Days to the Festival
Staging The Future for a Better Festival

Rules, Safety & Etiquette

 

Tickets and Wristbands

The Winnipeg Folk Festival is not responsible for lost, stolen, forgotten, defaced or destroyed tickets or wristbands, and cannot issue replacements or refunds. For your safety, we check the contents of bags and coolers brought on to the site. Wristbands will be confiscated and patrons removed from the festival site and campgrounds for disruptive behaviour on non-compliance to festival rules:

  • no alcohol or drugs, weapons, fireworks, or glass;
  • no video cameras or audio recorders;
  • no pets, including in the campgrounds and parking lots.

 

Safety

The festival has a plan for dealing with emergencies. If a situation occurs, please follow the instructions of the Safety volunteers (in blue vests). Announcements will be made from stage and the park radio station 88.9 FM.

First Aid
Our First Aid tent near Bur Oak stage is open Friday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. After hours, contact a Safety volunteer for assistance. In the event of a medical emergency, call 911 and inform a Safety volunteer.

Lost Kids
Lost children should be escorted to a Safety volunteer who will also provide parents with assistance in locating their lost child.

Etiquette

Smoking
There is no smoking in concert seating areas or under tents. If you need to smoke, be respectful and do not leave cigarette buts on the ground; they can burn bare feet and are non-biodegradable. Use a free snuffer from Audience Services or Campground Central.

Main Stage “Tarp Walk”
The “Tarp Walk” (formerly known as the “Tarp Run”) has become a tradition for many audience members who like to sit close to the Main Stage. Tarp seating tickets are issued at the Main Gate at approximately 4:00 PM Wednesday and Thursday, and 8:00 AM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Access to the Main Stage field is cordoned off until seating time approximately 20 minutes after the gate opens, or at 5:30 PM if conditions require keeping the field empty during the day (rain). If you don’t mind sitting a little further back for Main Stage, there is no need to line up for tarp tickets.

Tarps & Markers
Tarps must be no bigger than 8 feet by 10 feet and removed at the end of each day. No one likes to see empty tarps and chairs during a show. If you leave your tarp unoccupied for a long time, you may find someone sitting on it when you get back. Tarp “squatters” should relinquish tarps on the return of their owners. Share the space, share your tarp, and don’t reserve a spot at a day stage with an empty chair!   Tarp Markers are welcome, but please keep the size and the height of your markers reasonable.

Chairs & Umbrellas and Wheelchairs
At day stages, chairs higher than two feet and parasols must be placed at the back of seating areas.  At Main Stage there is a reserved area left of the stage for chairs over two feet high, and for wheelchairs. You may also use tarps here, but people on chairs may sit in front of you.

Let’s Dance!
Dance to your heart’s content where there is a lot of room and you won’t block anyone’s view. At day stages, go to the right when facing the stage. Main Stage dancing is behind the sound booth at centre field, as well as to the right when facing the stage. In the evening, Big Blue @ Night is a dancing zone.

Be a Good Neighbour

  • don’t block the view;
  • take only the space you need;
  • turn off your cell phone;
  • don’t talk during performances.