Taking place at beautiful Jericho Beach in July each year, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival was one of the Lower Mainland’s premier music festivals.
In 2022 the festival took place on the weekend of July 15th to 17th. It was an awesome event (as always)!
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is scheduled to return from July 14th to 16th in 2023. It may happen in a slightly scaled down format, but exact details are to be confirmed.
In this article you’ll find information about the following:
Admission | Concerts Schedule | What to Expect | The Music | Beer Garden | Festival Food | Artisan Market | Festival Advice | Other Information
Click on any of the above links to jump to a specific topic, or continue reading to learn all about the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.
MUSIC FESTIVALS IN FORT LANGLEY & MISSION
There are a couple of other festivals that you might be interested in. The Odlum Brown Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival takes place around the same time as the folk music festival. In 2023 it runs from July 20th to 23rd. The Mission Folk Music Festival is another great event. It happens in 2023 on July 21st to 23rd.
Folk Festival at Jericho Beach
Attracting tens of thousands of folk music enthusiasts over the three days, the festival used to feature over 60 performances from artists from over a dozen different countries.
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival returned with in-person entertainment on July 15th to 17th in 2022.
In 2023 the festival runs on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of July 14th to 16th. Additional details are to be confirmed.
For full details about the event see the Vancouver Folk Music Festival website.

Admission to Folk Fest
Performances at the 2022 festival ran on the Friday from about 4:00 until 11:00 pm, and on the Saturday and Sunday from around noon until 11:00 pm.
You could buy tickets for the whole weekend or for just one or two out of the three days.
Full Weekend Tickets
Below were the ticket prices for the full weekend in 2022. Early-bird prices were about $30 or so less. 2023 details are to be confirmed.
- Adults: $254.03 in advance and $275.66 at the gate
- Students and Seniors (65+): $221.58 in advance and $243.21 at the gate
- Youth (ages 13-18): $221.58 in advance and $243.21 at the gate
- Children (12 and under): free when accompanied by a paying adult
Below were ticket prices for each of the three days for people not wanting to attend the entire weekend. As of July 2022, the price was the same when purchased online or at the gate. 2023 prices may be comparable.
Friday Evening Tickets
- Adults: $79.41
- Students and Seniors (65+): $57.78
- Youth (ages 13-18): $57.78
- Children (12 and under): free when accompanied by a paying adult
Saturday & Sunday Tickets
- Adults: $140.47
- Students and Seniors (65+): $118.84
- Youth (ages 13-18): $118.84
- Children (12 and under): free when accompanied by a paying adult

2022 Concerts Schedule
There were nearly 40 musical acts announced for the festival as of mid-May, 2022. Here were some of the headliners for 2022:
- Alejandro Escovedo – he has been touring for over 40 years and continues to release music in a range of genres.
- Allison Russell – a Canadian artist who just released her first solo (and Grammy-nominated) album last year.
- Asleep at the Wheel – a Texan band that has toured with a rotating cast of members for 50 years.
- The Bros Landreth – a Juno award-winning alternative music duo from Winnipeg.
- Frazey Ford – a Vancouver-based folk artist who released her third album in 2020.
- Haley Heynderickx – this Filipino-American artist draws on influences from the 1960s and 70s in her music.
- Molly Tuttle – an American artist who is a two-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Guitar Player of the Year award.
- The New Pornographers – a local indie rock band that was originally formed by half a dozen musicians from various groups.
- Robben Ford – a five-time Grammy nominated blues musicians most known for his electric guitar skills.
- Shovels & Rope – this duo combines folk, country and rock in their music and tour across North America.
- Taj Mahal – this blues artist is a multi-time Grammy winner and recipient of an Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
Other artists scheduled to perform in 2022 were Beledrone, Five Alarm Funk, RevoluSon, Witch Project and many more. For the full list of artists visit the Vancouver Folk Fest website.
Below is the schedule of performances from the 2022 Vancouver Folk Music Festival. 2023 details are to be confirmed.
Note: Schedule location and performer details were subject to change.

Friday July 15th (2022) Concerts
Friday Evening Concerts on the MAIN STAGE
- 5:45 pm – Musqueam Ceremonial Opening
- 6:00 pm – The Bros Landreth
- 7:15 pm – Robben Ford
- 8:30 pm – Frazey Ford
- 9:45 pm– Taj Mahal
Friday Evening Concerts on the East Stage
Friday Evening Concerts on the West Stage
- 4:30 pm – Golosa La Orquesta
Friday Evening Concerts on South Stage
- 3:50 pm – VILDÁ
- 5:05 pm – Stringband Sundae
For the most up-to-date information about the festival see the Vancouver Folk Fest website.
Saturday July 16th (2022) Concerts and Workshops
Saturday Evening Concerts on the MAIN STAGE
- 6:00 pm – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
- 7:20 pm – Asleep At The Wheel
- 8:40 pm – Allison Russell
- 10:00 pm – The New Pornographers
Saturday Concerts and Workshops on the East Stage
- 12:00 pm – Beledrone
- 1:15 pm – What’s In a Name: with Suzie Ungerleider, Quote The Raven and Housewife
- 2:30 pm – Bella White
- 3:45 pm – Haley Heynderickx
- 5:00 pm – Ford Pier
Saturday Concerts and Workshops on the West Stage
- 12:15 pm – Kanatal
- 1:35 pm – Swing Time: with Lache Cercel Roma Jazz and Christine Tassan et les Imposteurs
- 2:55 pm – The Power of Three: with SINNOI, VILDÁ and Witch Prophet
- 4:15 pm – Five Alarm Glo: with Golosa La Orquesta and Five Alarm Funk
Saturday Concerts and Workshops on the South Stage
- 12:00 pm – Golden White Highway: with Molly Tuttle, Bella White and Stringband Sundae
- 1:15 pm – Fortune Block
- 2:30 pm – Lennie Gallant
- 3:45 pm – Suzie Ungerleider
- 5:00 pm – Once in a Blue Moon: with Russell deCarle and Duke Robillard with Blue Moon Marquee
For the most up-to-date information about the festival see the Vancouver Folk Fest website.
Sunday July 17th (2022) Concerts and Workshops
Sunday Evening Concerts on the MAIN STAGE
- 6:00 pm – SGaanaGwa
- 7:20 pm – Shovels & Rope
- 8:40 pm – Alejandro Escovedo
- 10:00 pm – Five Alarm Funk
Sunday Concerts and Workshops on the East Stage
- 12:00 pm – RevoluSon
- 1:15 pm – Quote The Raven
- 2:30 pm – Russell deCarle
- 3:45 pm – Heartworn Highways: with Ford Pier, Fortune Block and Alejandro Escovedo
- 5:00 pm – Clerel
For full details about the event see the Vancouver Folk Music Festival website.
Sunday Concerts and Workshops on the West Stage
- 12:15 pm – Christine Tassan et les Imposteurs
- 1:30 pm – We Are Family: with Haley Heynderickx, Shovels & Rope and The Bros Landreth
- 2:50 pm – Witch Prophet
- 4:05 pm – Muy Caliente!: with RevoluSon and Tom & Kalissa Landa
Sunday Concerts and Workshops on South Stage
- 12:00 pm – Sunday Soul Healing: with Allison Russell, Frazey Ford and Clerel
- 1:50 pm – Blue Moon Marquee with Duke Robillard
- 3:05 pm – Lache Cercel Roma Jazz
- 4:20 pm – Debashish Bjattacharya
What to Expect at Folk Fest
At the Vancouver Folk Music Festival you can expect three days of amazing folk music performances by dozens of international singers and bands on multiple stages spread out over the lawns at the park by beautiful Jericho Beach.
You can also expect thousands of people enjoying not only the music, but also the beer garden, festival food and artisan market. There are also special activities for children, like face painting and crafts.
Folk Fest Music
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival attracts some fairly big names in the folk music world. If you’re really into folk music, you will likely have heard of a number of each year’s performers. If you like folk music but aren’t seriously into it, however, then you might have heard of one or two.
In 2016, the headliner for the final night was Bruce Cockburn. In 2017 one of the main bands was The Bare Naked Ladies. 2018 bands included Alex Cuba and Les Poules à Colin.
Music is played from multiple stages in different areas of the park at the same time, so if you find you don’t like what you’re listening to, chances are pretty good you’ll find something you love pretty close by.
For a look at the festival venue, click Folk Fest Site Map.

Festival Beer Garden
At the Vancouver Folk Music Festival there is of course a beer garden which serves both wine and beer. The beer garden area has tons of tables, many of which have umbrellas for shade. The host brewing in 2022 was Whistler Brewing.
A gazillion people attend the festival of course, so be prepared to wait in line to get your drinks at popular times, or simply keep your eye on the line as it has both busy times and slow times. One of the best places to be at the festival though, without a doubt, is at the beer garden!
For full details about the festival visit thefestival.bc.ca.
Folk Festival Food
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival always has a great selection of food for sale – everything from healthy vegan dishes, to ethnic cuisine to junk food. There’s something for everyone, and most of it is really delicious!
Most of the food vendors are concentrated in sort of a food court area in the northeast corner of the festival venue, which is convenient as it means everyone in your group can find something they like all in the same general place.

The Artisan Market
The Artisan Market at the festival was truly impressive. It usually featured over 100 vendors selling all kinds of beautiful and interesting things. It was a great market!
For the weekend of the festival, the Folk Fest Artisan Market was arguably the best market in the Lower Mainland.
At the market you’d find everything from handmade soaps to African drums to colourful Guatemalan clothing. You’ll also find hats, bags, Persian rugs, sunglasses, hemp clothing, all kinds of jewellery and even vendors offering shiatsu massages and palm readings. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, it’s interesting just taking a look.

Folk Festival Advice
Below are some tips to help you make the most out of your Vancouver Folk Music Festival experience.
TIP #1: If you’ve never been to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival before, unless you really don’t like music, go! The evening headliner concerts, for example, alone are worth the price of a full day’s ticket.
TIP #2: If you’re not sure if you’ll like the festival, or if you’re not even sure if you like folk music, just go to Jericho Beach for part of the day and check it out from a distance. If it turns out you like what you see and hear, then either buy a ticket and go inside or plan to do so in the following year.
TIP #3: If you order your tickets online at least three days in advance you’ll save yourself a few dollars.
TIP #4: People say that in past years when it has rained the event was still incredible. Beautiful sunny weather for an outdoor music festival is ideal. If the weather isn’t perfect though, don’t let that stop you.
For full details about the concerts see the Vancouver Folk Music Festival website.

Suggestions on What to Take
TIP #3: Take a water bottle. It can be hot at Jericho Beach in July and the Festival provides water stations where you can refill your bottle. And if you think you’ll really need cooling off, take your swimsuit too – the ocean can be freezingly cold, but Jericho Beach is one of Vancouver’s finest. Also, time your dip in the water when the tide is coming in. If the sand is hot the water warms remarkably.
TIP #6: Take public transit if you can, or ride your bike, because with thousands of festival goers all at the same place, parking can be a nightmare. Take good walking shoes and don’t be surprised if you have to walk a considerable distance, like from as far as the western end of Spanish Banks some four or so kilometres away. If driving, go early and try your luck. Or, if you can, put bicycles on your bike rack and plan to park and then cycle. (Note: there is a large secure bicycle parking area at the main (East) entrance just off 4th Avenue. Bicycle parking there usually costs about $2.)
Folk Fest Video
To give you an idea of what to expect, below is a short video clip of people having fun at the festival from a few years ago.
Other Information
See the Folk Fest Website for further information on the Festival in general.
To see a layout of the festival from 2022, click Festival Site Map.
Check out Vancouver’s Best Places’ July Calendar for other great events taking place this same month, or the Vancouver Festival Calendar for a list of the Lower Mainland’s other top events and festivals.
Click Free Summer Concerts for a list of other music venues in July and August.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver Shows and Entertainment
- Mission Folk Music Festival
- Vancouver’s Best Beaches
- Vancouver on a Budget
- Vancouver Nightclubs and Music Venues