Since the beginning, we have gathered at Birds Hill Park for the common love of people and music. Every summer we build a community that reflects the way we wish the world would be – a place where we can be unapologetically ourselves, full of inclusivity, kindness, and compassion.
The Winnipeg Folk Festival (WFF) may seem like an escape from reality, and while it is a magical place, you can help keep the Festival vibe alive and your experience positive by acting responsibly and looking out for one another.
What Can You Do?
- Take care of yourself. Drink lots of water, eat well, and dress for the weather. *Folk Tip: Energy drinks are dehydrating. Drink lots of water if you drink them*
- Bring comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, rain gear, a flashlight and something to sit on and stay out of the bush to avoid poison ivy.
- The WFF can be an exciting and an overwhelming place – come prepared, relax and have fun.
- Take care of your friends. Use the buddy system. Make sure your group of friends are not left alone when under the influence or at night when everything can look a bit different.
- Practice safer alcohol and substance use. Stay hydrated and moderate your consumption.
- If you use substances: Drug checking services are not available on site, test substances before you come. Start low and go slow, have and know how to use naloxone.
- If you see someone who is having a bad experience or is struggling, lend a hand. Walk with them until they can get to a safe place, flag down a friendly volunteer in a blue vest or take them to First Aid, where we have access to professional mental health supports.
- Respect other attendees’ privacy, property and personal space. NO inappropriate physical contact, groping, unwelcome sexual advances, or taking of explicit video or photos without consent.
- Practice and promote safe and consensual sex. There’s nothing wrong with a romp in the tent so long as everyone’s aware and having a good time. Make your time together safe and consensual. If you forgot safer sex supplies, you can get some for free at Campground Central.
- Know that sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, ageist, or otherwise discriminatory language, behaviour or actions are unacceptable.
- Do not engage in disorderly conduct or behaviour that hurts, marginalizes, humiliates, excludes, isolates or disrupts other attendees.
- Do not lead or promote any violent behaviour which includes sexual, verbal or physical assault against another attendee.
- Refrain from wearing or displaying offensive attire, flags or posters. This includes hate symbols and culturally appropriating attire.
What Does Folk Fest Do?
Safety Volunteers (in blue vests): Our Safety volunteers are here to offer a helping hand, a friendly smile and a non-judgmental attitude to any interaction. Their main job is to steward and preserve our Festival culture, using community-based de-escalation response and meeting anyone in crisis with support and care. They can call in our skilled Security Folk volunteers and other resources, as necessary.
Security Folk Volunteers (in blue vests): This team of dedicated volunteers from our own Festival community provides high-quality support. All members are licensed Security Guards and graduates of the WFF’s internal Festival Security Program. They have 100+ hours of training including areas in safer spaces, anti-oppression, compassionate response to sexualized violence, consent culture, harm reduction, mental health response, first aid and effective communication.
Wellness Supports: Mental health professionals are part of our coordinated response team. They can support people in crisis and assist in accessing additional off-site care outside of the Festival. Safety volunteers (in blue vests) coordinate access to this care.
First Aid: The Festival has First Aid on the Festival Site by Bur Oak stage and in the Festival Campground. If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t get to the First Aid tent, flag down a safety volunteer (in a blue vest). They will help get the assistance you need.
Security & First Aid teams carry naloxone kits.
Harm Reduction Information Tent: New in 2025, our friends at Project Safe Audience will be providing information and harm reduction supplies at Campground Central. Check the white board for information on daily programming.
Hours of operation: 11am-4pm and 10pm-2am
- Free safer sex supplies
- Supplies for safer substance use
- Non-judgemental answers to questions
- Daily information sessions
Remember: Volunteers are here to help! When in need, seek a volunteer in a blue vest or resources to help you stay safe. Any report of racism, discrimination, harassment, violence, sexual harassment, sexism, homophobia, ableism, transphobia, etc. will be dealt with as quickly and effectively as possible.
General Safety
We all look forward to these four days in July, so of course it’s important to stay safe and look out for each other. We want your Folk Fest experience to be as wonderful as you’ve been imagining all year!
Fire Extinguishers Proudly Donated by
Safer Spaces Policy
We believe EVERYONE has the right to experience the Winnipeg Folk Festival (WFF) as a safe place where they are welcome and respected.
As an organization, we encourage creativity, freedom of expression and attire, and respectful discussion, but not at the harm of others - regardless of attendees’ intentions.
We believe that every individual, no matter their gender, ability, age, ethnicity and sexuality should feel safe and comfortable in our environment and free from any negativity or harm due to others’ display of symbols, actions or words. Any form of discrimination, harassment, sexual violence and/or assault, disorderly conduct or any behaviour verbal or physical that demeans or marginalizes another will not be tolerated.
It is also important to remember that the WFF and its campgrounds are subject to provincial and federal laws. Please respect the valuable work that law enforcement officers and our own Safety and Security Folk volunteers in blue vests do to keep everyone in our Folk Fest community safe.
When you join us at the WFF, our Festival Campground and/or Quiet Campground, you agree to the safer spaces policy. Let’s support each other and ensure our community continues to be one of inclusiveness and respect!
Reporting an Issue
We believe and support people who have experienced harassment, violence, or discrimination. If someone is behaving in a disrespectful manner and is negatively affecting yours or another’s Festival experience, bring your concerns to a Safety or Security volunteer in a blue vest as soon as possible so we can address them in a timely manner.
Individuals who have experienced or witnessed an incident at the WFF should do one or all of the following:
- Find a Safety or Security Volunteer (in a blue vest) - For help in the moment, inform a Safety volunteer of the incident as soon as possible; they can provide support and connect you directly with wellness supports or additional resources as needed.
- Get First Aid - If needed, visit Site or Campground First Aid.
As always, in an emergency or in immediate danger, call 911.
- Submit a Written Report - To provide a written report of an incident, submit through the link below. Please note that this is not a way to request immediate assistance.
REES offers an online reporting system for unwanted sexualized behaviors. REES allows community members to create a confidential record of the incident. The person reporting controls how, when, and if, the record is reported. This tool is available year-round and incidents can be reported anytime.
Violation of the Safer Spaces Policy
The WFF takes the reporting of incidents of violence, harassment and abuse very seriously.
For more information, a complete version of the WFF’s Violence, Harassment and Abuse Policy.
Support & Resources
Should you experience an incident and need support during or after the Festival there are several resources available to you:
Urgent or Emergency Call 9-1-1
RCMP: 204-984-0715
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