What to Know Before You Go!

June 30, 2022 |

We are working very hard to bring you all home after three long years, we are almost there folks! We cannot wait to welcome you all back and see your smiling faces enjoying music, the outdoors and each other’s company!

This is your friendly reminder that if you haven’t got your tickets yet make sure to get them ahead of time as tickets will not be available at the gate. You can purchase your tickets online through Front Gate Tickets or in-person at our office (203-211 Bannatyne Avenue) until Wednesday, July 6 at 4:00 PM.

There is a lot of info here but please read to the end! It will only take a few minutes and you will learn important info to be ready to have the time of your life next weekend!


How to Folk

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR. TAKE CARE OF THE LAND. TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES
We want everyone to have an incredible weekend so prior to your arrival please read our Participant Responsibilities.

GET YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE
To reduce congestion, tickets will NOT be sold at the Main Gate. Tickets are available in our office at 203-211 Bannatyne Avenue or online through Front Gate Tickets.

HOW DO I GET THERE?
You can carpool or bus! Get more info on how to get out to the site as well as around the park on our Transportation page.

DO I NEED A PARKING PASS?
If you’re driving, you will need to purchase a provincial park pass BEFORE you get to the Fest. Purchase your parking pass online through manitobaelicensing.ca.

WHAT SHOULD I PACK?
With all the rain this year we want you to be prepared for ANYTHING! We’ve made a “What to Bring” list on our website to help you prepare for the best Fest yet!

CAN I CHECK MY BAG?
Pack light or come prepared with a backpack or wagon. Audience Services will no longer be offering bag check services.

DO I NEED CASH?
Only if you want! In an effort to reduce cash transactions, Taverns, Festival Merch Store, and most of our vendors offer contactless payment options.

HOW DO I STAY UP-TO-DATE?
Download the app to plan out your own personal schedule and get updates on info throughout the Festival weekend, available for download from the App Store or on Google Play.

WHERE AM I?
Download our maps for the Festival siteBirds Hill Provincial Park siteFestival Campground and Quiet Campground! Maps are also available in the app.

WHERE DO I GET WATER?
We’re a water bottle-free Festival. Bring a refillable water bottle or buy a Winnipeg Folk Fest water bottle at the Festival Merch Store to refill at any of our water taps (marked by big blue flags).

WHERE DO I COMPOST?
Due to fewer resources, there will only be three waste stations with compost collection services (indicated on the map). All waste stations will have tavern cup composting, recycling and garbage.

HOW DO I TARP SHUFFLE?
Visit the designated tarp ticket line at Main Gate Box Office to receive a tarp ticket. A reminder that the park doesn’t open till 7:00 AM and the Festival Parking lot is closed until 8:00 AM (new this year).

VISIT OUR FESTIVAL INFO PAGE TO LEARN MORE


Experience

Food & Drink
We love good food that’s good for our community – and the environment. We work with local partners to share healthy, ethical, affordable and sustainable choices.

LEARN MORE


Hand-Made Village
We welcome artisans from all over who bring hand-crafted clothing, homewares, jewelry, kid’s toys and so much more. We love seeing folkies walking the Festival with these beautiful hand-made creations!

LEARN MORE

Prairie Outdoor Exhibition
The theme for 2022 is Trees. Trees are an integral part of the land in Birds Hill Park. Keep your eyes open for installations that will inspire and delight.

LEARN MORE


Camping

Whether you are a seasoned folkie or it’s your first time festing, it’s important to be prepared:

We’re all one happy family for the weekend and when everyone looks out for each other and follows the basic rules, we all help to create a safe and respectful space.


Festival Camping

FESTIVAL CAMPGROUND LOAD-IN
As in the past, campground load-in will still be taking place on Wednesday morning. When the park opens at 7:00 AM you can drive through the West Gate on South Drive, and then turn right on to Festival Drive.

You’ll be queuing up in the Festival parking area once it opens at 8:00 AM. After, you’ll be instructed to line up in the vehicle staging area. Our wonderful volunteers will help you get to the Main Gate Box Office for your wristband in the order you arrived!

If you are being dropped off at the Festival, let the volunteer who is directing you into the parking lot know. They will direct you to a drop-off area. The person who’s dropping you off can then follow the signs to exit the parking area and be on their way.

Please note that you can load in to the Festival Campground at any time during the weekend.

RV CAMPERS
Drive through the West Gate on South Drive when the park opens at 7:00 AM, then turn right on to Festival Drive. You’ll be greeted by a traffic volunteer who will tell you to turn left into the Festival Campground parking area.

You will then drive down the Festival Campground entrance path and go to the Festival Campground Box Office to trade your RV Ticket for a dashboard pass and Folk Fest ticket for a wristband. Please note the RV section is sold out this year, so you must have purchased your RV Ticket in advance. There will be no additional tickets available on site.

Please note that there will be no vehicle access to the Festival Campground parking lot after 10:00 PM each night. So, if you’re camping your best bet is to leave your vehicle parked for the weekend.

LEAVING THE FESTIVAL CAMPGROUND
We’ve gotta talk about it…The Festival Campground closes at noon on Monday, July 11. Everyone needs to be packed out by then, leaving their campsites exactly how they found them – clean and green!

Festival Campground Safety & Services

We want to ensure that everyone has a safe and happy weekend, so here are some services we offer in the Festival Campground.

VISIT CAMPGROUND CENTRAL
The place to go for safety and well-being services is located in the trailer next to the wooden structure in Zone 1B, staffed 24 hours a day by safety volunteers. It is your go-to place for information and services such as cellphone charging and lost and found.

FIRST AID: 24 HOURS A DAY
The role of First Aid is to provide basic first aid and medical assistance, in addition to coordinating with emergency personnel in the event of serious situations. First Aid is located at Campground Central.

SAFETY & SECURITY
Safety and security volunteers are identified by blue vests. You can find them at the campground entrance and Campground Central in Zone 1B. They also operate 24 hours a day.

CAMPGROUND FOOD VENDORS
This year, A Little Pizza Heaven, Food for Folks, Jonnies Sticky Buns and Simba Safari will be offering healthy choices for campers. They will be set up across from Campground Central.

CAMPGROUND STORE
Located on the paved road by the campground entrance, the store sells snacks, camping gear, earplugs, firewood, ice and other supplies.

FREE SHUTTLE TO THE FESTIVAL SITE
A free shuttle travels a round trip route around to all three campgrounds and the Festival site every 30 minutes during Festival hours. The frequency of buses may change unexpectedly due to circumstances outside of our control.


Quiet Campground

QUIET CAMPGROUND LOAD-IN
We are ready to welcome you in the Quiet Campground starting at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, July 6! There is lots of traffic Wednesday morning, as there are many eager Festival Campground folks arriving. If you want to avoid the traffic, we recommend you arrive a little later in the day.

If you still want to be the first in line, the West Gate of Birds Hill Park opens at 7:00 AM. East Gate will be closed until approximately 10:00 AM. Drive through the West Gate and join the line of vehicles on South Drive, and then continue onto North Drive. Do not follow the traffic turning right on to Festival Drive. Keep your eye out for signs posted along the way for Quiet Campground.

RV CAMPERS
Designated RV areas are area 4, 6A, 6B, and 7B (accessible RV site). These bays will remain mixed-use areas with both RVs and tents welcome. All RV campers require an RV ticket.

In order to maintain the safety of campers, vehicles must not be moved except when vacating the campground. There are no in/out privileges.

QUIET TIME
Please be mindful that quiet time is in effect from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.

FIREWOOD AND ICE
Firewood and ice deliveries will not be happening this year but those supplies will be available in the Birds Hill Park Campground.

FESTIVAL CAMPGROUND
Due to safety reasons, those with Quiet Campground wristbands cannot enter the Festival Campground.


Leave No Trace

We respect the land and love our Folk Fest home and we want to leave the park exactly how we found it every year. Pack out what you pack in and keep your site clean and tidy for the duration of the festival.

REMOVE YOUR ROPES
Hammock ropes left behind will strangle and kill a tree – and we’ve already lost trees because of this. Help keep the beautiful Birds Hill Park forest alive and healthy!

REDUCE WASTE
Here are some ways you can reduce waste at your campsite:

  • Buy or borrow good quality camping gear that will last.
  • Bring reusable containers for your food for the weekend.
  • Make sure you are composting or recycling BEFORE you throw something in the trash.