The audience at the main stage at the start of Saturday evening performances during the 50th Winnipeg Folk Festival, July 12, 2025. (COLIN CORNEAU / CHRISD.CA)
The 50th edition of the Winnipeg Folk Festival shattered previous attendance records, drawing 79,000 people over four days at Birds Hill Provincial Park.
Festival organizers say all ticket categories sold out, including weekend passes, camping, and Friday and Saturday day tickets. The milestone celebration featured packed stages, busy vendor tents, and strong sales at the festival tavern and merchandise booth.
The weekend opened with Fred Penner leading a sing-along of “The Cat Came Back” and closed with the traditional group performance of “Mary Ellen Carter,” “Wild Mountain Thyme,” and “Amazing Grace.”
Highlights included a 50th anniversary hootenanny, the lively Bitch, Please! workshop, and the Sunday gospel session You’ve Got to Move. Bruce Cockburn received the key to the city, while the festival renamed part of Highway 59 as Winnipeg Folk Festival Volunteer Way in honour of its volunteers.
The 51st festival will return July 9–12, 2026.
RELATED: View a photo gallery from last Saturday at the Winnipeg Folk Festival
