barn dance that made a great impression on Johnny.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes