The Calgary Folk Music Festival

A 4 Day Music Celebration Featuring Acts from Around the World

Jul 24, 2008

Every July Calgary welcomes a variety of performers to celebrate music in the heart of downtown on Prince's Island Park.

This summer the city welcomes back the 29th annual Calgary Folk Music Festival. With widely ranging genres including folk, bluegrass, world, funk, blues, alternative and more over 65 acts cover a large spectrum of musical tastes. Musical guests include world famous artists that normally command stadium crowds to relatively unknown performers with cult followings.

On the River

Calgary, a city that is just beginning to appreciate a growing arts and culture scene has been reveling in the Folk Music Festival for almost 3 decades. Held on Prince’s Island Park on the Bow River in downtown the outdoor entertainment includes 7 performance stages, a large arts and crafts tradeshow, an array of world flavors from the food concessions, a shaded beer garden and a children’s area.

Fun, Food and Music

The tantalizing scents of international cuisine great visitors entering through the East Gate near Eau Claire Market. Just after the entranceway begins the food concession where local vendors sample their enticing eats. The Folk Fest also allows patrons to bring in food and drink, barring glass bottles and liquor.

Up one of many tree lined park paths is the art market where merchants sell original handicrafts. On the grounds there is also a Megatunes tent where many of the artist’s music is available and there are often autograph sessions by daily performers. For those visitors that arrive unprepared there is a festival tent where chairs, tarps, and some souvenir essentials are available.

For the younger patrons there is a children’s area to keep little ones entertained and active. There are crafts such as lantern making, a climbing wall and more. There are performances for Saturday and Sunday beginning at 11am until 5pm.

The 7 performance stages are throughout Prince’s Island Park. The many side stages run Saturday and Sunday from 10:30am through to about 4:30pm shortly before the Main Stage gets going. The Main Stage lights up nightly at 5:30pm where the stars perform until 10pm Thursday and Sunday and 11:30pm Friday and Saturday. One of this years featured acts is the renowned musical group Blue Rodeo.

Event Information

The 4 day event runs from July 24th to the 27th this year. Passes often sell out in advance for this very popular festival with as many as 12,000 people attending daily, some traveling from afar. Veteran attendees know to arrive early as the best seating space gets snapped up quickly. All guests are able to bring a tarp or blanket and chairs (with legs shorter than 8 inches) to create a seating area around the stage.

To truly enjoy the Folk Fest show goers should come prepared. The shows are entirely outdoors and carry on rain or shine. Though there are basic items available on the grounds it is best to bring things like blankets, extra clothes, water, sunscreen, bug spray and some snacks. Access to Prince’s Island is by foot or bicycle though special arrangements can be made for the handicapped. There is no set parking for the event, being downtown there are many open lots near the park.

With a community atmosphere the Calgary Folk Music Festival is a truly intimate experience. The small concert venue means fans are able to enjoy an up close and personal show with many amazing artists. This yearly homage to musical creativity attracts visitors and artisans with a variety of backgrounds. The Folk Fest is an event not to be missed.

Tickets are available from the Folk Fest website and through Ticketmaster Canada

The copyright of the article The Calgary Folk Music Festival in Folk Music is owned by Natalie Bauer. Permission to republish The Calgary Folk Music Festival in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.