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The first Winnipeg Folk Festival was held in 1974 in Birds Hill Park as a one-time celebration to mark Winnipeg’s 100th anniversary. Featuring about 50 acts on four stages, this inaugural festival was free and attracted 22,000 over the three-day weekend. Already the event had its fans. It laid down roots in the park and has grown up to be one of the premier outdoor music festivals in the world. Today the operating budget is more than $3.5M, and attendance exceeds 62,000, including performers, volunteers and guests. A recent economic impact study indicates that the Winnipeg Folk Festival generates over $16M in Manitoba and $14M in Winnipeg.
About 250 artists perform on seven stages around the Festival site throughout the weekend. These daytime stages give the artists opportunities to jam with each other, exchanging musical styles, stories and inspirations. They also give festival-goers a rare opportunity to see performers in a very up-close and personal setting, allowing a glimpse into the musical creative process.
In the evening, everyone gathers at the Main Stage to enjoy an eclectic assortment of music against the backdrop of a prairie sunset. As the stars take over the night sky, blues, celtic, bluegrass, world and other infectious rhythms bring the dancers out of the crowd. For those who want an alternative evening activity, there is the Firefly Palace, a performance venue with entertainment “on the edge of folk.”
The Winnipeg Folk Festival is music and more. In the Family Area, kids rule and imaginations are set loose. Laughter and singing can be heard from under the Chickadee Big Top, while in the activities area everything from juggling and stilt walking to fabulous craft-making can be enjoyed.
The Hand-Made Village is a craft market featuring artisans from Manitoba and across Canada. Anyone with an eye for beauty can spend hours browsing through the many creations displayed here. Ceramics, soaps, custom-made instruments, bright clothing, dazzling jewellery – these are just a sampling of the exciting hand-made products found in our craft area.
 Part of the kids area at the 2007 festival. Photo David McKnight. |
The Food Village offers a wide selection of culinary delights to please any palate. From east to west, the adventurous can travel the globe at over a dozen food concessions preparing delicious foods. Near by, there is the licensed Tamarack Tavern and a second, smaller drinks tent. As one of the leading festivals in North America, the Winnipeg Folk Festival has become a tradition for many families and an annual pilgrimage for friends from around the world. Over the years we’ve seen our children grow up into mothers and fathers who now bring their own children to enjoy a rich and entertaining musical experience.
In 1997, the Winnipeg Folk Festival was the first event of its kind to be certified by Canada’s Environmental Choice Program with an EcoLogo as a “green event,” in recognition of our efforts to be environmentally proactive. The Festival has also introduced some innovative programs to its activities, such as The Young Performers Program, started in 2000, which offers the opportunity to be mentored by select Festival musicians and to perform on a daytime stage at the Winnipeg Folk Festival; Prairie Outdoor Exhibition, a unique outdoor gallery featuring installations on the site of the Festival by local artists; The Young Artists Program, similar to the Young Performers Program but for emerging visual artists and offered in partnership with the Winnipeg Art Gallery; and a Folk School in a tent where Festival attendees can participate in teaching workshops with Festival performers Friday through Sunday. We’ve the Folk School to year-round workshops in our Folk Exchange venue Winnipeg’s Exchange District. The Folk Retreat, started in 2006, is three days of workshops preceding the festival.
The Winnipeg Folk Festival operates on a year-round basis through its various activities: the Folk Festival Music Store; concerts; artist development and event production consulting services; and special events such as the Winter Wassail. With its commitment to the community, the high caliber of its productions, the dedication of its Board of Directors, staff, and over 2,200 skilled volunteers, and the enthusiastic response of the thousands of fans who attend year after year, the Winnipeg Folk Festival has earned a world-wide reputation for excellence.
