The Magic Lives On
A decade of evolution, connection, and honouring the past
By the 2010s, the Winnipeg Folk Festival was grown up. A well-oiled and soulful celebration, it stood thriving, confident, and in full bloom. It welcomed newcomers and lifers alike, ready for the next generation to step into something timeless. Longtime Festivalgoers felt a mix of nostalgia and pride. Whether you were a tarp-sitter planted all day or a wanderer drifting from stage to stage, the music found you wherever you were.
Smartphones glowed across the field like modern fireflies. Social media and constant documentation had changed how people experienced live music—not by dulling the moment, but by reshaping it. Many used them to carry the Festival’s magic beyond the trees, recording a song for a friend who couldn’t make it, livestreaming a campfire jam, or capturing a confetti-spotted sky at the final performance. As always, Folk Fest adapted. Mobile charging stations popped up, allowing people to stay connected without missing a moment.
The decade brought unforgettable performances. You might have sprinted barefoot across the field when the first notes of a headliner rang out—Sheryl Crow, Kacey Musgraves or Brandi Carlile—arriving breathless as people in the crowd hugged and danced. Or maybe you heard an artist for the very first time and talked about it for the rest of the year, like sitting steps away from Phoebe Bridgers on a Sunday afternoon at Shady Grove.
After the sun went down and the campfires came alive, it often took just one person strumming a guitar before twenty more joined in, harmonizing under the stars. Campsite animation became expected from the few. Games and structures were built for campers to peruse and gather. At Folk Fest, maybe you fell in love, maybe you made a friend, or maybe you never even learned the names of the people you sang with—but together, you created something unforgettable.
Sustainability wasn’t a side note—it was the core. Plastic water bottles disappeared, and more refill taps popped up across the grounds. Volunteers stood beside compost and recycling bins, helping keep the fields and forests clean. Everyone worked together in cooperation, kindness, and care. And the Festival site looked as beautiful as ever.
The Festival had changed—in look, sound, and scope, with two new stages going up in the forest. But every shift felt like a love letter to what came before. It wasn’t just progress—it was preservation. And it wasn’t just about aesthetics, but about writing a new chapter. One where the Festival invested in its future and built something strong enough to carry the spirit forward.
Gallery
Check out photos from the past. Click to enlarge the image and get more information.
Photographers:
- Aliah McDonough
- Ben Dartnell
- Ben Dartnell (duplicate)
- Bert Luit
- Chris Douglas
- Chris Pellerin
- David McKnight
- David Quiring
- David Van Den Bossche
- Dayna Danger
- Hai Nguyen
- Harold Mitchell
- Heather Clark
- James Culleton
- Jasmine Reeves
- Jen Davis
- Jenn Kostesky
- Joey Senft
- John Nielsen
- Julio Assis (Buio)
- Lindsey Bond
- Lisa Waldner
- Margaret Koshinsky
- Mary MacDonald
- Matt Duboff
- Matthew Sawatzky
- Mike Hughes
- Mike Peters
- Ray Chan
- Robert Tinker
- Ronnie Abelada
- Sara Michaelson
- Sean Ledwich
- Sean McGillivray
- Steve McCullough
- Steven Ackerman
- Terry Proveda
- Travis Ross
- Victoria Englis
Videographers
Andre La Guardia
Destiny Gulewich
Terry Proveda
Jen Doerksen
Julie Epp
Timeline
Keep scrolling for some select highlights from over the years.
2010
37th Edition – July 7-11
5 Days
8 Stages
54,800+ Attendees
70 Artists
23 Year-Round Concerts
2,615 Volunteers
65 Crews
20 Food Vendors
49 Hand-Made Village Artisans
16 Prairie Outdoor Exhibits
35 Young Performers
27 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Tamara Kater
- Cellphone charging stations debut as part of the launch of the Festival’s first mobile app.
- The on-site music store hosts a stage for performances and autograph signings.
- Volunteer Newcomers crew starts. The program provides training and support to new Canadians who wish to volunteer.
- Guest for a Day program starts. The program provides folk fest tickets, tours and food vouchers to non-profit community groups and individual families.
2011
38th Edition – July 6-10
5 Days
8 Stages
59,300+ Attendees
73 Artists
21 Year-Round Concerts
2670 Volunteers
69 Crews
22 Food Vendors
48 Hand-Made Village Artisans
16 Prairie Outdoor Exhibits
27 Young Performers
26 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Tamara Kater
- The Festival invests in major site upgrades, including expanded trails, new shade tents, and improvements to the main stage field.
- The Young Performers Program celebrates its 10th anniversary.
- Manitoba’s own Del Barber, Imaginary Cities, and Oh My Darling are featured on Main Stage.
2012
39th Edition – July 4-8
5 Days
9 Stages
52,100+ Attendees
66 Artists
26 Year-Round Concerts
2,828 Volunteers
70 Crews
22 Food Vendors
48 Hand-Made Village Artisans
18 Prairie Outdoor Exhibits
27 Young Performers
25 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- La Cuisine is unveiled backstage, built from recycled materials, and becomes the first of many new permanent structures on site.
- More attendees are cycling to the Festival, and a free bike repair shop is available.
- The Festival welcomes art workshops hosted by local community groups, including Urban Eatin’ Gardeners Worker Co-op and Martha Street Studio.
- A Woody Guthrie tribute concert is held on Main Stage on Sunday night.
- The Festival receives recognition from Manitoba Access Awareness Week 2012 for its outstanding contribution toward a fully inclusive society.
2013
40th Edition – July 10-14
5 Days
9 Stages
56,800+ Attendees
73 Artists
29 Year-Round Concerts
2,920 Volunteers
66 Crews
22 Food Vendors
48 Hand-Made Village Artisans
11 Prairie Outdoor Exhibits
29 Young Performers
27 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- The Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary with a video and photography exhibit, along with a special workshop featuring artists from the first Festival, including Leon Redbone and Sylvia Tyson.
- Major site improvements are completed, including the Festival Tower, the new food village structure, and both forest stages—Little Stage in the Forest and Spruce Hollow.
- The Festival receives the Greener Festival Award from the Tourism Winnipeg Awards.
2014
41st Edition – July 9-13
5 Days
9 Stages
66,400+ Attendees
79 Artists
24 Year-Round Concerts
2,958 Volunteers
69 Crews
23 Food Vendors
48 Hand-Made Village Artisans
13 Prairie Outdoor Exhibits
25 Young Performers
25 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- A Pete Seeger tribute workshop is held to honour his passing, featuring Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Ani DiFranco, Joan Baez, Jake Shimabukuro, Reuben and the Dark, and Elephant Revival.
- The Festival becomes bottled-water free, encouraging attendees to bring or purchase reusable water vessels to refill at site taps.
- A new attendance record is set, with over 60,000 festivalgoers.
- Strategic waste stations were placed around site and staffed with knowledgeable volunteers. Composting increased by 71% per person, recycling increased by 36% per person, and landfill waste decreased by 20% per person.
2015
42nd Edition – July 9-12
4 Days
9 Stages
64,700+ Attendees
70 Artists
42 Year-Round Concerts
2,725 Volunteers
61 Crews
22 Food Vendors
48 Hand-Made Village Artisans
12 Prairie Outdoor Exhibits
27 Young Performers
25 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ lead singer Alex Ebert left his passport at home while touring in the US. After discovering the situation through an Instagram post, Artistic Director Chris Frayer drove to the border to help the band cross into Canada.
- The Artistic Achievement Award is presented for the first time at the Festival. The inaugural recipient is folk legend Arlo Guthrie.
- The Rising Star Award is given to Liam Duncan, Roman Clarke, and Dylan MacDonald of The Middle Coast. The trio receives $1,000 and a guitar in recognition of their work as young musicians.
- The Winnipeg Folk Festival receives the Star Celebration designation from the Government of Manitoba—an honour awarded to events that deliver a superior visitor experience and highlight local culture in unique ways.
- Long-time volunteer Jane Graham is recognized by the Manitoba Tourism Awards for her 40 years of dedication to the Festival.
2016
43rd Edition – July 7-10
4 Days
9 Stages
56,600+ Attendees
75 Artists
39 Year-Round Concerts
2,684 Volunteers
57 Crews
22 Food Vendors
48 Hand-Made Village Artisans
17 Prairie Outdoor Exhibits
23 Young Performers
20 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- Native North America: A Selection of Musical Trailblazers was a powerful workshop where Indigenous artists Willie Thrasher, Willy Mitchell, Duke Redbird, Eric Landry, and Shingoose shared stories, poetry, and music from their 2016 Grammy-nominated compilation Native North America (Vol. 1): Aboriginal Folk, Rock, and Country 1966–1985.
- The Bluegrass Situation brought their programming north of the border for the first time, making their Canadian debut at the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
2017
44th Edition – July 6-9
4 Days
9 Stages
72,200+ Attendees
74 Artists
35 Year-Round Concerts
2,752 Volunteers
60 Crews
27 Food Vendors
51 Hand-Made Village Artisans
17 Prairie Outdoor Exhibits
30 Young Performers
19 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- This year set a new record for attendance, breaking the 70,000 mark.
- As part of Canada 150 celebrations, “Canada Far & Wide: Grand Esprits” featured Cris Derksen, DJ Shub, Choir!Choir!Choir!, and Mélisande [électrotrad], joined by Charlotte Cardin, Cécile Doo-Kingué, Old Man Luedecke, and Diyet.
- Folk Fest at 510 was launched as a lunchtime concert series at 510 Main Street and featured 12 artists from the 2017 Young Performers Program.
- The Festival launched its inaugural online charity auction in November and raised over $20,900 in support of the Young Performers and Guest for a Day programs.
2018
45th Edition – July 5-8
4 Days
9 Stages
73,500+ Attendees
72 Artists
31 Year-Round Concerts
2,785 Volunteers
60 Crews
28 Food Vendors
50 Hand-Made Village Artisans
32 Young Performers
19 Staff
Artistic Director:
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- The Festival received multiple honours including Event of the Year and Marketing Campaign awards from Travel Manitoba and Tourism Winnipeg, the Clearwater Award from the International Folk Music Awards, and the Community Impact Award from the Live Music Industry Awards.
- The Festival celebrated its 45th anniversary with a Stan Rogers sing-along and the Jukebox ’74 Workshop.
2019
46th Edition – July 11-14
4 Days
9 Stages
78,100+ Attendees
77 Artists
29 Year-Round Concerts
2,779 Volunteers
59 Crews
31 Food Vendors
50 Hand-Made Village Artisans
27 Young Performers
20 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- The Festival reached its all-time high attendance with over 78,000 festivalgoers.
- Icelandic artists were spotlighted in 2019, including Snorri Helgason, MAMMÚT, Ylja, and FM Belfast.
- The Young Performers Program celebrated its 20th anniversary by welcoming back past participants such as Jesse Matas, Olivia Lunny, Roman Clarke, Taylor Janzen, and Two Crows for Comfort.
- In August of 2019 the Festival community mourned the passing of founder Mitch Podolak.
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