FAQ

The 46th annual Calgary Folk Music Festival is July 24–27, 2025 at Prince's Island Park

Over 69 local, national and international artists perform during the festival.

You can view our full artist lineup here

Our full schedule will be revealed early June. Our evening schedule can be found here.

You can view our site map, as well as other festival recommendations, here.

There is street parking and many pay lots near the festival. Be sure to plan ahead and find the best option for you, or consider alternate forms of transportation.

Lots of folks walk, take transit or ride bikes to the site. Choose an environmental option to get to the Festival! Prince's Island Park is about a 15 minute walk from the EB 3 Street SW Train Station (in the free fare zone), an 18 minute walk from Sunnyside Station, as well as connected to Calgary's Bow River pathway and accessible from any point in the city. We have ample parking for bicycles at the Island.

Bike lockup is just over the Jaipur bridge on Prince's Island. Lock at your own risk. Our safety and security team will continue to monitor the bike racks area, and we will have ample eyes from existing festival volunteers to help keep the area as safe as possible.

You can view the bike lock up area on our map.

The sessions are curated, collaborative, in-the-round and jams that unite artists in exquisite in-the-round mash-ups during the afternoon Friday and the day Saturday and Sunday on multiple stages at Prince’s Island. See your favourite artists or choose sessions according to the line-up and/or themes. There’s lots of variety and really something for everyone.

The Calgary Folk Music Festival operates on a cash-light system. There are no ATMs on site. Many areas – the main gate, beer gardens and Festival merchandise tent – accept credit, interac, e-wallet, apple pay and tap options but cash transactions will be accommodated, too. Independent vendors (food and artisan market) use their own payment options.

Festival patrons are encouraged to take cellular devices, point-and-shoot, film and instant film photos throughout the event. Be sure to tag us at your leisure! However, we urge all attendees to leave DSLR, mirrorless, zoom lenses and any full-frame or crop sensor digital cameras at home.

As per the ticketing agreement, only approved photographers and videographers are permitted to take professional quality images. The Festival reserves the right to determine what photography and photographs are deemed professional, and may ask you to remove your photos from any public-facing social media platforms, websites and publications at our discretion.

The Calgary Folk Music Festival volunteer photo and video team will be working hard all weekend long capturing the event. Check out our Flickr page, and follow us across all social channels @calgaryfolkfest.

Thursday, July 24: 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Friday, July 25: 2:00 PM- 12:00 AM

Saturday, July 26: 9:30 AM - 12:00 AM

Sunday, July 27: 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM

Yes - both single-day ticket holders and festival pass holders will receive wristbands. Make sure you keep your wristband on and intact at all times for re-entry.

Unfortunately there’s no room for pets and it wouldn’t be fun for them. Service animals are of course welcome, as well as tamagotchis.

Each evening features concerts on two stages - the ATB mainstage and the National stage 4. During the day Saturday and Sunday (10:30 am - 5:30 pm) plus Friday afternoon (3:00 - 6:00 pm), take in concerts and unique collaborative sessions on six stages. Folks stake their claims on their own blankets and tarps at the mainstage and then wander to the other stages. There’s also ample standing and dancing room at the mainstage and all other stages.

Peruse the artisan market, explore delicious culinary options and grab a beverage at the Big Rock Beer Gardens and enjoy all-site licensing as you quench your thirst.

Saturday and Sunday 10:30 am - 5:30 pm the Family Zone is full of activities and entertainment for younger folkies plus a Talk Tent featuring comedians, panels and a hip hop cypher.

Festival chair is the designation we give to chairs with legs shorter than 8 inches. If you can roll a basketball under it, it's too high! We want all of our patrons to comfortably view the performances. If you are unable to sit in a low-lying chair due to medical reasons, we offer accessible seating near the stage with standard size chairs and viewing screens.

Of course we have lots of clean portable toilets, water filling stations, a first aid tent and other amenities to keep you comfortable.

• Clothing for all kinds of weather (often within the same day): summer wear, a jacket for late nights, rain gear plus dancing shoes!

• Bug spray and sunscreen are also very useful.
• A water bottle (we have refilling stations around the site).
• Your own non-alcoholic beverages and food if you like, plus a tarp, blanket and festival chair (lots of folks just wander the site, sit, stand or dance on the grass without a tarp or chair).
• Open ears, a love of music, community and diversity.

Come as you are! The festival can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, but the most important thing to bring is a friend! Some folkies come prepared with all kinds of goodies, others simply show up. Boots, birks or barefoot, all are welcome at the gates!

Here's some optional items for those who want to get a little extra out of their Folk Fest experience:

• Clothing for all kinds of weather (often within the same day): summer wear, a jacket for late nights, rain gear plus dancing shoes!

• Bug spray and sunscreen are also very useful.

• A water bottle (we have refilling stations around the site).

• Your own non-alcoholic beverages and food if you like, plus a tarp, blanket and festival chair (lots of folks just wander the site, sit, stand or dance on the grass without a tarp or chair).

• Open ears, a love of music, community and diversity.

• Pets, except service animals
• Alcoholic beverages
• Professional cameras (DSLR, mirrorless, zoom lenses and any full-frame or crop sensor digital camera)

The Calgary Folk Music festival offers full 4-day festival passes (wristbands) and single-day passes. All passes offer discounted rates for youth, seniors and students. Accessible passes are available with the option to add a companion.

Earlybird tickets are currently on sale until June 2.

4-day adult pass: $215

Thursday or Friday single day tickets: $75

Saturday or Sunday single day tickets: $85

Student, youth, senior and accessible single day tickets and weekend passes are available at a discounted rate. See the ticket page for all tickets and prices.

You can get your 50/50 tickets online, beginning up to 2 weeks before the festival, and from roaming 50/50 ticket sellers on all 4 days of the festival. This year, we have one big jackpot with the winning ticket being drawn on the Sunday night! Your ticket helps support festival operations all year round, employing countless industry professionals and artists. You must be 18+ years of age and an Alberta resident, or physically present in Alberta at the time of purchase, to play.

Tickets and passes may be transferred prior to being exchanged for a wristband upon entry to the festival. Once a wristband has been obtained, it is non-transferable.

Yes. We offer a special group rate for social clubs and group orders for our community friends and local businesses. Group rates available for purchases of single days and 4-day passes. Must purchase quantities of 10 or more tickets in one transaction to be eligible for the group rate. If you would like to order some tickets for your team, drop us a line at hello@calgaryfolkfest.com.

No. All kids 12 and under accompanied by an adult or guardian gain access to the festival for free.

No. In the case of inclement weather, the event will proceed at the discretion of organizers. In the absence of a full festival cancellation, all sales are final. You’re welcome to sell or give away your ticket if you can no longer use it.

Tickets: Accessible passes are available with the option to add a companion. Please call our box office at (403) 233-0904 to acquire a companion voucher. Access: For ticket holders with mobility considerations needing assistance to the Festival site, you have two points of entry to choose from; Main Gate near the River Cafe (no vehicle access) or you can access the festival via the West Gate at the causeway of Eau Claire Avenue and 6th SW near the Peace Bridge. Please note: tickets will not be sold at the West Gate, we can only scan pre-purchased tickets. Speak to a volunteer and they will call for a golf cart to transport you to the main field or accessible seating area. Please note that the wait for a golf cart may be as long as 30+ minutes as we are moving artists around the island! Arrive early to ensure you won't miss the concerts and sessions that you are hoping to see. Seating: The Calgary Folk Music Festival offers accessible seating on a firs come first served basis at our main stage. This area consists of full-height chairs, some on a raised, covered platform on the North side of main field.

As a partner of the City of Calgary's Fee Assistance Program, The Folk Festival Society of Calgary is now offering discounted day tickets and 4-day passes to individuals who are registered with the program.

*A Recreation’s Fee Assistance card with a valid sticker and picture ID must be presented at the main gate for entry.

Please call 403-233-0904 or email hello@calgaryfolkfest to purchase your Fee Assistance Tickets.

Day Tickets: $30 + GST 4-Day Pass: $90 + GST

Yes! We are currently recruiting for new volunteers. Check our volunteer page for more info.

You will receive full access to the 4-day event, complimentary food & bev, a coveted volunteer t-shirt, access to exclusive parties for volunteers and artists, and participation in an action packed event keeping arts & culture alive in our community!

We have volunteer opportunities starting at age 13.

The volunteer commitment is 16-24 hours during the festival. There are some crews that operate pre and post fest, where the hourly commitment is 24-36. At this time we only offer full weekend volunteer opportunities.

Please peruse our volunteer page for more info! If you don’t find what you are looking for, shoot us an email at vsupport@calgaryfolkfest.com.