FAQs
Have questions about tickets, refunds, camping, parking or anything else? Check out these frequently asked questions to get all of your answers!
COVID-19
Although vaccination will not be required to attend the Festival, as an organization, the Winnipeg Folk Festival encourages all our patrons to get fully vaccinated and boosted to protect themselves and the other folkies set to gather at Birds Hill Park on July 7-10. We know that many of you have already chosen to be fully vaccinated and as of May 11, 80.13% of Manitobans are fully vaccinated. As an arts organization devoted to supporting musicians and presenting live music we were heavily impacted by the pandemic and we appreciate your continued help and support.
Throughout the pandemic outdoor spaces have been the safest place to meet and be around other people. As recommended by public health experts “Outdoor gatherings are lower risk of transmission, and may be preferred for individuals at higher risk.” (https://manitoba.ca/covid19/prevention-assessing-risk.html)
We have implemented many precautions at the Festival to present a safer event. For more information please see How are you keeping the audience safe? We advise you to assess your own risk before attending, please see Government of Manitoba recommendations and guidelines (https://manitoba.ca/covid19/prevention-assessing-risk.html). If you cannot attend a non-mandated vaccinated event due to health reasons, please contact us for your options by May 31, 2022.
Email: info@winnipegfolkfestival.ca
Vaccination requirements will remain in place for anyone accessing the backstage area as the backstage area is a busy place where volunteers and artists can be in close contact. This is part of the workplace health and safety protocols of the Festival and is consistent with other live events and festivals across the country.
As this decision has now been made, we ask that you please treat our staff and volunteers with respect whether you agree or disagree with the decision. This will not last forever!
We continue to work hard to make sure we do what we can to present a safer event. This includes:
- Staff, board members, volunteers, vendors, media and artists will be fully vaccinated. Everyone working to make the Festival happen will be fully vaccinated from the person checking wristbands, serving you food to playing music on stage.
- Given the size of the site, audience members can separate from the crowds. The trees are a great place to get shade and physically distance yourself.
- The Festival will have cashless options for any financial transactions.
- Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the site.
- The Festival is Clean it Right Certified. High touch surfaces will be regularly cleaned such as toilets and payment terminals.
- Masks can be worn and those who choose to wear them will be respected.
Currently the Government of Manitoba no longer requires vaccination checks for COVID-19 health orders in any space. We retain the right to reinstate any Government of Manitoba public health restrictions as required which could include masking, vaccination checks or other restrictions.
We have implemented many precautions at the Festival to present a safer event. For more information please see How are you keeping the audience safe? We advise you to assess your own risk, please see Government of Manitoba recommendations and guidelines (https://manitoba.ca/covid19/prevention-assessing-risk.html).
The vaccination policy has always indicated it was subject to change and tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
We continue to work hard to create a safer working environment for volunteers. This includes:
- The backstage area will be a fully vaccinated area. Staff, board members, volunteers, vendors, media, guests and artists will be fully vaccinated.
- Masks will be required when on the performer/volunteer shuttle and additional protocols for certain areas may be determined closer to the Festival.
- Hand sanitizer stations will be available in crew areas.
All attendees who have access to the backstage area will need to be fully vaccinated. This includes invited sponsors, donors, volunteer kin, artists and industry guests.
If you are traveling to Canada to attend the Festival - fully vaccinated is defined on the Government of Canada Travel website (https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada).
Tickets
- Tier 1 - A set number of tickets go on sale and are available at this price until sold out.
- Tier 2 - When Tier 1 tickets are sold out, tickets at this price point become available.
- Tier 3 - When Tier 2 tickets are sold out, tickets at this price point become available.
As always, the earlier you buy, the more you save.
Ticketing in this way will allow us to better manage Festival revenues and audience sizes to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time.
Tickets are offered at Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 ticket prices. Be sure to act fast and save! See our ticket pricing for details.
Tickets are available online at frontgatetickets.com.
Our office at 203-211 Bannatyne is still closed to the public due to COVID-19 so all ticket purchases must be made online.
Four tickets per person and one RV/trailer permit, if you need one.
Due to new COVID protocols we will not be selling tickets in person at the gate, buy them online before you head to the park.
Tickets are available online at frontgatetickets.com.
Our office at 203-211 Bannatyne is still closed to the public due to COVID-19 so all ticket purchases must be made online.
Our ticketing processes have changed! Moving forward, we will be selling tickets through a tiered ticketing system based on a preset quantity of tickets available per tier rather than the date-based structure of early bird/advance/gate pricing. So be sure to act fast and save!
- Tier 1 - A set number of tickets go on sale and are available at this price until sold out.
- Tier 2 - When Tier 1 tickets are sold out, tickets at this price point become available.
- Tier 3 - When Tier 2 tickets are sold out, tickets at this price point become available.
We want to ensure that everyone who comes to our campgrounds with an RV/trailer has a place to park it. The $25.00 permit ticket is valid only with a Festival or Quiet Campground ticket and only one RV/trailer permit ticket is required per RV/trailer (not per person). RV/trailer permit tickets are exchanged upon arrival for an RV/trailer permit.
The Winnipeg Folk Festival typically receives less than 10% of revenues from government funding. This means over 90% of the revenues needed each year come from earned revenue – ticket sales and sponsorship support.
It takes significantly more infrastructure and resources to create the Festival Campground. The price of the Festival Campground reflects the additional services and infrastructure we’ve invested in to improve and increase lighting, electricity and first aid. The Festival Campground also requires more security to ensure the safety and well-being of its community.
No. Day tickets are valid only for the day you specify at time of purchase and they cannot be exchanged for a different day.
Yes! Children 12 and under are free.
Yes, to those 65 years of age or greater. View prices for Youth/Senior tickets on our Tickets page.
Sorry, there are no refunds or exchanges.
Yes! We do not check IDs when exchanging tickets for wristbands meaning whoever presents the ticket at the box office will receive the wristband regardless of the name on the account. Once the ticket has been scanned in exchange for a wristband, the ticket is void, the wristband is placed on the presenting patron's wrist and cannot be transferred to another person.
All ticket sales are final except in the situation of a full event cancellation by the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
Subject to the provisions below for an event cancellation, there are no exchanges or refunds once the tickets have been purchased. No exchange or refund will be issued if a Festival performer is changed or if their performance is cancelled, rescheduled or delayed.
In the event of a full event cancellation, the Winnipeg Folk Festival will offer refunds and will inform ticket buyers through its official website about procedures for obtaining a refund.
If you didn’t receive your tickets, please contact Front Gate Tickets Customer Service at Front Gate Tickets Help Desk.
If you have lost your tickets, please contact Front Gate Tickets Customer Service at Front Gate Tickets Help Desk.
Children 12 and under get in for free and don’t need a camping ticket. Youth 13-17 need a youth camping ticket. Please keep in mind that anyone under 18 needs to camp with an adult.
Quiet Campground tickets and Festival Campground tickets are combined with the 4-day ticket into one single ticket – if you want to camp, you need to purchase a 4-day ticket that includes camping.
Yes! All you have to contact Front Gate Tickets at Front Gate Tickets Help Desk.
Wristbands must be worn at all times and shown for entry into Folk Fest campgrounds and the Festival site. Wristbands are non-transferable and non-exchangeable. If your wristband is removed or tampered with, it cannot be replaced, and you will not be allowed entry.
If wristband removal is required for work purposes or if it’s too tight, please visit the Problem Solving line at the Main Gate Box Office.
Camping
Sorry, camping is only sold combined with a 4-day ticket.
Sorry, only people who are camping can enter the campgrounds. Your wristband will grant you entrance only to the campground in which you are camping; for example, you can’t visit your friends in the Festival Campground if you are camping in the Quiet Campground.
Sorry, due to safety reasons only those with a valid Festival Campground wristband can enter the Festival Campground.
Quiet camping is a bit further away from the Festival site and offers a great experience with plenty of shade, shelters with running water and flush toilets. It’s a quiet environment to ensure a good night’s sleep. There is a free shuttle to the Festival site every 30 minutes. Thousands of festivalgoers camp there every year – and they love it! Quiet Campground Box Office will open at 8:00 AM on Wednesday morning.
Yes, we offer unserviced RV/trailer camping in a specific area in both of our campgrounds. Due to the popularity of the RV/trailer camping sections, you must purchase an RV/trailer permit in advance to ensure you will get a spot when you arrive.
Yes, the maximum Tent Size is 10’ x 20’, maximum tent peg length is 12”. Tent size restrictions allow you to safely enjoy the space with your fellow folkies.
When setting up your tent please ensure at least one foot of clear ground space all around your tent in case of emergency to allow first responders to safely assist you and/or your neighbours.
It takes significantly more infrastructure and resources to create the Festival Campground. The price of the Festival Campground reflects the additional services and infrastructure we’ve invested in to improve and increase lighting, electricity, first aid and offer food vendors. The Festival Campground also requires more security to ensure the safety and well-being of its community.
The capacity of the Festival Campground is established in consultation with the RCMP and Birds Hill Provincial Park. It is capped to ensure a positive and safe experience for everyone.
Please contact our office at (204) 231-0096 or email volunteer@winnipegfolkfestival.ca.
Amenities in the Festival Campground include an area for food vendors, RV/trailer camping, Enviro Headquarters, a campground store, Campground Central, First Aid and Wellness, water taps throughout, cold showers, washrooms, accessible camping, a garbage and recycling depot and a bus service to the Festival site. Check out this map before you get to the Festival Campground.
(Click image to enlarge)
Amenities in the Quiet Campground include serviced picnic shelters, modern washrooms, RV/trailer camping, safety services and a bus service to the Festival site. Check out this map before you get to the Quiet Campground.
(Click image to enlarge)
Parking
Overnight parking is available for campers only and only in the campground parking lot.
Yes, you will need to purchase a Provincial Park Pass to get into Birds Hill Provincial Park if you are driving to the Festival. Provincial Park Passes MUST be purchased online (manitobaelicensing.ca), printed and displayed on the dashboard of your vehicle for the duration of your stay at the Festival. Provincial Park Passes are only valid for the licence plate(s) and dates listed.
The West Gate, accessible from Hwy 59, opens at 7:00 AM on Wednesday. The Festival Campground and Quiet Campground box offices open at 8:00 AM on Wednesday morning. For more details about campground arrivals on Wednesday morning visit the Festival Campground or Quiet Campground pages.
No, sorry. It is very dangerous to be parked only a few feet away from highway traffic. Your safety and well-being throughout Folk Fest is a priority for us and this includes when you are on your way in. Please cooperate with us and the RCMP on this one and plan to arrive when we are ready to welcome you at 7:00 AM. That’s when the gate opens, no earlier.
We do – starting at 7:00 AM. It will take anywhere from four to six hours to get everyone parked and through our box office from that point on a Wednesday morning. That’s plenty of time for cars to be in a lineup!
We, along with the RCMP and Birds Hill Provincial Park are asking for everyone’s cooperation with this. We hope that you all understand that we have everyone’s best interest at heart in managing the arrival of thousands of campers this way.
No. There will be “No Stopping” signs along Hwy 206, as well. The East Gate does not open until after 10:30 AM, once the lineup of vehicles from the West Gate is off Festival Drive. If you are arriving Wednesday morning, use the West Gate.
It's no further away than previous years! Once you park, take the pedestrian-only corridor along the south side of the lot (near the trees, next to the fire lane) that extends all the way to the Festival Gate.
The main advantage of parking in Festival East Parking is a quicker departure at the end of the day as you won’t have to stop for patrons using our crosswalk headed to the Festival Campground and you’ll be on PR206 in short order.
For more information on parking visit our Transportation page.
It is closer, that much is true. However, at the end of the night the line of traffic from this lot headed west along Festival Drive will have to stop at a crosswalk regularly to allow other Festival patrons (up to 6,000 of them) to cross the road and head home to the Festival Campground.
Also, the speed limit (which is enforced) is 60kph through the park, which slows down the traffic flow headed that way.
For more information on parking visit our Transportation page.
If you need to drop off a person with mobility issues, or because you aren’t parking and staying yourself, etc., then please enter Birds Hill Park by the West Gate. When you enter Festival West Parking, drive down the road you entered on until you get almost to the end and turn right down the second last parking lane. Continue all the way down to the end of the parking area. There is no designated drop off area (we’re working on this for the future), but this lane is as close to the Festival Gate as you can get.
While it is possible to get to this area from the East Gate/PR206 it is significantly easier if you enter Birds Hill Park from the West Gate/PTH 59.
For more information on parking visit our Transportation page.
As you come in from the west, please park in Festival West Parking. When you leave at the end of the night, you’ll follow the flow of traffic smoothly when leaving the Festival and end up in the right place.
An even better idea is to take the Festival Shuttle, our free bus service that runs regularly between these campgrounds and the Festival site. Let us chauffer you!
For more information on parking visit our Transportation page.
Leaving any major event with close to 16,000 attendees takes time, especially when most arrive by personal vehicle. We can’t judge how long it will take you to get to your vehicle (people walk different speeds, park in different places), but once you pull out of your parking spot, we plan to have you out and on your way in less than an hour, similar to any major event in the city.
For more information on parking visit our Transportation page.
The traffic crews will be moving vehicles, in groups of 15, from each lane in rotation. This allows traffic to flow smoothly and not jam up because of excessive merging attempts.
Because of this rotation there will be times when your lane isn’t moving and others are, but know we are doing the lanes in rotation, and it’ll be your turn again very soon. Moving from lane to lane will not get you out any quicker.
For more information on parking visit our Transportation page.
Unfortunately, we do not currently offer electric car charging stations in our parking lots.
The Folk Fest Express
Leaving the city: Northbound Memorial between St. Mary and Portage beside the Hudson's Bay Company
Leaving the Festival site: To get home at the end of the day, catch the bus at the stop on Festival Drive, across the street from the west parking lot. Use the crosswalk to access the bus stop.
For more information on The Folk Fest Express visit our Transportation page.
You can view the full bus schedule on our Transportation page once it becomes available.
It takes approximately 45 minutes to get to the Festival site.
Yes! They can be left in the bus aisles, as long as they are secure.
Sorry, but bicycles are not allowed on buses. And, unfortunately, exterior bike racks are not approved for use by buses on the highway.
All buses offered through the free Winnipeg Transit service from the city to the Festival site are accessible.
The last bus departs Birds Hill Provincial Park after the Main Stage ends; however, if you need to connect to another bus downtown, check Winnipeg Transit schedules because you may need to leave on an earlier departure.
Festival Operations
If you’re keen to get a front-row seat, arrive at 10:00 AM for gate opening and get into the designated lineup to receive a ticket to participate in the tarp shuffle. The tarp shuffle will allow you to claim your spot for the evening at Main Stage. Maximum tarp size is 8’ by 10’.
We are no longer offering bag check at Audience Services. Bring only what you’ll need for the day and leave the rest at home, at your campsite or in your vehicle.
Volunteering with the Winnipeg Folk Fest is a rewarding experience and a great way to support the Festival! You need to fill out an application form when they open on our Volunteer page.
Winnipeg Folk Festival is a showcase for first-class sponsorship experiences. The Festival offers unique opportunities for sponsors to create and deliver and customized marketing activities. Visit our Sponsors page to learn more and to get in touch with our sponsorship department.
Every year we program more than 70 artists from around the world – approximately 40% Canadian (with 8-10 from Manitoba), 40% from the US, with the rest from outside North America. Applications open annually in the fall on our Lineup page so please check there for updates.
We love great food and are proud to offer festivalgoers a delicious variety of ethical and sustainable food choices. Approximately 25 vendors are selected each year. Applications open annually in the fall on our Food Vendors page so please check there for updates.
The Hand-Made Village celebrates the long-standing history that arts and crafts share with folk music festivals. Applications open annually in the fall on our Hand-Made Village page so please check there for updates.
The Prairie Outdoor Exhibition is a sprawling outdoor gallery in Birds Hill Provincial Park held during Folk Fest. Applications open annually in the fall on our Prairie Outdoor Exhibition page so please check there for updates.
Yes. Please bring chairs that are no higher than two feet from the ground, so you don't block the view of your fellow folkies. If you do have a taller chair, you should move to the side or back of the audience.
Many folks bring homemade decorated sticks to stake in the ground so they can find their tarp easier at Main Stage. They're welcome in the seating area, so long as you keep size in mind when you're making them. You wouldn't want to block the view of the people sitting behind you!
The Main Stage dancing areas are behind the sound booth at centre field and to the far right when facing the stage. For the last band’s set on Main Stage, people may stand up and move to the front of the stage. Please respect people’s space and be mindful of their belongings and tarps.
You can dance to the right of any daytime stage. Big Blue @ Night is dancing zone - no tarps, please!
Items that are found on the Festival grounds are kept at Audience Services located in the Festival Village. Items found in the campgrounds are kept at Campground Central.
After the Festival, items are sorted and brought back to the Winnipeg Folk Festival office, located at 203-211 Bannatyne Avenue. At this point, some are discarded.
YES, we keep
- Electronics
- Jewellery
- Intact tents
- Intact chairs
- Kids toys
- Keys and wallets
- Personal/government-issued documents
- Glasses and eyewear
- High-quality, intact apparel
NO, we don’t keep
- Food/beverages
- Food containers
- Water bottles
- Undergarments
- Damaged chairs, tarps and camping gear
Due to the high volume of items found, we require approximately one week to inventory all items. If you have lost an item on the YES, we keep list and did not visit Audience Services during the Festival, or did the item wasn’t found at that time, please contact the office at (204) 231-0096 or info@winnipegfolkfestival.ca
No. Only service animals are allowed on the site and in the Festival and Quiet Campgrounds.
Professional photography equipment, defined as any camera with a detachable lens, monopods, tripods, etc. is prohibited. Small digital cameras, of a size that can fit in your pocket, are permitted on the Festival site. Access personnel at the Main Gate have final say on whether a camera is professional or not.
Safety
Safety & Security Volunteers (blue vests)
Safety and security volunteers are identified by blue vests and are available to help campers stay safe while having a good time. If you need assistance or are with someone who needs assistance, flag down a safety volunteer (in blue vests) and they will help you.
Law Enforcement
Folk Fest is a wonderfully expressive, inclusive, and interactive environment that can sometimes feel like an escape from the real world, but the Festival Campground and all other areas of the Winnipeg Folk Festival are subject to provincial and federal laws. The Winnipeg Folk Festival does not promote or condone the use of illegal drugs, excessive drinking or underage drinking. The Winnipeg Folk Festival works with law enforcement officers to patrol the Festival and all campgrounds.
It is not our mission to police your lifestyle or inhibit self-expression. Law enforcement officers at the Festival are simply fulfilling the same function as the police in any community – helping to ensure safe homes and safe communities! Please respect the valuable work that they do to keep everyone in our Festival community safe.
We have a plan for dealing with emergencies, including nasty weather. If a situation occurs, please listen to the instructions from our incredible team of safety volunteers (in blue vests) and listen to the announcements from our stages.
Come prepared for Mother Nature’s many gifts including sun-filled days and cooler evenings. 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.
Follow us on Twitter (@winnipegfolk), Facebook (facebook.com/winnipegfolk) and Instagram (winnipegfolkfestival) for up-to-date and accurate weather and Festival information.
The Festival has two First Aid & Wellness tents - one on the Festival site located by Bur Oak stage and another 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.
It’s a big Festival with much fun, excitement – and sometimes distraction. If you and your child get separated, a safety volunteer (in a blue vest) will help you. If you find a lost child, please escort them to a safety volunteer.
Children will receive a paper wristband when they get to the Festival. Sharpies will be available at the two Audience Services tents, located by the Main Gate Box Office and in the Festival Village, will write your phone number on their wristband.
We encourage everyone to stop by the Festival Tower each day and take a picture of their group. That way you’ll have a visual record of exactly what they look like that day. We have a great system in place that ensures a speedy reconnection of families, but one of the things that always seems to throw people is when we ask, “what are they wearing?” Memory is often the first thing to go when we’re nervous and not thinking clearly.
We do! Please visit our Participant Responsibilities page to read our full Safer Spaces Policy.