Winnipeg Folk Festival

Toby, it's been a number of years since we've last been but we've attended the festival 3-4 times. Yes, it's quite a ways out of town at Birds Hill Provincial Park, which allows the stages to spread out without audible music overlap.

We stayed in town so can't help you with campgrounds. There are two: the "Festival Campground" is your choice if not allergic to later-night revelry, including folks makin' music. I'm told sometimes some of the performers wander over there for impromptu jams.

https://www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca/festival-info/camping/

The website pretty much has all you need to know.
https://www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca/experience/how-to-folk/
LOL, the first years we went there no alcohol allowed on the grounds so we tailgated in the parking lot (along with lots of others) while fetching our warmer evening duds. They'd added a tavern the last time or two we went.

Clothing: prepare for anything. One year it rained a lot and was really chilly but temps were in the 90's on another and we were all running around with spray bottles and whatnot to try and cool off. Another year they'd had torrential rain before the fest that turned much of the ground into a muddy mess: was happy I'd brought my rubber boots!

Pay attention to the Tarp Shuffle! This is new since last we went and everyone made a (dead run) beeline to the main stage grounds first thing in the AM to anchor a ground tarp as close to the stage as possible; that was your personal space all day/evening. They've probably adapted a lottery-type system to make things a bit more equitable.

Chairs: As instructed, regular-height chairs are only allowed on the outer edges of the stages. Otherwise, lower beach chairs are allowed or sit on the ground. If you bring beach chairs- which I recommend if the ground is wet/damp - you'll be carrying them around all day if wanting to sit so buy the lightest weight you can find. We left ours on our tarp now and then during the day and opted just to stand on the fringes at the assorted daytime stages.

Chairs no taller than two feet and 8’x10’ tarps are welcome in the seating area.

There is no wifi.

Yes, bring bug spray but I honestly don't remember them being a huge problem after dusk. What we HAVE experienced were some pretty cool Northern Lights!

See the map for the festival's layout:
https://www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca/festival-info/

Their performance lineups used to be great: in addition to the performers we knew, we always picked up new folks/bands to love! Honestly, it was always fun even when it rained. Hope I've given you a bit to go on?
Oh, and they traditionally close the last night's concert with "Goodnight Irene" and "the Mary Ellen Carter"; that last a much beloved song from much beloved, sadly gone, Canadian folkie Stan Rogers. Learn the words to both so you can add your voice to the other thousands :O)

"Rise again! Rise Again! That her name not be lost to the knowledge of men! No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend, be like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again!"

Wow thanks Kathy, so much info, I’m afraid I’m maybe too late for in-town accommodations? You also helped with my Zozobra topic, tickets purchased!

Is the 7 hours a reasonable estimate from near SW Minneapolis suburbs? I know eastern North Dakota is a bland part of the drive, but I’ve driven nearly every part of the US and nothing is as dull as the Texas/OK panhandles.

No, I don't think you're too late at all for in-town accommodations but I can't remember what month we made our reservations. It's also just a far enough hike from downtown Winnipeg to the park that once you're out there, you stay for the duration of the day; you don't leave and come back, especially if you got there early enough - which we always did - to park closer versus further away. So, unless staying at one of the campgrounds, taking a break from the music involves just exploring the Hand-Made Village, kicking back at the tavern or in green spaces away from the individual stages. You shouldn't have any problem finding a place for a breather.

As mentioned before, we packed a cooler in the back of the SUV along with warm/dry clothes and any "just in case" items. That was our breakin' space before the night concerts.

A hotel with a hot shower and restaurants nearby or a kitchenette was a plus the years it was either wet/chilly, muddy, or really hot. We didn't stay for all of the night concerts every night depending on weather and line-up of performers. You might take a look at booking.com to see what's available? I'm also hoping someone else will weigh in on maybe another area of town that might be a good place to stay and maybe a shorter distance from the park.

I see now that there is a Festival Express Bus from downtown that was free with your ticket or wristband to the fest. Takes about 50 minutes; keep an eye on the website to see if they'll run it again in 2025. We figured about 40-45 minutes or so for the drive on our own as the grounds are some distance into the park.

Good local resource for festival info here in town is (or was, anyway) the Homestead Pickin' Parlor; 6625 Penn Ave So - Richfield, MN 55423. Maybe you've been there?

We're in a Mpls suburb and we recall it taking longer than 7 hours what with a couple of stops plus getting thru the border...and I've NO idea what kind of time that might involve what with the current (most unfortunate) nonsense. We only had one cranky border agent one year that held us up longer than planned, and poked around our vehicle longer than other years but, well, the times they are a changin'.

LOL, yep, that stretch of N. Dakota and southern Manitoba is sort of a snore but crank up the tunes and you'll be fine. :O)

Kathy: thanks again, Homestead Pickin' Parlor must be near a favorite pizza place. Since our paths cross I’m wondering if we use the same Costco (Eden Prairie).

Since our paths cross I’m wondering if we use the same Costco (Eden
Prairie)...

Too funny! We were JUST there today to pick up my DH's new glasses plus a mega pack of TP and some other necessities!

Yes, very funny, I have gotten 4 eyeglasses there.

I’ve had at least a dozen land crossings into Canada over the years, almost all into Ontario on small roads with no waiting and very short interactions. I may be misremembering but I think in the 60s no ID was required to cross, just asked a few questions. Once we were crossing at Sault Ste Marie around 2008 when the guy asked us what brought us to Canada my wife shouted out, “to have fun!” and we were immediately waived through without even showing any ID, seems impossible that that would happen today.

Currently in South Carolina finishing my 50 state quest (on Sunday with Georgia). While I find Minnesota and say Ontario culturally similar, the same isn’t true for other pairs like Minnesota and New Mexico (which I love visiting) or Minnesota and a Deep South like South Carolina.

New Mexico fans here too, Toby. Santa Fe is our favorite US city - we've yet to tire of it - and we've hiked Tent Rocks and Petroglyphs NM, and both Bandelier and Chaco Canyon a couple of times. Finally made it out to Pecos NHP last time. Chimayo, Madrid, Cerrillos, Taos... Lots of fun corners, and tons of cool old mission churches for me to point a lens at. Utah holds the prize for high-desert scenery but it's still a great state. We need to explore south of Albuquerque one of these days. :O)