As the Winnipeg Folk Festival celebrates its 50th festival this week, the Manitoba government is honouring the event’s legacy and the volunteers who make this premier event possible by unveiling commemorative highway signage and announcing more than $1 million in upgrades to Birds Hill Provincial Park, the long-time home of the festival.
A section of Provincial Trunk Highway 59 will be designated ‘Winnipeg Folk Fest Volunteer Way’, as a tribute to the hundreds of volunteers who return each year to support one of Canada’s most beloved music festivals, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor noted.
“Winnipeg Folk Festival is one of Canada’s premier outdoor music festivals and part of the reason for this success is the hundreds of volunteers that return year after year,” said Naylor. “These commemorative signs are just a small way that our government is acknowledging the legacy of this festival and the importance of arts and culture in Manitoba.”
The Winnipeg Folk Festival, taking place from July 10 to 13, draws tens of thousands of attendees each year and relies on a dedicated volunteer force to manage everything from stage operations and hospitality to traffic, safety and environmental efforts.
“We are here today because of the volunteers that built and sustain the Winnipeg Folk Festival,” said Valerie Shantz, executive director, Winnipeg Folk Festival. “Seeing our volunteers acknowledged this way, on the eve of our 50th festival, honours the heart and energy they bring to the festival each year. They create the community and culture that draws people to our event. Without their dedication, there is no Winnipeg Folk Festival.”
“The Winnipeg Folk Festival has been a beacon of creativity, community and culture for over 50 years in Manitoba,” said Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Nellie Kennedy. “This organization has brought together artists and audiences, showcasing the diverse voices and music that help define Manitoba. Our government is pleased to celebrate this milestone with them.”
In addition to capital funding, the Winnipeg Folk Festival is receiving $105,000 this year from the Manitoba Arts Council, which supports artists, arts professionals, Indigenous knowledge keepers and cultural organizations provincewide, added Kennedy.
The Department of Municipal and Northern Relations is also providing the Winnipeg Folk Festival with $25,000 this year to support its 50th anniversary Storytelling Series project.
“The Winnipeg Folk Festival’s Storytelling Series is a powerful way to honour the voices and histories that have shaped this iconic event over the past 50 years,” said Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard. “Our government is proud to support this project, which brings people together through shared stories and celebrates the vibrant spirit of Manitoba communities.”
Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes also announced that more than $1 million will be invested in critical park upgrades, as part of the capital investment in Manitoba parks from Budget 2025. The improvements will benefit festivalgoers and park users alike and support Birds Hill Provincial Park as a key cultural and recreational destination.
“Birds Hill Provincial Park is one of the most visited parks in Manitoba and has been home to the Winnipeg Folk Festival for five decades,” said Moyes. “This investment reflects our government’s commitment to making provincial parks more accessible and welcoming for the thousands who attend Folk Fest and for families who enjoy our parks all year long.”
Park improvements include picnic shelter upgrades, campground road improvements, tree planting and upgrades to sewer systems and group-use area washrooms. In addition, recent infrastructure improvements include a newly completed water treatment plant.
