Days to the Festival
Winnipeg Folk Festival

FAQ


Tickets

Q: How much are tickets?
A: Tickets are offered with early bird, advance and gate prices. Visit the ticket page for details.

Q: Where can I buy tickets?

A: Tickets are available at the Winnipeg Folk Festival Music Store, 211 Bannatyne Avenue (at Albert), online at ticketmaster.ca or can be ordered by phone with Ticketmaster: r -888-655-5354 toll-free. (Tickets are not available at Ticketmaster in-person locations).

Q: How many tickets can I buy?
A:  Ticket sales are limited to four tickets per person and one RV Ticket.

Q: Will there be tickets available at the gate?
A:  Maybe, or maybe not. With an attendance cap in place, it is possible that each day could sell out in advance. We’re expecting a strong turn-out for our 40th, so we recommend you get your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment!

Q: When is the Early Bird deadline this year?
A:  April 30, 2013

Q:  Why do RVs need to purchase a separate ticket for the Festival Campground?
A: We want to ensure that everyone who comes to the Festival Campground with an RV has a place to park it! Since the RV area can’t be expanded easily, we’ve introduced a RV Ticket. The $20.00 ticket is valid only with a Festival Campground ticket, and only one RV Ticket is required per RV (not per person).

Q: Why do tickets cost more every year?
A: The Winnipeg Folk Festival is a not-for-profit organization and our ticket revenues contribute to covering our actual costs of the festival each year. In recent years, many expenses including artist fees, transportation, waste management and recycling, security, and safety have risen at an unprecedented rate. The nominal increase in 2013 is necessary to ensure we cover our expenses and deliver the high quality experience our audience has come to expect.

Q: What about funding and sponsors?
A: The Winnipeg Folk Festival typically receives less than 10% of revenues from government funding; in fact this year only 8.2% of our operating budget is funded by grants. This means over 90% of the revenues needed for the Festival each year come from earned revenue – ticket sales and sponsorship support.

Q: Why does the Festival Campground cost more than the Quiet Campground?
A: It takes significantly more infrastructure and resources to create the Festival Campground. Over the last few years, the price of the Festival Campground has not reflected the additional services and infrastructure we’ve invested to improve and increase lighting, electricity, and first aid. The Festival Campground also requires more security to ensure the safety and well being of its community. We think it’s fair that the ticket price reflects the additional costs associated with the creation of the Festival Campground.

Q: Is a single day ticket valid for any day?
A: No. Day tickets are valid only for the day you specify at time of purchase and they cannot be exchanged for a different day.

Q: Do children get in free?
A: Children four and under are free; children 5 to 12 need a Festival ticket but their camping is free; all persons 13 or older require both a Festival ticket as well as a Festival or Quiet Campground ticket if they are camping.

Q: What is the difference between children and youth?
A: Festival only tickets are available for children who are 5 to 14 years and youth who are 15 to 17 years of age. Anyone 18 or older must purchase an adult ticket. The combined Festival with camping ticket has two price categories: Child 5 to 12 and Child 13 to 14.

Q: Do you offer a senior’s discount?
A: Yes, to those 65 year of age or greater.

Refunds, Exchanges & Lost Tickets

Q: What if I change my plans? Can I get a refund?
A: Sorry, there are no refunds or exchanges on Winnipeg Folk Festival tickets.

Q: What if I lose my tickets? Can I get a refund?
A: If you have lost your tickets, please contact Ticketmaster Customer Service at 1-855-985-4357. Sorry, there are no refunds or exchanges.

Q: I requested my tickets be mailed to me and I didn’t get them.
A: If you didn’t receive your tickets, please contact Ticketmaster Customer Service at 1-855-985-4357.

Camping

Q:  How do I purchase a ticket with camping?
A:   Quiet Campground tickets and Festival Campground tickets are bundled with the 5-day festival ticket into one single ticket – if you want to camp, purchase a ticket that includes camping.

Q: Can I camp without a Festival ticket?
A: Sorry, our campgrounds are open to folks who attend the Festival only.

Q: Can I visit the campground with a Festival ticket?
A:  Sorry, only people who are camping can enter the campgrounds. Your wristband will grant you entrance only to the campground where you are camping; for example you can’t visit your friends in the Festival Campground if your are camping in the Quiet Campground.

Q: Quiet Campground? What’s that all about?
A: Quiet camping offers a great experience with plenty of shade, shelters with running water, and flush toilets! And there is a free shuttle to the Festival site every 30 minutes. Thousands of festival-goers camp there every year – and they love it!

Q: Can I camp with an RV?
A: Yes, we offer un-serviced RV camping in a specific area in both of our campgrounds. Due to the popularity of the RV camping section in the Festival Campground, you must purchase an RV Ticket to ensure you will get a spot when you arrive at the festival. There’s plenty of room for RVs in the Quiet Campground, so no ticket is required if you plan on camping in an RV in the Quiet Campground.

Q: Is there RV parking in the Quiet Campground?
A: Yes! There is plenty of room for RVs in the Quiet Campground.

Q: Why does the Festival Campground cost more than the Quiet Campground?

A: It takes significantly more infrastructure and resources to create the Festival Campground. Over the last few years, the price of the Festival Campground has not reflected the additional services and infrastructure we’ve invested to improve and increase lighting, electricity, first aid, animation projects and performances. The Festival Campground also requires more security to ensure the safety and well being of its community. We think it’s fair that the ticket price reflects the additional costs associated with the creation of the Festival Campground.

Q: Why doesn’t the Festival let more people into the Festival Campground?
A: The capacity of the Festival Campground is established in consultation with the RCMP and Birds Hill Provincial Park. It is capped to ensure a positive, safe, festival experience for everyone. We wish that everyone could be there but it isn’t as simple as letting a few more people in.

Q: I’m a volunteer – where do I get more info about camping?
A: Please contact our office at (204) 231-0096 or e-mail volunteer@winnipegfolkfestival.ca

Parking

Q: Can I park overnight?
A: Overnight parking is available for festival campers only, and only in the campground parking lot.

Birds Hill Provincial Park Pass

Q: Do I need a park pass to enter Birds Hill Provincial Park?
A: Yes, you will need to purchase a provincial park pass in 2013. Passes are for sale at various retail outlets in Winnipeg.  Passes are aslo available at the Birds Hill Provincial Park gate, however they only accept cash (no debit).

No Line-ups on Highways 59 or 206

Q:  What time can I enter the park on Wednesday morning?
A:  The West Gate, off of Hwy 59 opens at 7:00 AM on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. The Winnipeg Folk Festival officially starts at 8:00 AM on Wednesday morning, when our campground box offices open.

Q:  Can I line-up on Hwy 59 before the gate opens on Wednesday?
A:   No, sorry. It is severely dangerous to be parked a few feet away from highway traffic. At highway speeds, collisions with stationary objects and people are generally fatal. Your safety and well being throughout the Festival is a priority for us.  Please show us your support and cooperate with the RCMP and us – plan to arrive when we are ready to welcome you:  at 7:00 AM when the gate opens, no earlier.

Q: Why can’t you let us line-up inside the park?
A: We do – starting at 7:00 AM. It will take anywhere from four to six hours to get everyone parked and through our box office from that point. We’re thinking that’s plenty of time for cars to be in a line-up!

Q: How will the RCMP enforce it?
A: The RCMP, Birds Hill Provincial Park and the Winnipeg Folk Festival are asking for everyone’s cooperation with this. We hope that you all understand that we have everyone’s best interest at heart in managing the arrival of thousands of campers this way.

Q: Can I line-up on Hwy 206?
A: No. There will be no stopping signs along Hwy 206, as well. The East Gate does not open until after 8:30 AM, once the line-up of vehicles from the West Gate are off Festival Drive. If you are arriving Wednesday morning, use the WEST GATE.

Q: Why not just open the campground earlier?
A: It’s not so simple to just ‘opening earlier’ – it takes a huge amount of resources to manage and operate our campgrounds (volunteers, staff, first aid, food vendors, tents and animation areas, toilets, and enviro-crew). We are already opening 12 hours before our first Main Stage performance – which leaves you with plenty of time to get in, set-up and head over to the Main Stage for the show!  And while this decision is all about safety, it’s also fair to campers who are not able to, or interested in pulling an all-nighter to ensure that they get a good spot in line.

Festival Express – Bus Service

Q:  Where can I find the bus schedule?
A:  The complete bus schedule will be available here on our website at the end of June, 2013.

Q: How long does the bus ride take?
A: The trip takes approximately 50 minutes in each direction.

Q: Are strollers, wagons and bags allowed on the bus?
A: Yes! They can be left in the bus aisles, as long as they are secure.

Q: Can I bring my bike on the bus?
A: Sorry, but bicycles are not allowed on Winnipeg Transit buses.  And, unfortunately, exterior bike racks are not approved for use on the highway.

Q: Does the free transit offer apply to Handi-Transit users?
A: Sorry, Handi-Transit service does not operate beyond city limits, however accessible buses will be used on the Festival Express service.

Q: When does that last bus leave at the end of the night? I don’t want to miss any of the Main Stage performance.
A: The last bus departs Birds Hill Provincial Park after the Main Stage ends – however, if you need to connect to another bus downtown, check Winnipeg Transit schedules, because you may need to leave on an earlier departure.

 

Please note that while we do our best to keep information current, the info on this page is subject to change.