It’s been 40 years since the first Edmonton Folk Music Festival (aka Edmonton Folk Fest), and thanks to the great support of music lovers in and beyond the Capital City, this annual event remains one of the most anticipated festivals of the year.
The Edmonton Folk Music Festival started in 1980 with one staff member and 300 volunteers. The first lineup included Tom Jackson, Sweetgrass, Holly Wright, the Duck Donald Band, along with many more famous musicians. Today Edmonton Folk Fest has grown to a staff of over 20, has an active board of directors, and a volunteer force of around 2,750.
From day one the focus was on presenting outstanding musicians in a beautiful setting that everyone could enjoy, and that commitment has never wavered. This is why Edmonton Folk Fest can boast attendance records like the 40,000 seen in 1991; a number which also earned the organization a spot in the Canadian Encyclopedia.
As Edmonton Folk Fest approaches its milestone 40th year, the organizers say a very heartfelt thank you for the great outpouring of support from the attendees and the thousands of volunteers over the years. An extra special thank you goes out to those hardworking volunteers – some of whom have been with the festival since 1980.
To celebrate 40 years Edmonton Folk Fest is releasing vintage merchandise from the first festival – an absolute must-have for the dedicated festival-goer. Guests will also be pleased to know that the full weekend pass ticket price has not increased.
The 2019 Edmonton Folk Music Festival takes place from August 8-11. The lineup includes headliners such as Blue Rodeo, Andy White, and Bahamas. Tickets are on sale now and can be easily purchased online, in person at the Folk Music Ticket Office (10115 97A Avenue NW, main floor), or over the phone (780-429-1999). The festival is free for those 11 and under, and those 80 and over.
Get the most out of the experience before, during and after the shows by downloading the Edmonton Folk Music Festival app, which is available through Apple and Google Play. Also be sure to subscribe to the festival’s playlist on Spotify, and to the newsletter. Festival news is also available on all your favourite social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, flickr, and YouTube.
Edmonton Folk Fest is one of the city’s most popular events. Experience it again or for the first time to see why thousands of people have looked forward to this event each year for 40 years. Learn more by visiting edmontonfolkfest.org today.
