Where is my Canasta Community? Teachers and Places to Play
We are starting to compile an online resource to find Canasta games. Please email us city, state and contact information for games. Please do not include private home addresses. Email is preferred.
TIPS FOR FINDING CANASTA GAMES:
1. If you don’t know somewhere to play near you or where you are visiting, a great place to search is the website Meetup.com. It is free to join and search.
2. Other members have found games by searching the Nextdoor app. Also, use different spellings.
3. When searching on Google, great searches include separate searches using Canasta and the following terms:
- instructors
- classes
- drop in
- game
- newcomers or newcomers club
- the area you are looking for city, county, library, Temple, Church, community center
- Institute for Learning in Retirement
4. Many libraries, continuing education classes, temples, churches, senior centers and community centers offer classes or are great resources to find a game.
5. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is an amazing foundation and has institutes across the country. They offer many different courses, which at times include Canasta. It’s another great idea to search.
The information below is accurate when posted. Confirm before attending. Please email us if there are any incorrect listings and/or for us to add additional places to play!
If you have any information to share, please email us at ModernMahjong(at)gmail.com to add to our Directory.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Sun City, AZ: Contact for more information. https://suncityaz.org/recreation/clubs/canasta-club/
- Arkansas
- California
- Santa Barbara, https://learncanastasb.com/ Contact for information and suggestions about games.
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Stamford, CT: Contact for more information. https://www.templesinaistamford.org/worship.html
- Jamie Meadow, Southern CT: I also teach in Westchester County, New York and Palm Beach, FL. Contact me at canastateacher(at)gmail.com or 914-879-5204
- Delaware
- Florida
- Dara Collins, South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties) Currently teaching virtually and will be sharing more information about upcoming classes soon. Available for Book Talks, Strategy and Speaking Engagements. Darajcollins(at)gmail.com or ModernAmericanCanasta(at)gmail.com.
- Miami, FL: https://www.alperjcc.org/events/2022/07/04/adult-classes/mahjong-canasta-bridge-oh-my/ Contact for more information.
- Bonnie Keiles, Delray Beach and Boca Raton, FL: I retired 18 months ago from a 33 year career in public education and became quickly addicted to Canasta. I spend 4 months a year in Ventnor, New Jersey where I teach Canasta in Ventnor, Margate and Longport, NJ. Contact Bonnie at bonniekeiles(at)icloud.com. (June through Sept in NJ
Oct through Mar in Florida)
- Jamie Meadow, Palm Beach, FL: I also teach in Westchester County, New York and Southern, CT. Contact me at canastateacher(at)gmail.com or 914-879-5204
- Georgia
- Evans, GA: Columbia County Library, Welcome back Canasta players! We are excited to restart this card playing group. We meet on the second and fourth Thursday of each month in the upstairs Classroom B. Come learn to play or just join in on the fun. https://www.facebook.com/events/893447667962070/897950754178428/
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Deerfield, IL: Canasta with Judie, L’Chaim Center Deerfield Park Plaza 405 Lake Cook Rd STE 207 Deerfield, IL 60015. https://www.lchaimcenter.org/canasta-with-judie/ Contact for more information.
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Channahon, IL: St. Ann Catholic Church - Channahon, ILPublic Anyone on or off Facebook. Join us for a fun evening of light food, drinks, cards and fraternity. Only $10 per person. And if you don't know how to play, don't worry...we'll teach you! Confirm before attending.
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Pelican Park, Mandeville, LA: https://pelicanpark.recdesk.com/Community/Program. Confirm before attending.
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts:
- Bev and Emily Cape Code and Boston, MA, We are a mother-daughter Canasta teaching duo in Greater Cape Cod and Boston, Massachusetts. Canasta Connection with Emily and Bev. We teach Modern American Canasta: www.canastaconnection.com. Email: emily.shire(at)gmail.com
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Margate, NJ: Please visit our website www.jccatlantic.org 501 North Jerome Ave, Margate City, NJ, 08402. 609-822-1167. Bring a friend or make new ones at our brunch event! Everyone wins when you play games and enjoy tuna, egg salad, white fish, lox bagel sandwiches, salad, fruit, desserts, coffee and tea. https://www.jccatlantic.org/adult-and-youth/jewish-culture/ Mahjong & Canasta Brunches are scheduled on multiple dates, please contact them directly for more info.
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Christine Blackford, Monmouth & Ocean County, NJ In person & Virtual Teaching Beginner & Advanced strategy American Modern Canasta, Small to large classes & private 1:1 Coach n Play. Check out my YouTube Channel Canasta Class to reenforce you Canasta lessons. Contact Christine: 732-
785-5923, mahjonggclass(at)yahoo.com
- Bonnie Keiles, Ventnor, Margate and Longport, NJ: I retired 18 months ago from a 33 year career in public education and became quickly addicted to Canasta. I spend 4 months a year in Ventnor, New Jersey where I teach Canasta and relocated to Florida will teach in Delray Beach and Boca Raton. Contact Bonnie at bonniekeiles(at)icloud.com. (June through Sept in NJ and Oct through Mar in Florida)
- New Mexico
- New York
- Donna Miller-Small, Long Island, NY: I teach at many libraries in-person, group classes and also teach virtually. Contact by Email: mahjonggcanasta(at)optimum.net
- Clifton Springs Library, Join us Tuesday afternoons for Canasta! Games are formed on a first come, first served basis.Confirm before attending. https://www.facebook.com/events/1063061824279414/1137582780160651/
- A great opportunity for beginners, intermediate, advanced, or anyone looking to find a future game. Beginning on Tuesday, Aug 30 @ Young Israel of Holliswood 86-25 Francis Lewis Blvd Holliswood NY 11427 phone 718 776-8500 there will be canasta lessons offered from 10 am-noon. Fee is minimal.
- Mid Nassau Canasta Group, East Meadow, NY: Long Island Canasta meeting place for our group. We play online and in person, usually in middle Nassau County, NY. We are open to new members but please message the host, Diana, to join. Our favorite spot to play in person is Panera in East Meadow. We play online in Canasta Junction as well. We are a friendly group that plays the New American style canasta. Not training rookies at the moment but may do so again in the future. We like friendly but competitive play. https://www.facebook.com/groups/223029495952476
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Altoona, PA: Hollidaysburg Area Public Library, Canasta and Mah Jongg games are held at 11 a.m. Mondays. Beginners are welcome. Call Harriett at 814-693-9292 with questions.
- Richboro, PA: Ohev Shalom of Bucks County Sisterhood invites the community to a friendly weekly canasta game, Thursdays from 1-3 p.m. Open play is $4. Call 215-968-6755 for more information. 944 Second Street Pike, Richboro.
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Manchester Community Library, VT: Learn to play the Sawgrass Players Club Women Association’s version, “Pennies from Heaven” - 4 players per table, 3 desks, and 6 hands. Open play for experienced players, all versions welcome. Register here: https://mclvt.org/event/canasta/
- Virginia
- Arlington, VA: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Programs/55-Membership/Senior-Activities
- Charlotesville, VA: Contact for more information. https://thecentercville.org/calendar/event/25/2022/05/18/
- Lynchburg, VA: https://webapps.lynchburgva.gov/registration/ViewCourseActivityDetails.aspx?id=C8347 Contact for more information
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- District of Columbia
- OUTSIDE OF THE US:
- Canada
- Port Coquitlam, 3:30 pm at 2150 Wilson Ave, Port Coquitlam, CAN V3C 6J5 Confirm before attending. https://parkbench.com/event/canasta-drop-in-26
- VIRTUAL: Contact Dara and Donna Miller-Small at ModernAmericanCanasta(at)gmail.com for more information about virtual classes.