Guest For A Day

Program Guidelines

The Winnipeg Folk Festival is a four-day adventure in music and discovery that happens every July in Manitoba’s Birds Hill Provincial Park. The Guest for a Day program is an opportunity for you to take in the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Festival with an experienced folkie as your guide.

Not-for-profit community groups: a maximum of 20 free tickets (normally priced between $90 - $120) can be made available to your group.

Individual families with barriers to volunteering or purchasing tickets: a maximum of 8 free tickets (normally priced between $90 - $120) can be made available to your family.

 

Tickets

• Tickets are for one day only: Friday, July 10 OR Sunday, July 12.
• Groups applying agree not to charge a fee to their participants to attend.
• Groups applying agree not to use these tickets for fundraising purposes (such as silent auctions or draws), volunteer/staff appreciation, or in any way that generates revenue.

 

Meals

• Food vouchers redeemable at participating food vendors will be included in your GFAD package.
• Any additional snacks or drinks are the responsibility of your group.

 

Transportation

• Guest for A Day Charter - Guest for a Day buses leave Winnipeg at 9:30 AM to arrive at the Festival Main Gate at approximately 10:30 AM and return from Birds Hill Provincial Park at 4:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
  • If returning by bus, your group must pre-select a return departure time and travel as a group.
  • Guest for a Day buses pick up and drop off participants at the corner of Market Avenue and Lily Street. All participants must meet at this location; we are unable to pick participants up at other locations.
• Wheelchair Accessible Buses - Wheelchair-accessible transportation is available upon request. Accommodations can be made for specific pick-up and drop-off locations to meet the needs of your group.
• Folk Fest Express Bus - Free, accessible transportation is also available through Winnipeg Transit’s Folk Fest Express. Enjoy fast and convenient bus service to and from the Festival!
  • Buses run every 15 to 30 minutes from the downtown stop: Southbound Memorial at York, across from the Manitoba Archives building.
  • Schedules and more information will be available in June.
  • Participants will need to walk approximately 10 minutes from the Festival Drive bus stop to the Main Gate.
• Your own vehicle - You will need a provincial park pass to get into Birds Hill Park if you are driving to the Festival. If you do not have a provincial park pass, we can provide a permit for the day. Let your volunteer guide know you need one and they will make it available to you in advance.

 

Folk Festival Guide

Organizations or families will be paired with a Folk Festival volunteer as your personal guide and expert to support your Festival needs. Volunteer guides are long-time Festival attendees who are very familiar with the Festival experience and site.

Choose one of two different types of support from your volunteer guide:

1. Guide for wristbands and a tour of the site  - Enjoy the support of a Festival expert to guide you through the site, including choosing stages, identifying what types of food are available at various vendors, and showing you how to find your way around. Your guide will meet your group at the gate to give you wristbands to access the Festival, take you on a tour to share what the festival has to offer, and also be available upon request to meet you at the end of your day to follow up and ensure you had a great experience.
2. Guide for wristbands only (recommended for groups with members who have been to the Festival before) - Your guide will meet your group at the gate to give you your wristbands to access the Festival site and answer any questions you may have. Your guide will also be available upon request to meet you at the end of your day to follow up and ensure you had a great experience.

 

Applicant Responsibilities 

• Arrival Time
  • Ensure all participants from your group arrive between 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM.
  • Confirm your arrival time with your volunteer guide.
  • If your group requires different arrival times, please arrange this with your volunteer guide in advance.
• Communication
  • An excellent experience for your participants happens when your group is engaged in communicating with us to get all necessary information in advance.
  • The Festival is available to work with you to ensure your needs are met. The more contact you have with us, the better equipped we will be to support you! Please reply to emails or phone calls in a timely manner.
  • Communicate any accessibility needs, special requests and changes to the contact person for your organization as soon as possible.
• You agree not to use these passes for fundraisers, silent auctions, volunteer or staff appreciation, or in any way that generates revenue for your organization or family.
• Participant Responsibilities
  • We ask everyone attending the Festival to keep our community safe and happy by following our participant responsibilities.

 

Important Information 

• The Winnipeg Folk Festival takes place on a very large area of land. Expect to walk at least a few kilometers during the day and prepare accordingly with comfortable shoes.
• The site land is rough and uneven in some places; you will need to navigate through the park landscape either alone or with an attendant. If you have questions about this, please contact us before your arrival at the Festival.
• The Festival happens rain or shine! Prepare for any kind of weather and note that finding shaded areas can be difficult - bring hats and sunscreen.
• The Festival is a popular place! Expect large crowds, lots of loud music and some long line-ups.
• Bottled water is not for sale at the Festival, so make sure to bring a water bottle or drinking cup to fill up for FREE at any of the water stations located throughout the site (marked with blue flags).
• Be safe and have fun!

 

Applications are due by Thursday, April 30, 2026 .

GFAD contact information:

Quazi Alam, Volunteer Resources Manager
gfad@winnipegfolkfestival.ca
Phone: 204-560-1676