Festival FAQ

What's New in 2022?

You will still purchase your beverages in the Beer Garden, but can take it with you anywhere on site if you like. Don't worry, we'll still have tables and shade set up, but there will be no fences to keep you there. Anyone who appears under 25 will be asked for valid government issued photo ID prior to being served. Once verified, volunteers will secure a wristband on the patron. Identification checks will be provided at the Bar and Information Booth.

The bar is cash free and will accept credit and debit payments only.

We continue to move in the direction of eliminating single use plastics on site, and this year will not have plastic bottled water or beverages available. Vendors will have aluminum water and canned beverages only. We'll have extra water fill stations - make sure to bring your own refillable water bottle!

Nikamowin (nee-gah-mow-in) in Cree means “song”. This year the Edmonton Folk Music Festival came together with the Edmonton’s Indigenous Arts Community to present First Nations, Metis and Inuit Artists. EFMF acknowledges we are on Treaty 6 traditional lands, the home of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux and Metis peoples. We are committed to growing our relationship with Indigenous artists and our community. We invite you to join us as we walk this journey of reconciliation together!
You'll find Nikawomin artists throughout the festival site, with gathering places in the Family Area and to the East of Main Stage.

Our Reusable Plate program will be on hold this year - to reduce high touch/cash transactions for everyone's safety, we will not be offering reusable plates this year. Our vendors and our festival will be using approved compostables only. This will mean an increase in compostables on site and we ask for your help keeping things tidy - please make sure your items go in the proper collection bins. 

We are a mask friendly festival and support everyone's choice to keep themselves and their fellow folkies safe this year. We encourage and support your decision to protect yourselves and each other by getting vaccinated with all boosters available, masking in indoor areas where distancing is not possible, washing hands and sanitizing regularly, and testing yourself at least twice during the festival days if available to you. Hand sanitizer and hand washing stations will be available throughout the site. 

Please be prepared and bring your own mask and sanitizer to the festival. For more information on our health and safety guidelines and COVID-19 precautions, please visit edmontonfolkfest.org/festival-info/health-safety

The festival is going Cash Light - Music and Merch and Ticketing are going cash light - this means we will accept cash at dedicated cash only lines, but prefer debit or credit. Program Book and Candle sales will remain cash only. There will still be ATMs on site and cash only lines for your convenience. Food and market vendors will continue to take cash, debit, and credit card payments at their discretion. The Beer Garden will be card only.

Getting to the Festival

ACCESS CREW
Access crew can answer questions, provide you with assistance and give you information about:
• a designated listening area for people in wheelchairs or with mobility issues,
• program schedules in Braille and large print,
• assistive-listening systems for the hard of hearing.

TICKET POLICY FOR AIDES
All people regardless of age who require the assistance of a personal aide, will be admitted with one ticket for the
party of two concerned.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
• Limited Parking is available near the main gate (93 & 94 Streets, between 98 & 97 Avenues) for vehicles marked with official accessible parking signs.
• Access crew volunteers are stationed at the main gate.
• People who use wheelchairs may listen to the artists in designated listening areas at the Main Stage, Stages 1, 6 and 7.
• 96 Avenue is available for those with limited mobility requiring paved access to the west side of the festival grounds. Please speak with one of our Access volunteers for details.
• In the event of inclement weather, volunteers will assist people off the site or to sheltered areas as quickly and safely as possible.

HEARING
For festival folkies who require enhanced hearing services, there are:
• magnetic induction loops at all stages, and
• loop system receivers are available at the main stage and at all session stages, for those with no hearing aid or no T-switch. Receivers can be picked up and returned at the Information Tent. The magnetic induction loop system consists of an antenna placed beneath the sod in a 25-square-foot area in front of the stage.
• If you use a hearing aid equipped with a T-switch (telecoil), simply switch your aid to the “T” position.
• Then sit within 12 feet of the blue hearing-access signs located in the centre of each looped area.
• Your hearing aid will act as a receiver; no other equipment is required.
If you have any questions about hearing access, contact an Access crew volunteer through the Information Tent.
FM receivers and accessories will be available at the Information Booth. A credit card or driver’s license is required as a deposit.

 

VISUALLY IMPAIRED
If you have a visual impairment, ask at the Information Booth for the workshop schedule
in Braille or large print.

Park and Ride:  From the University of Alberta

Valid in STADIUM and WINDSOR car parks August 4 -7 from 6am to 12am each day.

$5 all day rate!

The parking coupon code is 98D13W. 

Note your license plate number before leaving your vehicle. Purchase parking from the parking dispenser and when it asks you for payment type, choose coupon code. Select full daily parking. You can print the receipt, but it does not have to be displayed on the dash.

Bus pick up – South East corner of the Butterdome (87 Ave and approx. 114 St).

Bus fare – ETS Special Event 2 Way rates apply - $6 round trip. Children 12 years and under are free. Exact cash,  ETS passes, tickets and transfers are valid for payment. Also accepted: Strathcona County and St. Albert transit passes.

Please note: bus drivers do not carry change.

Buses run every 20 minutes during the Festival. Hours of operation are:

Thursday  3:30 PM- Close
Friday       3:30 PM – Close
Saturday  8:30 AM – Close
Sunday    8:30 AM – Close

Edmonton Transit information, including trip planner, can be found at https://www.edmonton.ca/edmonton-transit-system-ets.aspx

The Valley Line Southeast LRT which connects Mill Woods to Downtown Edmonton will open for passengers later this summer. While the line won't be open for the Festival this year, TransEd will be testing trains on the tracks. Because of this trains could be approaching from either direction. Valley Line trains are quiet - for your safety never shortcut or jaywalk across the tracks. To cross safely, use a crosswalk and wait for the walk light to indicate that it is safe to cross.

For more information about the Valley Line Southeast and how to interact with it please visit the: Passenger and Public Safety Page on the TransEd website. 

We look forward to the Muttart and Strathearn stations being fully operational for next year’s festival!

The festival is held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in beautiful Gallagher Park » See Map

There is NO ON-SITE PARKING. Use Park & Ride, Edmonton Transit, walk, or bike. Please note that there are enforced parking restrictions in the area of Cloverdale, Strathearn, and Bonnie Doon. 

Taxi Service: Taxis drop patrons outside the main gate on arrival. On departure, service is much faster if you go to the taxi stand on 97 Ave, no need to call a taxi.

Drop-offs:

  • Main Gate - If you are getting dropped off or picked up by a rideshare such as Uber, or from a friend or family member, you must use the designated drop off points on 98 Ave. (bottom of the hill). There is no public access into the Cloverdale community beyond that point. 
  • South Gate (top of hill) - LRT line and construction on Connors Road have changed drop off zones for the South Gate. Please cross Connors Road at the 95 Avenue intersection only as LRT testing is ongoing. There are two patron drop off locations near the South Gate:
    • 95 Avenue between 95 and 94 Street. If accessing from Conner's Rd., due to construction on 95 St, vehicles must access the drop off area via 94 Street.
    • The other south side drop off is on 95 Ave Eastbound in the parking lane just east of Connors Road. Please cross Connors Road at the 95 Avenue intersection only.

If you are riding an e-scooter or e-bike to the festival, ride in bike lanes whenever possible in our surrounding neighbourhoods. Please park out of public pathways and private property, upright with the kickstand down.

UPDATE: Please park scooters across 98th Avenue in Henrietta Muir Park. 

You may be fined for improper parking. E-Scooters and E-Bikes are not permitted on the festival site.

Please note - personal e-scooters can use the bike lock up, but rental cannot. Thank you!

Bike Lock-up Hours of Service

Thursday 1:30 PM – 11:30 PM
Friday      1:30 PM – 12:30 AM
Saturday  9:00 AM – 12:30 AM
Sunday    9:00 AM – 11:30 PM

Cycle down and check your bike at the free, supervised lock-up. Don't forget your lock.

Rental e-scooters and bikes are not able to use the bike lock up, but personal ones can.

Bike lock up is located behind the Muttart Conservatory. No supervised overnight bike parking, and no parking for motor bikes.

Please do not lock your bike in the park or surrounding community. 

There is no parking available in the Cloverdale or Strathearn Neighbourhoods.

Park and ride, taxi,  and Edmonton Transit information can be found in the FAQs

Edmonton has many hotels located downtown. short distance from the festival. Contact your travel agent or Explore Edmonton.

The Bennett Centre:  The Bennet Centre will be closed in 2022. For more information please visit bennettcentre.epsb.ca .

St. Joseph's College:

Located at the University of Alberta, minutes from all amenities and our Park and Ride location. Single dorm and 2 & 4 bedroom suites available. For information and reservations please email sjcres@ualberta.ca or call 780.868.9190

Camping: As we are located in Central Edmonton, there is no on-site camping. Camping is available at Rainbow Valley Campground, located near Whitemud Creek.

At the Festival

Folk Fest-iquette – Be a good neighbour!

Each day 25 000 people come together annually at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival in Gallagher Park to take in some of the world's best folk music, and to have a good time. Whether catching up with friend in the Beer Garden, getting in line for a green onion cake, or taking in a performance on the hill, we want to ensure everyone is having an amazing festival experience. Here's how you can contribute:

Everyone is welcome and valued - We encourage all people at the festival to participate in a vision of inclusivity. Regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, religious belief, ability, colour, or other personal characteristics, we want everyone at the festival to feel safe, welcome and valued

Respect - Contribute to the discussion, share ideas, and express yourself. But please be respectful of those around you, and make sure your good time isn't coming at the expense of others. Activities (verbal or physical) causing harm to others will not be tolerated.

Get to know your Festival community – We’re all here because we love music! Get to know those around you and use friendly discussion to solve tarp disputes or other issues.

Patron Responsibilities

  • Wear your wristband at all times.
  • Dance in marked areas at the east or west side of the mainstage (or at session stages), and take in person or phone conversations away from the music. Respect peoples’ space!
  • Leave prohibited items at home – bags and items are subject to search by gate volunteers. Check out our “What to bring!” tab for more info.
  • Only smoke in marked areas. This includes tobacco, cannabis and vaping products (see the Festival Map).
  • Leave the way you came – take your tarps, chairs and any other items with you at the end of the day. Dispose of compostables, recycling and waste in the appropriate bins.

The Festival Raffle is a 50/50 in 2022, with a cash prize of up to $499,995!

Earlybird prizes include return flights from Edmonton International Airport, a guitar from Acoustic Music Shop, Oilers tickets, and of course the silver and gold tarp prizes!

More information about prizes and tickets can be found here.

Purchase tickets starting June 4 at Rafflebox - https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/efmfs

Dancing areas are marked beside each stage.

Our full roster of food vendors can be found here.

Download our App for vendor menus and locations.

 

 

Throughout the Festival Site:

Water stations can be found throughout the site to refill your bottles.

Food vendors offer a variety of canned beverages.

 

In the Beer Gardens:

From Big Rock

Traditional Ale | English Style Brown Ale

Grasshopper | Wheat Ale

Citradelic | West Coast IPA                        

Rhine Stone Cowboy | Kolsch Style Ale

Rock Creek Apple Cider

Mike’s Hard Tea Lemon

Nutrl Vodka Soda Lime

Tempo Gin Smash Grapefruit

Masi Wines: Fresco di Masi Bianco & Fresco di Masi Rosso

Non – Alcoholic Product - Partake Brewing Blonde

 

All alcoholic beverage in the bar are $7.00

Non-alcoholic beer is $5.00

The Music and Merch Tent is located east of the main stage. You'll find Performer and Festival merchandise. T-shirts, CDs, LPs, water bottles, mugs,chairs, and much more are available for purchase.

The festival Artisan Market features a delightful mix of festival favourites and amazing new artists. You'll find jewellery, clothing, accessories, musical instruments, home decor, and one of a kind art. All of the work in our Artisan Market is handmade and unique, ready for you to take home with you. 

The Family Area is located across the field from Stage 7. 
Come over and play, craft, run, sing, and be kids with us!

During the festival:

  • Drop off or claim lost and found items at the Information Tent (look for the big balloons)

Following the festival:

  • Contact the Edmonton Folk Music Festival Administration Office to claim or inquire about your lost items.  It can take a few days for all items to be returned from site, so check again.

Inquiries can be made by phone at 780.466.0597 or by email lostandfound@edmontonfolkfest.org

ALL lost & found items need to be claimed within 2 weeks of the festival. After that time, any remaining unclaimed items will be donated to charity.

Look for the big balloons! Our volunteers have all of the information to help you enjoy the festival.

First Aid is located north west of main stage along 95 Street.  

The First Aid tent is staffed with health care professionals.

The First Aid tent does not supply items such as sunscreen and insect repellant.

The Edmonton Folk Music Festival is committed to minimizing the festival's impact on the environment.

Recycling bins are distributed across the site - look for waste diversion stations, and look for our Green Team for help and information.

  • returnables such as pop cans can be placed in the blue receptacles.
  • general waste receptacles can receive all other waste materials - materials are sorted for recycling and composting.

Bring your own reusable cup/cutlery or buy them at the Music & Merch tent.

Compostable beer cups provided in the beer garden - thank you to Big Rock!

Compostable cutlery and containers are used by food vendors. They can be placed in bins for sorting. 

Compostable Plate Program - to reduce high contact areas, our Reusable Plate Program will be put on hold in 2022. The Festival and Vendors will be using compostable products only. Please help us by ensuring all compostables are disposed of in the proper bins.

Reduction of single use plastics - we continue to move in this direction, and this year will not have plastic bottled water or beverages available. Vendors will have aluminum water and canned beverages only. We'll have extra water fill stations - make sure to bring your own refillable water bottle!

The Board of Directors has adopted a dynamic pandemic policy that will remain subject to change, as dictated by the pandemic, on an as needed basis. Details can be found in the Health and Safety page here.

Alberta Health Service Covid-19 information can be found here

Tickets & Hours

Tickets go on sale each year the first Saturday in June.

Tickets are no longer available at www.frongatetickets.com.

We are pleased to partner with Lyte to give fans a safe and secure way to exchange tickets to the festival.

Please visit Lyte.com to request or return your tickets.

Check out our ticket page for more info.

Find the 2022 ticket prices here. 

Yes, you need a wristband. Your ticket will be scanned at the gate, and you will be given a wristband upon entry. 

In the gate lineup, volunteers exchange tickets for wristbands as quickly as possible. During peak times, this process may take longer. Please be considerate of the effort our volunteers are making to expedite your visit. 

Personal Passes are exchanged for one wristband for the whole 4 days.

Single Day tickets (and tickets from the 4-Pack) are exchanged for single-day wristbands for the day indicated on the ticket.

Wristbands are non-exchangeable and non-transferable.

Your wristband allows you to come and go from the festival and must be worn at all times. Wristbands must not be removed or tampered with. Lost or removed wristbands can not be replaced. 

To get your wristband early and speed up the entry process, check out the pre-banding hours at our Ticket office on the Ticket Info page.

Pre-Festival Ticket Office (10115 - 97a Ave - Main Floor) hours:

Monday to Friday: 10am to 5pm (up to and including) Monday, Aug 1

Tuesday/Wednesday, Aug 2/3: 10am - 7pm

Pre-banding for Personal Pass holders will take place Monday, Aug 1 (10am - 5pm), and 10am - 7pm on Tuesday, Aug 2 and Wednesday, August 3. For more info, on pre-branding click here. 

 

The onsite Festival Box Office (East of the main gate on 97 Ave) opens on Thursday, August 4.

Festival Box Office Hours (during the festival): 

Thursday: 12pm (noon) - 10pm

Friday: 12pm (noon) - 11pm

Saturday: 9am - 11pm

Sunday: 9am - 10pm 

 

The onsite Box Office is located east of the main gate on 97 Ave. The hours during the festival are: 

Thursday 12 pm (noon) to 10pm

Friday 12 pm (noon) to 11 pm

Saturday 9am to 11pm

Sunday 9am to 10pm 

Check out our Ticket Page for details.

Your wristband allows re-entry to the festival.  Do not remove your wristband if you wish to re-enter

Electronic tickets will be sent to you on Jul 20, 2022 to the email associated with your Frontgate account. If you have multiple tickets, you will receive one email with multiple PDF attachments (1 for each ticket).

If you'd like a physical ticket, call the Ticket Office at 780-429-1999 to arrange. Tickets will be printed starting in early July. 

Go to edmontonfolkfest.frontgatetickets.com

Select the Sign In button, and sign-in to your account. If you logged in through Facebook during your purchase, log-in through Facebook. 

Find and select YourAccount on the menu bar, then Order History. Locate the order you would like to view, select View Order Detail. 

You can also call our office in advance of the Festival 780-429-1999, or during the Festival you can stop by our Festival Box Office (just beside the Main/Northern Gate) and we can help sort out the issue. 

If you have purchased your ticket from a third party, we will not be able to replace it.

Gate Entry

2022 Main Stage hours:

  • Thursday 6:45 PM – 11:00 PM
  • Friday 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM
  • Saturday 2-3 PM & 6:50 PM to 12:00 AM
  • Sunday 2-3 PM and 7:00 PM to 11 PM

Side stages 

  • Friday 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
  • Saturday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM & 3:00PM to 7:00 PM
  • Sunday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM & 3:00PM to 7:00 PM

How do I know what’s on when? Full schedule will be available in July. Program books are available to purchase at the festival, and the Edmonton Folk Music Fest app will be available to download in June.

For schedule and festival news and updates, be sure to download our App - availablle now on Google Play and the App Store.

There are two entry gates:

  • Main Gate/North Gate/Bottom of Hill - 94th St & 97th Ave.
  • South Gate/Top of the Hill - Corner of Connors Road & Cloverdale Hill Road

Box Office is located beside the Main Gate.

Gate Opening times: 

Thursday  4:30 PM
Friday       4:30 PM
Saturday   9:30 AM
Sunday     9:30 AM

Arrive at North Gate at 94St and 97Ave or South Gate at corner of Cloverdale Road and Connors Road. Please arrive no earlier than 1 hour prior to gate opening.

Please respect community residents by sticking to sidewalks and minimizing noise.

For information about the Gate Lottery Lineup procedure for a earlier seating selection, please click on the Gate Lottery Process tab below.

Gate Entrance

Festival patrons have two options to gain entrance to the Festival site:

A. Regular Gate:

Locations: North Gate (94 St and 97 Ave), South Gate (corner of Cloverdale Road and Connors Road)

Opening Times: 4:30PM (Thursday and Friday) 9:30AM (Saturday and Sunday).

Please arrive no earlier than 1 hour prior to gate opening and respect community residents by minimizing noise and not walking on their property.

B. Lottery for earlier seating selection: Optional, for those with strong seating preferences.

Locations: East Lottery: Stage 1 (93St & 97Ave) West Lottery: Bike Lock-up (west of 96A St and 96Ave); use bike path south of Muttart Conservatory (the pyramids).

There is no public parking in the neighbourhood or at the Muttart for the lottery.

Gate lottery timing:

Gate lottery timing:

 

  Thursday/Friday

  Saturday/Sunday

Corral open, lottery tickets handed out

  2:00-2:30

  7:00-7:30

Lottery draw starts, patrons leave corral and line up

  2:30

  7:30

Lottery lineup escorted onto festival site

  4:00

  9:00

Notes:

  • Out of respect for the festival’s neighbours, please do not arrive early for the lottery.

  • Patrons may leave the lineup once they have a place; however, they must be back half an hour before gate opening.

Lottery Rules:

  • Patrons who wish to participate in the lottery MUST have a festival ticket, wristband, Government ID for proof of age (for youth or senior tickets), or volunteer badge to receive a lottery tag
  • To participate in the lottery, you must stay in the lottery corral until the draw is completed.
  • If you leave before the draw, you will be asked to return the colour tag you were given.
  • One lottery tag for one person, and one tarp only.
  • If your friend has a different place in the lottery, they cannot enter with you, and must wait their turn.
  • Participants will be escorted at a walking pace in groups of 30 from entry gates to the seating area. To ensure everyone’s safety, there will be no rushing.
  • Please be considerate of our volunteers and of the community; abuse will not be tolerated.

Seating

We’re outdoors in a natural amphitheatre! Seating isn’t provided. Here’s what to do:

  • Bring a tarp as your base – These can be up to 8X10 feet OR 2.5 X 3 meters in size. Use tarp pegs that aren’t sharp, and ensure you use a mallet to pound them all the way into the ground. Tarps larger than the allowed size will be asked to be folded down by security volunteers.
    • See our “Gate Entry” tab for more info about placing your tarp on the Main Stage hill each day. Remember tarps aren’t allowed at session stages.
  • Tarp markers – Many people bring home-made decorated sticks/objects, or decorate their tarps to help friends and family find them on the hill (eg. rubber chicken on a stick). Make sure you keep size in mind – don’t block anyone’s view!
  • Chairs – Bring a low back, low legged chair. These may be no higher than 26 inches off the ground, with legs/seats no higher than 8 inches from the ground. Security volunteers will ask for low chairs to be folded down. Chairs may be used at the Main Stage and Session Stages.
  • Tents and lean-tos – These are to be used for shade and rest purposes only, and must be low profile and pop up in nature. Tents may only be placed past the crest of the hill/top of the hill so they do not interfere with patron site lines. They may have no larger than a 2.5X3 meter footprint, and cannot be more than 1.5 meters tall. Tents must be secured to the ground, and be removed each day.
  • Layered clothing
  • Rain gear
  • Comfortable footwear
  • Sunscreen & bug spray
  • Something to sit on… like a tarp! (Max. size 8'x10')
  • Low-backed, low-legged chair. The maximum chair height allowed on the festival site is: back no higher than 26 inches off the ground, legs/seat no higher than 8 inches off the ground. If you need one, we sell them in our Music and Merch tent on site!
  • Snacks & beverages – no alcohol or glass containers
  • Your tickets
  • a mask for congested and high traffic areas
  • hand sanitizer
  • High-backed, or regular-legged lawnchairs. The maximum chair height allowed on the festival site is: back no higher than 26 inches off the ground, legs/seat no higher than 8 inches off the ground.
  • Pets of any kind
  • Alcohol or illegal drugs
  • Glass containers or bottles
  • Weapons and sharp instruments
  • Professional photo, video or audio recording equipment

Note: Bag checks in effect.