Winnipeg Folk Festival: A tradition of diverse music: Photo Essay

Eclectic Festival celebrates 40th anniversary

For the past four decades, the Winnipeg Folk Festival has been bringing fantastic music to the prairies. On its 40th anniversary that tradition is still going strong, with main stage acts like City and Colour, Serena Ryder, Colin Meloy, The Cat Empire, Dr. John and the Nite Trippers, and Xavier Rudd.

The line up off the main stage is just as impressive, and incredibly diverse. Even if you don’t like folk, you’ll still be able to find music you love.

With an attendance upwards of 10,000 people per day, and visitors from all over the world, everyone seems to agree there’s something special about the Winnipeg Folk Festival. This year, the festival completed a huge renovation to the food vendors and eating area, including installing a a giant sculpture that points toward the main stage.

There’s a lot of love for the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and it looks set to continue to go strong for the next 40 years.

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Renovations to the festival grounds included a new sculpture, and a complete overhaul to the food vendors with the creation of a permanent structure.

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Dressing up is part of the fun at the Winnipeg Folk Festival!

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The main stage lights up the night on Thursday.

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Karen Bergquist from Over the Rhine belts out some tunes on Friday afternoon.

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Linford Detweiler, the second half of Over the Rhine, accompanies his wife on guitar.

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Art installations pepper the festival grounds, like this fresh flower piece at the brand new stage, Little Stage in the Forest.

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The Cat Empire, Patrick Watson, and Niyaz joined forces for a workshop Friday afternoon.

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Crowds enjoy the Cat Empire, Patrick Watson, and Niyaz workshop.

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The workshop on Friday afternoon featuring a Tribe Called Red, Afro Kumbe Sound System, and Blue King Brown brought together Indigenous Peoples from three different countries.

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Festival goers enjoy a Blue King Brown concert early Friday night.