Mission Folk Music Festival

The Mission Folk Music Festival is a three-day music festival. It features a wide range of concerts in Mission at the Fraser River Heritage Park in July.

In 2022 the festival took place as an in-person event on the weekend of July 22nd to the 24th. Some of the artists performing that year included William Prince, Le Winston Band, Shred Kelly, the McDades and other great bands.

The festival is back in 2023 celebrating its 36th year and takes place from July 21st to 23rd.

For tickets and the most up-to-date information visit the event’s official website at missionfolkmusicfestival.ca.

Mission Folk Fest

The Mission Folk Music Festival usually happens on the last weekend in July. In normal years, it’s a fair-sized festival at a beautiful venue that attracts dozens of performers and thousands of local folk-music enthusiasts.

What to Expect at the Festival in Mission

In a typical year, at the Mission Folk Music Festival you can expect around four or so stages with performances taking place throughout each of the 2.5 days. Some people camp overnight at the festival right on site. Others attend just for the day.

At the venue there’s a camping area, an artisan market, and a Wee Folks Area for children. There are also usually half a dozen or so food trucks and a licensed bistro.

The Mission Folk Music Festival isn’t a huge event, but it’s pretty big, and a nice one. It’s also family-friendly and attracts a wide range of music lovers. As many as 1,500 people show up on the busiest days.

Musicians at some stages attract small crowds, while others attract the majority of attendees. Most of the musicians are local, but the quality of play is very high. Overall, it’s a fabulous event and highly recommended!

OTHER FESTIVALS

Another great event happening on the same weekend as the one in Mission is the Odlum Brown Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival. It happens on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of July 20th to 23rd in 2023. One week before, there’s also the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. It runs from Friday, July 14th, until Sunday, July 16th. Both are incredible events and highly recommended!

Festival Details

Festival details for 2023’s music festival are still to be confirmed as of the early spring.

In 2022 over 20 artists performed for in-person audiences. Musical acts taking the stage that year included the following:

William Prince – a Peguis First Nations artist from Manitoba who sings country-folk inspired by gospel and more.
Shred Kelly – a five-piece alternative folk-rock band from Fernie, BC.
Shakura S’Aida – talented and powerful vocalist from Brooklyn currently residing in Ontario.
Golosa La Orquesta – an explosive mixture of Latin American rhythms with rock and jazz sounds from Chile.
Ayanasabee – an Oji-Cree singer, songwriter and musician from Ontario with folk and R&B tunes.
The McDades – an award-winning Celtic-rooted music group with a jazz twist.
Clerel – a smooth-toned vocalist who grew up in Cameroon inspired by Afrobeat and classic records.
Le Winston Band – an energetic band from Montreal with a hybrid of Zydeco, French-Canadian and rock music.

For full details see the Mission Folk Music Festival website.

More Bands in 2022

Below were some more of the artists at the Mission Folk Music Festival in 2022.

Russell DeCarle – a singer and songwriter who has won many Juno awards for his jazz and blues-inspired music.
Puuluup – a duo from Estonia play the talharpas and offer traditional yet modern folklore.
Kanatal – a small creative band from Taiwan perform experimental music involving multiple genres.
Ronnie Dean Harris – a multimedia artist specializing in original Indigenous hip hop.
Amanda Rheaume – an award-winning Métis singer from Ontario with a clear voice and many guitar-driven ballads.
Lonesome Town Painters – a traditional bluegrass quartet with a raw and edgy sound.
Graham Lindsey – an energetic and talented musician with a passion for Celtic music.
Quote the Raven – a Newfoundland-duo with smooth harmonies and an almost haunting aesthetic.
Good Medicine Songs – a powerful showcase of the Halq’eméylem language and culture.
The Crescent Sky – an indie-folk quartet from BC with acoustic strings and soaring harmonies.
Strongbow and Wry – friendly fiddlers host uplifting musical sessions.
Robert Sarazin Blake – an interesting songwriter from Bellingham with folk-inspired songs.

For full details see the Mission Folk Music Festival website.

2022 Schedule

Below is a list of artists who performed on each date of the festival in 2022. The shows began in the early evening and went on into the night.

Friday, July 22nd, 2022

6:15 pm – Lonesome Town Painters
6:55 pm – Special Guest
7:30 pm – Kanatal
8:30 pm – Aysanabee
9:15 pm – Quote the Raven
10:00 pm – Shred Kelly

Saturday, July 23rd, 2022

5:00 pm – The Crescent Sky
5:45 pm – Amanda Rheaume
6:35 pm – Good Medicine Songs
7:25 pm – Puuluup
8:15 pm – Ronnie Dean Harris
9:00 pm – Shakura S’Aida
10:00 pm – Le Winston Band

Sunday, July 24th, 2022

5:00 pm – Robert Sarazin Blake
5:45 pm – The McDades
6:45 pm – Clerel
7:30 pm – Russell DeCarle
8:30 pm – Golosa La Orquestra
9:30 pm – William Prince

Festival Location

In 2021 the performances all happened online. However, in 2022 the festival took place at the Fraser River Heritage Park which is located at 7494 Mary Street just above the Fraser River in the town of Mission, BC. The 2023 festival happens at the same venue.

Mission is a community in the Fraser Valley just north of Abbotsford.

Admission

Admission to the festival depends on your age, when you buy your tickets and whether you plan to camp.

Up until May 31st in 2022, weekend and camping passes were available online. To start, weekend passes cost about $105 for adults, $90 for students and seniors and $50 for teenagers. Camping packages cost an additional $5 to $30 per person.

In June 2022, prices increased to $125 for adults, $105 for students and seniors and $55 for teenagers. They increased again in price slightly if you bought on the days of the event. Children ages 12 and under entered for free regardless.

For full details see the Mission Folk Music Festival website.

Mission Folk Fest Market — Folk Festival Food Trucks and Vendor Stalls

Other Information

Parking is usually available on site by donation, both in the regular paved parking lot and on the grass in a field. Except for at times when admission is by donation or when a major band is playing, parking spots are typically available.

For more information see the Mission Folk Music Festival website.

For a list of other major Lower Mainland events throughout the year, click Festivals & Events.

Other articles that might be of interest include the following: