On this page:
- First timer?
- Operating Times
- Services
- Rules, Safety & Etiquette
- Be a good neighbour!
- Travel & Maps
- Accommodation
- For people with Disabilities
First timer?
Welcome to the Winnipeg Folk Festival! If it’s your first time at the Festival, you’ll soon discover that it is much more than a concert.
The most important thing is to remember that it is an outdoor event, and prepare for the elements. Bring comfortable footwear, a hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, waterproof ground cover, pegs for your Main Stage tarp, rain gear, warm clothes for the evening, a flashlight, and a reusable drinking cup (or buy one of ours at the festival). Read through the rest of the information on this website for tips on how to get to Birds Hill Park, what size of tarp you can bring, and what kind of food will be available at the festival. Call the office at 204-231-0096 if you are unsure about anything.
The festival site can be a bit overwhelming at first. There is a small Audience Services tent located right outside the main entrance, so you can stop and get oriented with a program book (which contains a map, plus lots of other useful information) before you even go through the gates. The volunteers there will be happy to answer your questions. To get in, the first place you’ll need to go is the Box Office, located next to the main entrance. This is where you either buy your ticket or, if you already have a ticket, you exchange your ticket for a wristband.
With your wristband on, you’re ready to go through the gate! Make sure to read the Rules section about what you can’t bring on site — bags are subject to search at the gate.
Once inside, you’ll probably want to start with either checking your bag at the Audience Services tent, or putting your tarp or chair down in front of Main Stage. If you arrived just after the gates opened, or if the ground is wet, you won’t be able to put a tarp down just yet. See the Rules section.
You probably have lots more questions — you can email them to us at info@winnipegfolkfestival.ca. See you at the festival!
Operating Times
Provincial Park Gates—Open between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm
Festival Campground—Open at 9:00 am Wednesday
Quiet Campground—Open at 9:00 am Wednesday
Festival Main Gate Box Office—4:30 pm–10:00 pm Wednesday, 4:30 pm–11:00 pm Thursday, 9:30 am–11:00 pm Friday and Saturday, 9:30 am–9:00 pm Sunday
Festival Gate—5:00 pm—10:30 pm Wednesday, 5:00 pm—11:30 pm Thursday, 10:00 am–11:30 pm Friday and Saturday, 10:00 am–10:00 pm Sunday
Main Stage Seating—Opens approximately 20 minutes after the gate opens, or 30 minutes before Main Stage show if ground is wet
Main stage shows start at 7:00 pm Wednesday, 6:00 pm Thursday to Saturday, 5:45 pm Sunday
Daytime programming starts at 11:00 am (Friday through Sunday)
Services
Audience Services
At one of our two locations, this is where you find changes in daytime or evening stage schedules. We have one location beside the Main Gate box office, and another on the grounds by Snowberry Field Stage. Volunteers are always happy to answer your questions or point you in the right direction!
Check It
Check your extra baggage or personal items free at the Audience Services tent by Snowberry Field Stage.
ATMs
ATMs are at the Festival Hub/Corner Store tent, and at the Tavern. We accept Interac, Cirrus (Mastercard), Maestro, and Visa.
Lost and Found
All articles found on the site should be handed over to a Security volunteer or taken to Security headquarters by the Main Gate where lost items will be held. After the festival, call our office at 204-231-0096 for inquiries about lost items.
The Festival Hub
The Hub is Festival Central! Located next to the Big Rock Tavern, the Hub now combines the functions of the Corner Store, Main Stage Music at Night, Festival merch sales, a donation location and festival displays, including information about our Site Plan. Plus, picnic tables make it a place to stop and hang out. While you’re at the Hub, buy a raffle ticket or two for a chance to win some great Festival prizes.
The Music Store Tent
CDs, CDs, CDs, The Music Store Tent is the Festival home of entire stock of the Festival Music Store (every kind of music you could possibly hear at The Winnipeg Folk Festival - plus classics, and a few kinds of music you may never have heard of before!), plus: music accessories and books, Festival souvenirs, CDs, T-shirts and other merch from this year’s performers.
Stop in to say hi to our amazing staff and volunteer crew, let us know what you want us to stock in our year-round store located in the heart of the Exchange District in Winnipeg.
Rules Safety & Etiquette
Rules
Ticket and Wristband Policy
The Winnipeg Folk Festival is not responsible for lost, stolen, forgotten, defaced or destroyed tickets or wristbands, and will not issue replacements or refunds.
Towed Vehicles
See Parking.
Festival Entrance Conditions
- For your safety, we check the contents of all bags, parcels and coolers brought onto the site.
- NO alcohol, drugs, weapons, fireworks, glass, video cameras, or audio recorders.
- NO pets on the festival site, in the campgrounds or in the parking lot(s).
- In addition, wristbands will be confiscated and patrons removed from the Festival site or campgrounds for rowdy behaviour.
Main Stage “Tarp Shuffle”
The “Tarp Shuffle” (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 8ʹ by 10ʹ and removed at the end of each day. Taking up more space than necessary is unfair to others, so please keep the size of your tarp and the height of your markers reasonable.
Lawn Chairs and Wheelchairs
At daytime stages, chairs higher than two feet 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 wheelchairs.
Safety
Emergency Procedures
The Winnipeg Folk Festival has an emergency procedures plan. If an emergency situation occurs, please follow the instructions of our Security crew (wearing blue vests). If possible, listen to the park radio station 88.9 FM.
First Aid
If you require medical attention, contact Security or go to the First Aid tent located near Bur Oak Stage and staffed by (licensed) physicians and nurses. After 7:00 pm, contact a Security volunteer (wearing a blue vest).
Poison Ivy
Commonly found in wooded areas and along clearings and paths, poison ivy has irregularly notched or toothed shiny green leaves that grow in groupings of three. Do not touch!
Lost Children
Lost children should be escorted to a Security volunteer (wearing a blue safety vest). For assistance in locating a lost child, parents or guardians should contact Security.
Etiquette
Dance Area
For daytime stages, this area is on the right, facing the stage; for Main Stage, it is in the centre of the field behind the sound booth, and at stage left/house right.
Quiet Please
Remember to turn off cell phones during performances, and hold conversations outside the audience seating areas.
Seating
Take up only the space you need. The maximum tarp size is 8ʹ by 10ʹ; chairs more than two feet high in designated chair areas only, to the left of the stage.
Smoking
There is no smoking under tents, including the Chickadee Big Top and Big Blue @ Night, or in concert seating areas. Also, safely dispose of cigarette butts in the provided receptacles. Do not throw them on the ground: they can burn bare feet and are non-biodegradable.
Respect the Environment
The Winnipeg Folk Festival was the first festival to be certified with an EcoLogo as a green event by Canada’s Environmental Choice Program. Help us to continue to reduce the impact of the festival on Birds Hill Park.
* Use bike power or mass transit to get to the Festival
- * Use a reusable mug for beverages. Festival souvenir mugs can be purchased at the Festival Music Store and Corner Store. Or bring your own.
- * Deposit plastic and aluminum drink containers in the recycling boxes. Each campground also has recycling and garbage depots.
- * Pick up and properly dispose of all trash, including cigarette butts!
Be a good neighbour!
- Don’t litter
- Don’t block the view
- Take only the space you need
- Turn off your cell phone
- Don’t talk over the music
- Help out when you can
Travel & Maps
Birds Hill Park Map (4 kB jpeg)
2009 Festival Site Map (1 MB pdf)
How to Get There
BIRDS HILL PARK
Birds Hill Provincial Park is 34 km (20 mi.) northeast of Winnipeg on Provincial Highway 59 (City Route 20).
Birds Hill Park information: 204-654-6730
Provincial park vehicle passes won’t be required during 2009 and 2010.
Birds Hill Park gates are closed daily between 11 pm and 7 am.
BY CAR
Birds Hill Provincial Park is 34 km (20 mi.) northeast of Winnipeg on Provincial Highway 59 (City Route 20). This will take you to the West Gate. Alternatively, you can take Route 20 to Dugald Road to Hwy 206 to get to the East Gate.
Parking is free and close to the Folk Festival site. Special needs parking is conveniently located near the Box Office.
 In the 2006 Festival parking lot. Photo by Lisa Waldner. |
GETTING TO THE FESTIVAL SITE FROM THE USA
Crossing the border at Pembina/Emerson
I-29 in the States turns into Hwy 75 in Canada. Take Hwy 75 North to Winnipeg. Turn right on to Perimeter Hwy East. At the cloverleaf, get on to City Route 20 North (Lagimodiere Blvd). City Route 20 turns into Hwy 59 outside of the city. Take Hwy 59 north to Birds Hill Park.
Crossing the border at Lancaster/Tolstoi
Just take Hwy 59 all the way to Birds Hill Park. Through Winnipeg Hwy 59 is City Route 20.
Passports are now required for most U.S. visitors to Canada travelling by air, sea, or land. New rules took effect on June 1, 2009. See the U.S. State Department website.
For detailed information regarding border wait times and other information, visit Canada Border Services Agency website.
Car pooling / group biking?
Please use this message board to find others who want to car pool or bike to the Festival in groups. Please also check out the Facebook page and Facebook group for more car pooling postings.
BY BUS
Leave the driving to Winnipeg Transit and hop a bus to the Festival site. Round-trip bus service is provided hourly from downtown Winnipeg.
 The 2006 Festival bike racks. Photo by Rosalyn Dennett. |
Folk Festival Shuttle 2009 (at Winnipeg Transit).
Fares & Schedule Information: 204-986-5700
BY BIKE
Bike racks are available near the Box Office.
Parking
Follow instructions from our traffic crews when parking. Vehicles parked in No Parking Zones or parked overnight in the festival parking lot will be towed. If you are unable to drive home, you must register your vehicle with Security at the Main Gate. If your vehicle has been towed, please see Security for directions. And yes, there are bike racks outside by the Main Gate, too.
Festival Traffic Survival Guide
Sitting in your car waiting to exit the park can be frustrating. Here are a few tips to make it all run a bit more smoothly:
- Consider leaving your car at home! Car pool, bike, or take the bus to the park.
- Leave your car parked once it’s here — don’t drive back and forth. Take the campground shuttle.
- Drive slowly and safely, giving right-of-way to buses and at pedestrian crossings.
- Know where you’re going before you start driving. Remember there’s more than one way to get out of the park: the West Gate (Highway 59) or the East Gate (Highway 206).
- Be patient. There is always a wait to get out of the park at the end of the night. Follow the instructions of the traffic volunteers — they do have a system.
Accommodation
Camping
The Winnipeg Folk Festival operates two campgrounds: Festival and Quiet Camping. All campers must possess a 4-day Festival Pass as well as a Camping Pass for admittance to these areas. See the Camping at the Festival page.
Birds Hill Park Campground
Manitoba Parks also runs its own campground in Birds Hill Park. For serviced and unserviced sites, reservations can be made after March 31 by calling 204-948-3333 or TOLL FREE 1-888-482-2267. You can also reserve through their website.
Hotels
Winnipeg boasts world-class hotels and other accommodation. If you prefer to stay at a hotel instead of the festival campground, consider staying with one of these:
The Fairmont Winnipeg, Winnipeg’s premier hotel, is the Official Hotel of the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Visit the Fairmont Hotels website and book your stay at the Fairmont Winnipeg—or any other Fairmont Hotel.
For More Information
Also see 2009 Off-Site Accommodations.
- Destination Winnipeg (1-800-665-0204)
- Travel Manitoba (1-800-665-0040)
- Province of Manitoba
- Manitoba Parks
- Provincial parks guide Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism to learn about our rich cultural roots.
- The City of Winnipeg
For people with disabilities
Guide dogs are welcome.
Special needs parking is located near the Main Gate Box Office.
A marked area to the left of the Main Stage is reserved for wheelchairs and lawn chairs (as opposed to tarps). Because the grounds are open and uneven fields, people in non-motorized wheelchairs may need an attendant. You may qualify for a complimentary ticket for your attendant. Call the Folk Festival at 204-231-0096 or email info@winnipegfolkfestival.ca for more information.
