Peterborough Folk Festival Celebrates Milestone, Marking 35th Year of the Free Event

The Peterborough Folk Festival (PFF) hits a big milestone as they have launched the 35th edition of its free event, announced at Market Hall on Thursday afternoon.

Artist Missy Knott (left) and illustrator Brooklin Stormie Holbrough (right) help launch the Peterborough Folk Festival on its 35th anniversary. The latter created the design for this year’s Folk Festival. Photo by dAVID tUAN bUI.

The festival is set for Aug. 15-18 at the Nicholls Oval hillside.

“The dedication and commitment to this community that really keeps the festival going,” said Rob Davis, PFF Chair. “It's been through a lot of different people. It started in 1989 as just a half-day in Del Crary Park, moved up to Nicholls Oval in 1993 and started making use of that concrete bunker. It’s just grown and evolved every year.”

To celebrate the 35th year, illustrator Brooklie Stormie Holborough created a new design that launched the event. It was followed by a singing performance from the PFF’s Emerging Artist of the Year in 2009, Missy Knott.

PFF was able to obtain a major sponsor in Miskin Law for this year, a feat that had not been accomplished since 2017 according to Davis. This allows the Festival to attract more acts for the event.

The event is funded through grants, sponsorships and donations to keep it free. While the event has received enough money to cover all expenses, more sponsorships and donations are welcome to seek out more acts.

“Additional funds we raise, we try and give to our artistic director to hire a stronger performer lineup,” explained Davis. The more money we have, the stronger artists we can book.”

One aspect Davis touched on to help celebrate the 35th year is growing the Children’s Village to make kids a bigger focus for this year’s event.

“We've had an idea to introduce an instrument petting zoo for the kids so they can play some instruments and use them during the children's parade down the hill,” explained Davis. “Children and families have always been a big focus for the festival and we've always had children's performers on the Sunday. This year, we're doing it on the Saturday as well.”

PFF typically attracts more than 15,000 people each year, making it the second-largest cultural event in Peterborough.

Potential sponsors can email sponsor@peterboroughfolkfest.com and donations can be made online or at the event in person.

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