The Canmore Folk Festival, which takes place over the Heritage Day long weekend from August 3 to 5, started in 1978, making it the longest-running folk music festival in Alberta.
Here are five more reasons to attend.
1. It’s intimate
Taking place in Canmore’s Centennial Park, the festival welcomes 5,000 people daily. This makes it about a tenth the size of the festival’s larger cousin on Prince’s Island. Music lovers are encouraged to take transit or walk to avoid traffic congestion. There is also a bike corral at the site and a new Folk Fest Express from Calgary partnering with On-It bus service.
2. Friday is for cheapskates
There is a pre-festival free concert on Friday evening (August 2) downtown in Centennial Park from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The show features folk darling St. Arnaud, the Ducks as part of a youth mentorship program, and Our Hearts in the Mountain, a presentation of Indigenous storytelling and dancing.
3. The whole park is a beer garden
For the first time, Canmore will offer site-wide licensing, which means you can tote your cool drink, provided by Canmore’s Grizzly Paw Brewing, to the next stage with you.
4. You’ll be spoiled for choice
During the daytime, choose from concerts and workshops on three stages. Saturday, the Cosmic Country workshop on Stage 3 (Banff Lodging Co.) at 3:30 p.m. looks promising with the music of Robert Adam, Boy Golden and the Church of Better Daze, and The Bobby Tenderloin Universe colliding. Sunday morning comes early, but seeing Calgary’s Amy Nelson and fiancé Carter Felker play with Austin’s Buffalo Nichols is worth that 10:10 a.m. start time. Keep the energy rolling on the holiday Monday with the Minor Swing workshop where Calgary’s Red Hot Hayseeds meet up with Duane Andrews + The Hot Club of Conception at 2:40 p.m. on Stage 1 (Stan Rogers).
5. There are two evening stages
Evening performances occur on Stage 1 (Stan Rogers) onsite and Minor’s Union Hall (Pub Stage) a block away. James Keelaghan is sure to be a highlight Saturday night as is Boy Golden, who stole hearts at the 2023 Calgary festival. Sunday Leith Ross brings their open-minded, open-sounding songs to the forefront. Monday evening starts with Buffalo Nichols and ends with Blue Rodeo, who never wear out.
For information about the Canmore Folk Festival, visit canmorefolkfestival.com.
