The inaugural Winnipeg Folk Festival was held in 1974 in Birds Hill Provincial Park on Treaty 1 territory and homeland of the Métis people, as a one-time celebration to mark Winnipeg’s 100th anniversary.
It was a free event and attracted an estimated audience of 22,000 over the three-day weekend. While our organization has grown considerably since then, the gathering in 1974 created a community and laid down important roots in Birds Hill Provincial Park that remain strong today. Forty-six years later, the organization has grown considerably but kept true to its important musical and community roots.
The summer …