Insider Tips to the Calgary Folk Music Festival

Note: These events and activities are no longer up to date. Check out What to Do in Calgary This Week for more great things to see and do in Calgary.

The Calgary Folk Music Festival returns July 24-27, 2025.

So, you have decided to go to the Calgary Folk Music Festival . Great choice! Soon you will get to be part of a party that includes thousands of musicians, artists, food vendors, and fans. This year, Michael Kiwanuka, CAKE, Sierra Ferrell, and 60+ artists play across seven stages in concerts and collaborative sessions featuring everything from folk to funk to global sounds and fresh hip hop.

Here’s some handy tips to help you navigate the festival and make the most out of your weekend.

Get There Early To Set Up Your Ultimate Spot

Not all spots are created equal. Seating on the grass in front of the main stage first-come first-serve so show up early and get a great seat. Own your basecamp by laying down a tarp or blanket (6' X 8' max size); a spot to keep your cooler, extra clothes and get a good view of the mainstage. This can also serve as your meeting place to hook up with your group in case you get separated.

Bring a Bottle for Free Water

It’s not unheard of for temperatures in late July to hover around a million degrees. Don’t sweat it! Bring a reusable water bottle and refill it at one of the water refill stations around the festival grounds. The Calgary Folk Music Festival views water as an essential requirement for a positive festival experience and doesn’t think it should be bottled and sold for profit. Therefore you don’t have to decide between taking a water bottle shower to cool down and keeping hydrated.

Bring Your Own (Festival) Chair

Sit back and relax and bring in your own festival chair. Make sure the seat doesn’t rise more than eight inches above the ground; you wouldn’t want to compromise the views of the people sitting behind you. If you can fit a basketball underneath the seat, it is probably too high.

Bring Extra Clothes for Inclement Weather

Calgary’s weather can change from hot to cold in just a few hours. Bring layers or a light jacket to stay comfortable throughout the day. Even a drizzle in the forecast means it might be worth packing a poncho too. Rain or shine, the show goes on!

Make a Festival Schedule

Dozens of big-name artists and up-and-comers play the Calgary Folk Music Festival each year. With only so many hours in the day, check out the festival schedule beforehand so you won’t miss your favourite artist or have any regrets at the end of the weekend. Check out the headliners on the main stage and make sure you find time for the smaller artists at the festival.

Great Eats Nearby or Food Truck Frenzy

Festival concession vendors make their central culinary zone a tasty and refreshing place. Check out Taiko Taco , Righteous Gelato , and Zilford's Chicken .

The Calgary Folk Music Festival is also home to the city's largest festival beer garden, Big Rock Beer Gardens, where you can chill with friends at this kid friendly patio and still enjoy the music. Hang out in the beer gardens or take a brew to go. Don't miss a moment of the music: the Folk Fest has a site wide license so you can head back to your tarp with your beverage of choice.

The best thing about having a festival in downtown Calgary is that you are never far from some of the best restaurants and bars the city has to offer. You can find River Café , Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey , and Alforno Bakery  just a short walk from the festival.

Be ready for a cash-light experience

The Calgary Folk Music Festival is a cash-light event. Vendors will have their own payment options, but there will be no ATMs on site. Stash your debit and credit cards in your phone case or in a stylish fanny pack while you explore the festival grounds.

Come and Go with Re-entry

Once you have your festival wrist band you can come and go as you please. Use this freedom to meet some friends at a nearby restaurant, take a shopping break in nearby Kensington, or take a walk by the Bow River.

Avoid the Hectic Exit

At the end of each day thousands of people leave the grounds and head for their cars or public transit. To miss the congestion, hold back and wait out the rush. Let the crowd bottleneck and fill the streets. You’ll be chilling out in the grass as you reminisce over the memorable night at the Calgary Folk Music Festival.

Find Parking Close to the Grounds

Don’t let downtown Calgary parking deter you from the best party in town. There’s lots of inexpensive and safe parking around the Eau Claire district with inexpensive evenings and weekends at the Eau Claire Market, or street parking, which is free after 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday.

The Calgary Folk Music Festival is a super unique experience and they have a couple more resources to prepare you for the big weekend. Check out their own list of tips for the best festival experience  on slaying the Festival.