Vancouver Folk Music Fest

The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is a Canadian cultural institution a unique community-based celebration with an internationally-renowned reputation for presenting the finest traditional and contemporary folk and roots music artists from around the world. Now in its 45th year, it continues to be one of the citys most beloved, enjoyed, and respected events named Best Local Music Festival by Georgia Straight readers for the fifth year in a row, and 2016 Best Music Festival by readers of the Westender. The Festival draws 38,000+ enthusiastic attendees annually to beautiful Jericho Beach Park, folks eager to experience the music and culture of more than 60 international, national, and local acts. Every year, two and even three generations of families join friends and fellow community members to share in the music, dance, food, childrens activities and the magical ambience of the festival.

The Festival was founded in 1978 and held in Stanley Park. It relocated to Jericho Beach Park in its second year. Sponsored by the city the first two years, the festival came under the control of the newly established, non-profit Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society late in 1979. In its early years the festival established and ran its own record label and distribution company, Festival Records.

Over the years the Vancouver Folk Music Festival has played a key role in the development of artists and audiences on a regional, national and international level. The society continues to honour the same traditions with an emphasis on emerging and diverse artists.