A little planning goes a long way when at the folk festival

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/07/2024 (435 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The 2024 Winnipeg Folk Festival kicks off tomorrow night for four days of music and outdoor fun at Birds Hill Provincial Park. Whether it’s your first or 49th festival, here’s a roundup of tips to make the most of the weekend.

Download the app

The festival no longer offers printed programs. Download the Winnipeg Folk Festival app to keep track of the lineup, read artist bios and access a map of the site. Save your favourite acts to create a personalized schedule and receive performance reminders. The festival also uses the platform to send out live alerts and pertinent updates during the event. There’s a free BYOC (Bring Your Own Cord) charging station on site for when your phone battery inevitably bites the dust.

Plan your route

Birds Hill is a short jaunt up Highway 59 from Winnipeg. It’s an easy drive, but you can avoid the post-concert parking-lot crush by hopping on the Folk Fest Express. The free transit bus leaves downtown every 50 minutes for a non-stop loop between Memorial Boulevard and Festival Drive. Biking is also an option, with plenty of protected routes connected to the Duff Roblin Trail, which leads into Birds Hill. At the very least, try to carpool to help cut down on traffic inside the park.

Get your passes ahead of time

You won’t be able to purchase festival tickets at the gate, so make sure you buy online before you arrive. Weekend passes range from $310 for adults to $218 for seniors and youth, kids 12 years and younger get in free. You should also purchase and print your Manitoba Parks vehicle permit from manitobaelicensing.ca ahead of time — there are seasonal passes available, along with daily and three-day options. Tarp shuffle tickets will be distributed daily 10 minutes before the main gate opens to the public.

Dress for the weather

And the bugs! This year’s bumper crop of mosquitoes will likely add to the evening attendance numbers — bring bug spray or plan to include skeeter slapping in your dance moves. The forecast is looking hot with the occasional threat of rain, but we all know the weather can change on a dime. Rain gear and sun protection are both musts. Likewise for comfortable footwear. Keeping comfort in mind, it’s also a good idea to bring something to sit on — be it blanket, tarp or chair. Although, chairs must be two feet tall or lower. There is space reserved for wheelchairs and full-height chairs on the left side of most stages.

Pack snacks

And a water bottle! There’s a bevy of water stations and an array of local food trucks and vendors stationed throughout the site and festival campground, but lineups can get lengthy during peak meal hours. Bring some snacks to stay sated or pack a full-blown picnic. Don’t feel like doing your own food prep? Black Market Provisions (550 Osborne St.) is once again offering Folk Fest Picnic Packs. For $80, you’ll receive a selection of salads, beverages, baked goods, crackers and dips packed in a branded cooler bag with napkins and cutlery. Packs can be purchased at the shop in-person or by calling ahead Wednesday to Saturday.

The festival grounds are fully licensed, meaning you can wander with boozy beverages purchased at the tavern tents. This year’s drinks menu includes beer from Little Brown Jug, wine and canned coolers, ciders, hard iced tea and caesars. Non-alcoholic options include Brite Water and Sober Carpenter beer.

eva.wasney@winnipegfreepress.com

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Eva Wasney
Reporter

Eva Wasney has been a reporter with the Free Press Arts & Life department since 2019. Read more about Eva.

Every piece of reporting Eva produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.