Memory Lane

Memory Lane Honours Those We've Lost

“Joy Will Find A Way (A Song About Dying)”

Make me a bed of fond memories
Make me to lie down with a smile
Everything that rises afterward falls
But all that dies has first to live.
As longing becomes love
As night turns to day
Everything changes
Joy will find a way

Song lyrics by Bruce Cockburn, 1975

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Memory Lane is a place for festivalgoers to memorialize the people who made the Winnipeg Folk Festival personally memorable and meaningful to them. 

We know that the Festival is a special place for so many, and we make lifelong memories here with our loved ones. Annually we hear from audience members after the passing of a loved one, asking for a way to pay tribute to them and the joy they found at Folk Fest. 

Memory Lane is a canopied pathway leading from Festival Village to our Green Ash stage, located between audience services and the Hand-Made Village. Reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and creativity, Memory Lane is made from repurposed hydro poles and fallen trees from our Festival site. Space along the poles allow folks to commemorate loved ones with dedicated plaques.  

Memory Lane keeps our memories at the centre of the Festival and reinforces the indelible impact of music and community in the lives of those remembered.

Design Inspiration

Natural Integration: The overhead canopy is milled from repurposed trees from Birds HillPark, reflecting the festival's commitment to environmental stewardship.

Inspired by Nature: The canopy design mimics the organic structure of a forest canopy, inspired by Birds Hill Park’s beauty.

Comfort and Artistry: The canopy offers shade during sunny summers, casting shifting, artful shadows throughout the day. The Memory Lane canopy was designed by local carpenter and artist, Robert Reynolds.

We are currently accepting tributes for the 2026 Festival. Please reach out before January 31, 2026 to express interest.

Individual Plaques 

For gifts of at least $1,000, donors can inscribe plaques individually. 

Shared Plaques 

For gifts less than $1,000, plaques will be shared between multiple tribute names. While we will do our best to satisfy requests for placement, final arrangement will be at the sole discretion of the Winnipeg Folk Festival.   

While shared plaques require no set donation amount, we respectfully suggest a minimum of $350.  

All gifts made are eligible for a tax receipt. 

For questions and inquiries, please contact Victoria King, Sponsorship and Development Manager, at vking@winnipegfolkfestival.ca