Winnipeg Folk Festival
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The Winnipeg Folk Festival is a summer folk music festival held in Birds Hill Provincial Park near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It features a variety of folk artists from all around the world, as well as a number of local folk performers.
Begun by Mitch Podolak and Colin Gorrie in 1974 as a one time event to celebrate Winnipeg's centennial, it has grown into a major annual festival attracting crowds of up to 45,190 patrons, 2000 volunteers and many varied performers. The Winnipeg Folk Festival is traditionally held the second weekend of July, Thursday evening to Sunday night.
There is a large variety of music to be experienced each year, including bluegrass, Celtic, world, blues,old time, French Canadian, contemporary singer-songwriters, children's performers, and much more. At the Festival are such attractions as the Handmade Village and the Festival Music Store. Vendors come from all over Canada and the United States to join in the fun, selling everything from one of a kind, handmade jewelry to all natural soaps, to finely crafted pottery and musical instruments.
Similar to other folk festivals in North America, performances during the day are held at several smaller stages where performers are presented in thematic concerts and workshops resulting in very intimate performances. Each evening all other stages shut down for the performances at Main Stage.
Many regular attendees of the Festival camp in Bird's Hill Park. The Festival camping area resembles a party, with drumming and music often running till dawn each day. A quiet camping area is also available.
