Early birds seek Folk Fest camping sites

Posted: 7:19 AM CDT Wednesday, Jul. 9, 2014

Thousands of people are expected to pour into Birds Hill Park today, as the Winnipeg Folk Festival takes the stage for another summer.

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Thousands of people are expected to pour into Birds Hill Park today, as the Winnipeg Folk Festival takes the stage for another summer.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/07/2014 (4469 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Thousands of people are expected to pour into Birds Hill Park today, as the Winnipeg Folk Festival takes the stage for another summer.

The West Gate (off Highway 59) opened at 7 a.m. today, but vehicles and cyclists were lined earlier than that to get into the park.

Adding to traffic tie-ups were a pair of collisions on Hwy. 59.

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
The 2014 Winnipeg Folk Fest began as hundreds of participants rode their bikes to Birds Hill Park to get priority entry to the five-day event and secure a camping spot. — KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The 2014 Winnipeg Folk Fest began as hundreds of participants rode their bikes to Birds Hill Park to get priority entry to the five-day event and secure a camping spot.

One vehicle rear-ended another in the southbound lane near the park entrance, leaving both heavily damaged. There is no word on injuries, but RCMP did respond.

In the northbound lane, a vehicle rear-ended a boat and trailer being pulled by another vehicle. The damage looked to be minor.

Both the festival and quiet campground box offices open at 8 a.m. Expect a short wait as volunteers collect tickets and wristband those who are looking to set up their site for the five-day event.

The East Gate (off Highway 206) should open at approximately 10 a.m.

Still thinking about spending the rest of the week in a tent? Festival camping passes were still available via Ticketmaster this morning.

Those last-minute music lovers can still get in on the action, as well.

Adult passes for tonight and Thursday evening are $68 (youth and seniors $53), while day passes for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are $88 and $68. A full five-day pass is $265 for an adult and $155 (youth/senior). Children 12 and under are free this year.

Winnipeg Transit is once again offering a free, non-stop ride for those with a festival ticket or wristband. The buses depart from the Memorial Boulevard and York Avenue stop and leave every 30 minutes.

Today and Thursday, the first bus makes its way out of the downtown area at 4 p.m. For Friday, Saturday and Sunday, transit service to Birds Hill Park starts at 10 a.m.

Please note: the ride takes about 50 minutes.

The 41st annual Winnipeg Folk Fest gets underway on the main stage with Manitoba musicians The Bros. Landreth kicking things off at 7 p.m. Country/folk/roots crooner Bonnie Raitt is the headline act tonight.

Daytime stages throughout the festival site get underway at 11 a.m. Friday morning and run all weekend.