Folk Festival ticket sales on pace to beat last year’s total

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This article was published 01/07/2018 (2273 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Days before performers take the stage at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, ticket sales are on pace to surpass last year’s numbers.

The festival takes place this weekend – July 5 to 8 – at Birds Hill Provincial Park, with headliners including Sheryl Crow, Passenger, Bahamas, the Strumbellas and Courtney Barnett scheduled to grace the mainstage.

Both the number of early bird and advance tickets sold in 2018 have exceeded 2017 sales, Lynne Skromeda, executive director of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, told the Free Press Monday.

“We have a really strong line-up this year, all through the weekend,” she said.

“Of course, Sheryl Crowe being on the Sunday night, it’s a very recognizable name and people are excited to see her. Sunday in particular, even just looking at our individual day sales, Sunday’s our strongest selling day so far.”

The cumulative attendance last year totalled more than 72,000 people over the four-day event.

“Based on what we’re seeing, we’re set to meet that, if not surpass it,” said Skromeda, who has headed up the festival since 2012.

“We had a strong year last year, so people want to come back for the experience again.”

All three campgrounds in the park sold out last year, and with only two days until the festival campgrounds open, the provincial campground is sold out and there are no more RV spots left on the festival site; however, Skromeda said there is still room for RVs in the quiet campground area and plenty of space for tents in both festival and quiet camping areas.

Last-minute attendees can buy tickets at the front gate, while children under 12 get in free. Prices vary from an adult four-day pass with festival camping at $334 to single-day passes for $75 Thursday and $90 the other three days.

Festival employees have been setting up the park since June 11.

“We put up over 100 tents over the course of the weekend. We’re in the homestretch now,” Skromeda said.

With the ground setup well underway, the director said staff are also getting prepared for any mind-altering substance abuse. All security guards and first aid staff are trained in naloxone administration and will have kits on them, she said, adding they didn’t have to use them last year so she doesn’t expect they will need them this year.

 

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie