The Years We Came Home
A chapter of re-connection, community, and resilience
Driving up to a lineup of cars at Birds Hill Park early Wednesday morning, the air thick with dust and excitement, you waited alongside hundreds of others to finally claim your patch of forest for the weekend, and greet each other at last with a joyful, “Happy Folk Fest.”. Anticipation coursed through your veins as you returned home for the first time in two years. In the 2020s, we reset, and we reconnected.
For over four decades, people have continued to gather, dance, and celebrate through all roadblocks. But when the decade began with an unexpected, pandemic-induced hiatus, Folk Fest flickered on screens instead of in person. We watched from living rooms and backyards, missing the grounding feeling of dust-covered feet and the music vibrating through our chests. That longing only led to a stronger appreciation when the Festival returned in 2022, drawing a record number of people. Everyone was hungry for togetherness and live music, making its return nothing short of magical.
Record-breaking attendance met record-breaking joy. In just a few festivals this decade, beloved local talents like Boy Golden, FONTINE, and Leith Ross took to the stages. They were joined by global acts such as Vance Joy, Tash Sultana, Japanese Breakfast, and Portugal. The Man—creating a dynamic and exciting musical environment for all tastes. The Festival’s musical history continued to evolve with performances like Killer Mike’s unforgettable set at Big Blue @ Night.
Emotions ran high as you reconnected with Folk friends—some with new hair colors, bold outfits, or a partner’s hand in theirs. The 2020s brought a renewed appreciation for music, community, and closeness. The hugs were tighter, the singing louder.
The campground energy reached a whole new level. Campsite creations transformed the woods. On your way to your site, you saw lit-up jellyfish lanterns floating above tarp villages, glowing capes fluttering across the field, and papier-mâché mushrooms guarding tents. One site had communal hammocks strung between trees, where people napped in the shade, recharging just enough to do it all again.
From lying in the grass baking under the sun in the morning to running for cover during the afternoon—sometimes not—when storms cracked open the sky. Some danced in the rain, letting it soak their shirts and blur their face paint, refusing to miss the chance to see Orville Peck perform.
So far, the 2020s have brought us closer than ever. You show up and feel it immediately—the love. We continue to care for each other, and Folk Fest remains a place where we build each other up.
The Festival has been tested, shaken, and reshaped—but it remains unbreakable. People show up with banjos, babies, or biodegradable glitter, they embody the resilience and communal joy that define the Winnipeg Folk Festival. This is a vibrant celebration of community, culture, and sustainability.
Gallery
Check out photos from the past. Click to enlarge the image and get more information.
Photographers:
- Adam Scarpino
- Ally Gonzalo
- Andrew Mahone
- Anna Verbytska
- April Carandang
- Bob Tinker
- Chris Douglas
- Dave McKnight
- Gino Castillo
- Jenn Kostesky
- Joey Senft
- Julio Assis
- Jenn Kostesky
- Kira Koop
- Kit Magno
- Leif Norman
- Matt Duboff
- Michelle Westman
- Nate Forest
- Naville Reyes
- Terry Proveda
Videographers:
- Sean Guezen
- Scott Carnegie
- Miguel Martinez
- Patrick Rabago
- Jen Doerksen
- Mark Glen Doroja
- Julie Epp
- Simon Jaynes
- Terry Proveda
- Andre La Guardia
- Natalia Lyczkowska
- Kieran Peters
- Patryk Szmidt
- Brodie Young
- Gino Castillo
Timeline
Keep scrolling for some select highlights from over the years.
2020
Winnipeg Folk Fest at Home – July 11
3 Hours
1 Video
80,000+ Unique Viewers of Winnipeg Folk Fest at Home*
35 Artists
25 Year-Round Concerts
20 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- With the COVID-19 pandemic taking over the globe the Festival had to cancel for the first time ever. To fill the major void the Festival put together a 3 hour online concert featuring performances by 35 artists including Brandi Carlile, Arlo Guthrie, Alan Doyle, and William Prince.
- Although there were no crews to fill this year, many regular volunteers became donors to support the Festival.
- 957 donors raised a record amount of $207,365 by January 31, 2021.
- By the same date, the Festival received additional COVID-19 support funding from The Winnipeg Foundation, Canadian Heritage, and government subsidy programs at both the provincial and federal levels.
- Numerous sponsors and partners maintained support, either by backing Winnipeg Folk Fest at Home or offering corporate gifts, generating $150,500 to help the Festival stabilize and prepare for its return.
- The Festival is awarded the Impact in Live Music Award from the Western Canadian Music Awards.
2021
19 Year-Round Concerts
18 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- The Festival continued to support local artists through online initiatives such as Folk in the City: Live at the Burt and Kinaxis InConcert, as well as in-person programming like Common Ground and So Long, Bannatyne.
- Staff made several trips to Birds Hill Park to complete site improvements, including the planting of 80 new trees and the construction of a new site office.
- A total of 651 donors raised $203,895 for the organization by January 31, 2022.
- The Festival received additional COVID-19 relief funding from The Winnipeg Foundation, Manitoba Arts Council, and Canadian Heritage.
2022
47th Edition – July 7-10
4 Days
9 Stages
72,400+ Attendees
70 Artists
28 Year-Round Concerts
2,195 Volunteers
54 Crews
25 Food Vendors
50 Hand-Made Village Artisans
41 Young Performers
19 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- Big Blue @ Night expanded to include Thursday evening programming, introducing more indie content to the nighttime sets.
- The Festival site became fully licensed, allowing attendees to enjoy a tavern beverage anywhere on the grounds.
- Proof of vaccination was required for all volunteers, media, vendors, backstage guests, staff, board members, and performers.
- Mitch’s Sunday Feast honoured the life and legacy of Festival founder Mitch Podolak with special performances by Al Simmons, Allison de Groot, Andrina Turenne, Daniel Koulak, The Duhks, Fred Casey, Hugo Torres, Kate Ferris, Nathan Rogers, Nicky Mehta, Rodrigo Muñoz, Scott Nolan, and Tim Osmond.
2023
48th Edition – July 6-9
4 Days
9 Stages
74,400+ Attendees
70 Artists
28 Year-Round Concerts
2,366 Volunteers
54 Crews
25 Food Vendors
50 Hand-Made Village Artisans
15 Prairie Outdoor Exhibits
36 Young Performers
19 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Lynne Skromeda
- The Festival debuted a new Main Stage, enhancing the experience for crews, artists, and the audience. The stage was constructed using 75% recycled materials.
- A new campground tower, dubbed “The Bird Cage,” was introduced and became a hub for nighttime jam sessions and a popular meeting place for friends.
- Wheatfield Soul, the all-Manitoba artist workshop, was one of the most well-attended sessions of the weekend, featuring Andrina Turenne, Field Guide, Fire & Smoke, FONTINE, Leaf Rapids, Matt Foster, and William Prince.
- The Festival received the Sustainable Tourism Award for Winnipeg from the Tourism Awards Winnipeg.
2024
49th Edition – July 11-14
4 Days
9 Stages
75,600+ Attendees
73 Artists
20 Year-Round Concerts
2,424 Volunteers
53 Crews
26 Food Vendors
53 Hand-Made Village Artisans
14 Prairie Outdoor Exhibits
26 Young Performers
20 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Valerie Shantz
- Winnipeg Folk Festival was honoured with the “Green Operations Festival of the Year” from the Canadian Live Music Association.
- We beat our sustainability goal of increasing waste diversion to 50% by 2025 a whole year early.
- A skunk, that has lovingly been dubbed Delayla Gates, delayed the opening of the Main Gate on the Friday of the Festival.
- The Winnipeg Folk Festival as an organization turned 50 but due to the pandemic this was the 49th Festival.
2025
50th Festival - July 10-13, 2025
4 Days
9 Stages
79,000 Attendees
78 Artists
2500 Volunteers
17 Prairie Outdoor Exhibits
26 Food Vendors
51 Hand-Made Village Artisans
28 Young Performers
25 Staff
Artistic Director
Chris Frayer
Executive Director
Valerie Shantz
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