The Winnipeg Folk Festival focus groups are now full. Thank you to all who volunteered to participate. We are looking forward to hearing your thoughts, ideas and opinions.
We are going to be holding some focus group discussions in mid-December in order to better understand people’s perceptions of the Winnipeg Folk Festival and its associated events. A focus group is a type of research that involves a discussion with about 8 to 10 other people.
The focus groups will include:
- Regulars – adults who regularly attend the Winnipeg Folk Festival, that is, who have been to the festival at least five times (and who plan to go every year)
- Newcomers – adults who have only recently started attending the Winnipeg Folk Festival and have only been one or two times
- Past attendees - adults who have attended the Winnipeg Folk Festival in the past, but haven’t been for several years
- People who have never attended - adults who have always been interested in attending the Winnipeg Folk Festival, but have never done so
- Winnipeg Folk Festival volunteers - we are looking for recent, mid and long-standing volunteers, as well as volunteers from a variety of different positions
Focus groups will likely take place between December 14, 2009 and December 20, 2009.
Participants will be offered an honorarium in appreciation of their time and input.
Participants can call one of the numbers below for more info:
- For those calling from Winnipeg: 989-8996
- For those calling from outside Winnipeg: 1-888-265-2422 (toll-free in Canada)
This contest is now closed. Congratulations to the winners! Winners will be contacted before 5 p.m. on Friday, October 30 by a Winnipeg Folk Festival staff member.
Win a pair of tickets to see Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars on Sunday, November 1!
To enter, send one email to contest@winnipegfolkfestival.ca, with the subject line “Concert Series ticket contest”. Include your name, daytime phone number, and the name of another performer in this year’s Winnipeg Folk Festival Fall/Winter Concert Series. Deadline for entry is 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2009.
Three pairs of tickets will be given away. Winners will be contacted by telephone on Friday, October 30 before 5:00 p.m. Winners must be able to pick up their tickets in person on Saturday, October 31, between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., at the Winnipeg Folk Festival Music Store, 211 Bannatyne Avenue at Albert Street.
Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars
Directed by Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, the Afro-Cuban All Stars have been essential to the growing worldwide popularity of Afro-Cuban music. This multi-generational big band incorporates the full spectrum of Latin dance music. Their 1997 album, A Toda Cuba Le Gusta, was the first to be recorded during the legendary Buena Vista Social Club sessions. Their concert Sunday, November 1, 8:00 p.m., at the Pantages Playhouse Theatre, will be the first time playing Winnipeg since 2004.
Tickets are $39.50 plus fees, at the Winnipeg Folk Festival Music Store, or get Afro-Cuban All Stars tickets at Ticketmaster.
Part of the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s Fall/Winter Concert Series.
The Winnipeg Folk Festival is pleased to announce that it will become a signatory to the Manitoba Food Charter during a signing ceremony at the Festival Launch at 12 noon on Thursday, July 10, at Old Market Square.
The Manitoba Food Charter is both a document and an organization. The Charter itself is a publicly owned, one page statement about what Manitobans think our food system should look like. It emerged from input elicited in over 70 community consultations with stakeholder groups and concerned citizens. The document brings together a diversity of voices in a common focus for food security in our province.
Continue reading ‘Manitoba Food Charter Signing July 10′
At the 2008 Festival, there will be a focus on food: local, organic and fair trade in particular.
At the Festival opening ceremonies at 12 noon on Thursday, July 10 in Old Market Square, the Festival will sign the Manitoba Food Charter.
The Manitoba Food Charter is both a document and an organization. The Charter itself is a publicly-owned, one page statement about what Manitobans think our food system should look like. It emerged from input elicited in over 70 community consultations with stakeholder groups and concerned citizens. The document brings together a diversity of voices in a common focus for food security in our province.
The Manitoba Food Charter Inc. organizational goal is to increase food security and sustainability of the food systems in Manitoba by providing a common focus for action for food system stakeholders - through Public Education and Awareness; Developing Networks and Partnerships; and through building Organizational Capacity. MFC funding is provided by PHAC, Rural Secretariat, and Heifer International.
The Festival will also be featuring local (L) (produced in Manitoba), certified organic (O) and fair trade food (FT) this summer: “LOFT” ingredients. LOFT ingredients are identified by the food vendors, and LOFT icons in the program book menu will indicate which menu items have local, organic or fair trade ingredients.
Plus, look for compostable beer cups in the taverns and compostable spoons and cups at the Festival ice cream booth, The Scoop.
Backstage, at least 20% of the food served in the backstage kitchen will be from Manitoba producers.
In 2008, we celebrate our 35th anniversary with the same enthusiasm that inspired the event in 1974. The dream continues as we embark on future planning for the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Your gift to the Light the Way Campaign can help build a bright future for the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
After 35 years and 35 festivals, we are making plans for significant site development that will provide an improved home for the summer Festival. This investment in the Birds Hill Park site is an important part of the future of the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
Make a donation to the Light the Way campaign and receive a souvenir Winnipeg Folk Festival micro LED lantern. With a $135 donation (or more) you will receive a souvenir lantern. Or, you can also purchase the lantern for $10. All proceeds from lantern sales will help support the future development of the Winnipeg Folk Festival site.
Lanterns can be purchased at the Festival Hub or in advance of the Festival at the Festival Music Store.
Don’t forget to bring your souvenir Festival lantern to the Finale on Sunday night. As we sing the traditional songs of the finale we will start a new Festival tradition of lighting our Festival lanterns. For those who have already joined the campaign, drop by The Hub to pick up your lantern.
| June 5, 2008 |
| 12:00 pm | to | 1:00 pm |
| June 6, 2008 |
| 12:00 pm | to | 1:00 pm |
| June 12, 2008 |
| 12:00 pm |
| June 13, 2008 |
| 12:00 pm | to | 1:00 pm |
| June 19, 2008 |
| 12:00 pm | to | 1:00 pm |
| June 20, 2008 |
| 12:00 pm | to | 1:00 pm |
| July 3, 2008 |
| 12:00 pm | to | 1:00 pm |
| July 4, 2008 |
| 12:00 pm | to | 1:00 pm |
| July 10, 2008 |
| 12:00 pm | to | 1:00 pm |
Each year the the Winnipeg Folk Festival and the Exchange District Biz team up to bring free entertainment to Old Market Square. This year, The Bedford Investments Music in the Market Concert Series happens on both Thursdays and Fridays from June 5 to July 10, from noon to 1 pm. The last concert, with Festival performers Outlaw Social, will mark the kick-off of the 2008 Winnipeg Folk Festival! Continue reading ‘Bedford Investments Music in the Market Concert Series’
Celebrate 35 years of gathering in beautiful Birds Hill Park, meeting friends, discovering new music and enjoying old favorites.
The exuberance and anticipation of the
early morning tarp tradition, enjoying the family area, dancing the night away at the main stage, the final notes of the Festival coming to an end for another year: remember it all every time you wear this work of art.
Carry the spirit of the Festival! The 35th Anniversary Lorna Jacket is available only by special order through the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
Order by June 20th to have your jacket delivered in time to wear it to the festival!
Jackets can also be ordered at the Festival “Hub” on site.
Continue reading ‘Winnipeg Folk Festival 35th Anniversary Jacket by Lorna Design’
The archive crew of The Winnipeg Folk Festival is putting together a display of memorabilia and memories from the past 34 years to be displayed at this years 35th Festival anniversary and we need your help. We are looking for people who may have some merchandise, photos, press clippings or stories from the past 34 years that they would be willing to lend to us to use in our display to make it a success! If you have family or friends that have attended The Winnipeg Folk Festival in the past and may be able to help us out, please pass our email address onto them. We can be reached @ wffarchives@hotmail.com. Thank you for your help!
| March 8, 2008 |
| 10:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
| March 19, 2008 |
| 7:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
| March 26, 2008 |
| 7:00 pm |
Back in 2003, the Board of Directors adopted a long-term strategic plan, with a vision that Winnipeg would be the “folk capital” of North America by 2020. We also spelled out a five year plan intended to move us towards our long term goal. So far, we have accomplished our goals and more. Now, we are in the process of reviewing and revising our plan for the next five years.
As Directors, we are responsible for the overall direction of the organization, but we also recognize that we hold positions of trust, that “the Festival”, in many ways, is like a “community-owned” organization. Therefore, we are holding a series of open houses to allow members of our community an opportunity for input into our plans. Of course, we can’t guarantee that everything you say will make it into our plans, but we can guarantee that you will be heard.
The session dates are:
Saturday, March 8, 10-noon
Wednesday, March 19, 7-9pm
Wednesday, March 26, 7-9pm
All sessions will be held at the Folk Exchange (located on the main floor of 211 Bannatyne Avenue).
As the Folk Exchange has limited seating capacity, we ask that you “register” for the particular session you would like to attend by calling the Festival office at 231-0096 and speaking with Karla Ferguson.
Fair trade certified coffee will be on the menu at the 2008 Winnipeg Folk Festival—and at the Festival’s office during Fair Trade Manitoba’s One-Month Challenge, which starts tomorrow.
Beginning this year, fair trade certified coffee will be served at the Festival’s backstage kitchen, and the Festival will be encouraging vendors to use fair trade products. The announcement comes as part of the Festival’s commitment to highlight sustainable food choices in its Food Village in 2008.
Continue reading ‘Festival Goes Fair Trade’
Since its birth 34 years ago, this Winnipeg Folk Festival has grown into one of the most influential folk festivals on the continent, attracting top talent from around the world and over 60,000 patrons annually. We recognize that to sustain this success, and to advance our ambitious vision to become the “folk music capital of North America”, we have to critically examine how things are done, and identify opportunities for improvement in all aspects of our operations, including the site.
Continue reading ‘Festival Site Master Plan’
