do the Masons only accept men or do they also accept women?

Masons are for Men....
Order of Eastern Star is for Women and Men may belong to Eastern Star as well. Women must have some male relative that is a Master Mason to become a eligible for The Order of Eastern Star.

Be old enough, of good moral standing, showing good judgment and free of any criminal record, and go and ask them.

I know they have ladies festivals. I have been to a couple, but most of the time it's just for men..

They are very secretive and wont let on about anything they do.

My Dad is a mason and I have asked him a few times about what their meetings are about and the secret handshake etc.... and he refuses to tell me.

Apparently a true Mason, never tells.

There is a group of Masons in France called "Sarno" that accept women. I heard about them while visiting a lodge in Pennsylvania. They are not accepted in the United States or most other countries as True Masons.

They are not accepted by ANY Freemason Lodge or Grand Lodge, as Masons. They are just some club that call themselves "masons" like the Co-opperative masons.

To be a Mason you swear among other things, to never be present at the initiation passing or raising of a woman.

So anyone who had been present at such, is effectively breaking their obligation --

-- which means goodbye Mr. Mason.

No Grand Lodges therefore can recognize such a lodge without being unrecognized themselves.