6 Folk Festivals That Celebrate Music & Culture

6 Festivals Honoring Culture and Folk Music

A Guide to the Shetland Folk Festival

10 Great Films About Music and Musicians

1. Once (2007)
2. A Mighty Wind (2003)
3. A Star Is Born (1954)
4. Amadeus (1984)
5. Immortal Beloved (1994)
6. Monterey Pop (1968)
7. Neil Young: Heart of Gold (2006)
8. New York, New York (1977)
9. School of Rock (2003)
10. Crazy Heart (2009)

The Winnipeg Folk Fest in Review

In Depth

Cultural gatherings are important community events that bring people together and honor history. Folk festivals that foster traditions and cultural practices are a great and usually free way to get in touch with the local community. In no particular order, here are 6 annual folk celebrations that honor the culture that is at the heart of their history.

#1 on the list is The Richmond Folk Festival. One of Virginia's largest events, this gathering draws visitors from all over the country to downtown Richmond's historic riverfront. The festival is a free three-day event featuring performing groups that represent a diverse array of cultural traditions. The festivities involve many different activities including music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling and food.

In 2019 the festival attracted more than 220,000 people to downtown Richmond's riverfront to celebrate the roots, richness and variety of American culture. The Richmond Folk Festival has become one of Virginia's largest and most loved events of the year and has been voted as the best musical celebration in Richmond several years running.

The Richmond Folk Festival has become one of Virginia's largest and most loved events of the year and has been voted as the best musical celebration in Richmond several years running.

Next up at #2 is The Shetland Folk Festival. The first event was held in 1981 and has grown steadily throughout the years. It originated with a thought that two members of the local Fiddler's Society had. They wondered why Shetland did not have a festival of its own, and so the planning began. The event was an ideal celebration of the area's unique fiddle tradition and rich musical heritage. The inaugural organizing committee was formed and in affirming their pride in their folk musical tradition, the decision was made that local performers would share the concert platforms with visiting artists. This rule is still honored to this day.

Organized by a voluntary committee and run by an even bigger pool of volunteers, the festival prides itself in reaching out to even the most far flung areas of Shetland. Concerts are organized throughout the isles and consist of a diverse array of International, British and local music that the world has to offer. The event culminates with the Foy concerts on the Sunday night, where audiences have an opportunity to see most of the visiting acts in one evening. Held over three venues, the acts are shuffled between halls by bus and perform in each location for around 15 minutes.

Located in Greensboro, The North Carolina Folk Festival is #3 on the list. One of the fastest growing festivals in the Southeast, the event consists of a three-day celebration that showcases local cultural heritage through music, dance, handmade crafts, food, and family activities. In 2019, the event attracted more than 150,000 attendees.

In 2019, the event attracted more than 150,000 attendees.

An exuberant occasion that celebrates the diverse cultural expressions of 21st-century Americans, the North Carolina Folk Festival is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts in partnership with communities around the country. Since its inception, the festival has celebrated the roots, richness, and variety of American culture. The organizers strive to present the arts of many nations, races, and languages.

Moving on to #4, The Leigh Folk Festival is a free event held at several venues in the town of Leigh-on-Sea, which is situated along the Thames Estuary just outside of Southend. Rather than drifting towards becoming a commercially driven event, the team of volunteer organizers has held fast to a grass roots, access for all ethos. With this in mind, the festival has strived to retain a unique, eclectic and idiosyncratic vision. Southend has always supported a flourishing folk and acoustic music scene and has in recent years seen poetry and storytelling take to the stages, along with arts and handmade goods.

The organizers of the festival believe that music has the power to make us all feel part of something bigger than ourselves, while nurturing a true sense of community and local pride. The pastoral village atmosphere of the Library Gardens and the bustling, waterfront location of Old Leigh are both fundamental to the spirit of the weekend, and offer a natural, unpretentious feel to music and folk enthusiasts alike.

The pastoral village atmosphere of the Library Gardens and the bustling, waterfront location of Old Leigh are both fundamental to the spirit of the weekend, and offer a natural, unpretentious feel to music and folk enthusiasts alike.

#5 is The National Folk Festival. This is a traveling event that celebrates the richness, history, and diversity of folk culture. The National's three year stay in each host city is intended to lay the groundwork for a sustainable, locally produced festival that continues after it moves on to its next destination. It has taken place in Salisbury, Maryland since 2019.

The National Folk Festival is intended to celebrate and showcase the rich, living traditions that create identity and sense of place in communities across the state. With a different theme each year, the festival shines a spotlight on the distinctive music, crafts, foods, and customs at the heart of Maryland heritage. Performances, demonstrations, displays, exhibits, and narrative presentations by statewide artisans explore a wide range of topics which include the traditions of its First Peoples, the cultural legacies of early settlers, and the expressions of Maryland's newest residents.

Located in the capital city of Manitoba, Canada, #6 on the list is The Winnipeg Folk Festival. The first occasion of its kind was held in 1974 at Birds Hill Provincial Park on Treaty 1 territory and homeland of the Metis people as a one-time celebration to mark Winnipeg's 100th anniversary. It was a free event and attracted an estimated audience of twenty two thousand over the three-day weekend. While the organization has grown considerably since then, the gathering in 1974 created a community and laid down important roots that remain strong today.

It was a free event and attracted an estimated audience of twenty two thousand over the three-day weekend.

Forty-six years later, the organization has evolved but kept true to its important musical and cultural roots. The summer festival's cumulative attendance exceeds 70,000 annually and includes visitors and performers from across North America and around the world. The festival has transformed from being a one-weekend event in July to an ongoing charitable, nonprofit arts organization. With folk music at its heart, the Winnipeg Folk Festival presents dozens of concerts and events annually and offers community support through outreach programs.