Folk Harbour Festival special editionThis special issue of Folk Lines highlights some essential information in preparation for the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival taking place from August 10 to 13, 2023. We outline what to bring, what to expect, what’s new this year, and more!
Festival passes and individual tickets There are plenty of options for taking in the music. The best is to buy a Festival pass. This gives unlimited access to all the venues for the full four days. If you discover new favourite artists, you will want to catch all their shows. There are also options for day passes (afternoon and evening) and single event tickets, outlined below.
Full Festival pass: $175 (age 26 and over) / $87.50 (age 25 and under) Day pass: $75 (age 26 and over) / $37.50 (age 25 and under) (includes afternoon and evening Main Stage concerts; Sunday Day pass does NOT include the Sunday gospel concert) Main Stage (evening) $45 (age 26 and over) / $22.50 (age 25 and under) Afternoon $45 (age 26 and over) / $22.50 (age 25 and under) Folk Steps $45 (age 26 and over) / $22.50 (age 25 and under) Sunday Morning Gospel Concert: $25 (age 26 and over) / $12.50 (age 25 and under) Morning Workshops Goodwill offering Bandstand Stage: Goodwill offering Wharf Stage: Goodwill offering
All ticket sales are final
Due to Fire Marshal capacity limits, ticket holders may not be admitted to venues that are full. Arrive early to secure your seats!Children aged 12 and under are admitted free with an accompanying adult, unless a show is sold out due to occupancy limits.Prices include ALL taxes.
Where and how to buy tickets in advanceOn-line: Ticketpro By phone: Ticketpro 1-888-311-9090 In person: Folk Harbour Office (before August 8) at 125 Montague St., Lunenburg, (902) 634-3180 or any Ticketpro location (e.g. Bridgewater Pharmasave). The Folk Harbour office is currently open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Festival Box Office and how to get your Festival wrist band / tickets To reduce traffic at the Folk Harbour office, the Box Office moves around the corner to Keller Williams Select Realty at 6 King St., Lunenburg from August 8 to 13. On these days, the Daytime Box Office at Keller Williams Realty will be open from 9 am to 5 pm.From August 10 to 13, there will also be an Evening Box Office at the Main Stage tent, operating each evening from 5:30 pm to closing. If you have a ticket in hand (paper or electronic), turn that in for your Festival tickets or wrist band at the first venue you visit.If you bought tickets in advance but left them for pick-up, go to the Daytime or Evening Box Office. Reminder: The Folk Harbour office is NOT the place to pick up tickets during the Festival!!
Parking Lunenburg has free, on-street parking, metered on-street parking, as well as parking lots. Options for parking are indicated in this map.
15 Green St., Lunenburg, Google maps A great option for parking is the Community Centre parking area at 15 Green St., Lunenburg. There is plenty of free parking and you can avoid some of the congestion in town during the weekend. This parking lot is an easy and scenic walk to downtown for most people, and Folk Harbour’s shuttles will be servicing this location (see below).
Getting around town Our Festival venues are located throughout Lunenburg (map is available here) and are an easy walk for most people. For those who need it, there will be a Shuttle Service available again this year. Visitors to the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival are invited to use a complimentary shuttle service. Each of our venues will be serviced by two shuttle vans on a continuous basis throughout the Festival, with service at each venue approximately every 10 minutes. If you need to access one of the shuttles, flag down a van that has the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival logo on the side of the vehicle. We welcome donations to help with the cost of the shuttles to allow this service to continue for years to come.
Special thanks to Saunders Motors, Bridgewater, and Payless Fuels for helping us to provide this service.
New this year: Wharf Stage is free with a goodwill offering While we have always had a Wharf Stage as a venue during the Folk Harbour Festival, this year the Wharf stage will not require a ticket or a pass for admission! The Folk Harbour Board of Directors made this decision to improve financial accessibility of our event. The Bandstand Stage remains a non-ticketed venue.We are encouraging people to make a goodwill offering at all of our non-ticketed venues, in recognition of the costs to put on an event of this calibre and to reflect that live music is something that has value. Please pay what you can. We will be able to accept contributions in cash and also by credit and debit cards via our new “Tiptap” machines.
When we say “Music by the Sea” we mean it! On the left are audience members enjoying the music on the Wharf at the 2022 Folk Harbour Festival (David and Freda Baillieul photo); on the right, Terra Spencer performs on the Wharf Stage with the Bluenose II in the background (Garry Woodcock photo).
Food Vendors at the Main Stage Our Festival offers food vendors inside the grounds of our Main Stage site each evening, beginning at 5:30 pm until the end of the night. We offer a wide variety of vendors, and there is always something for everyone! In accordance with our Festival greening policies, all vendors use compostable or recyclable utensils throughout the event. Vendors at the 2023 Folk Harbour Festival will be: 242 BAHAMA MAMAS DELICACIES: Specializing in Caribbean cuisine, including island smoke BBQ chicken, beverages, fritters, tacos, and island meat pockets. DRIFT COFFEE TRUCK: Drift Coffee offers quality espresso and brewed coffee, along with cold specialty drinks and baked goods. GALEFORCE FEASTS: Presenting a diverse menu of internationally inspired comfort foods, from savory meats to vegetarian and gluten-free options. LAS PALETAS DE JUAN: Handcrafted popsicles (paletas) made with seasonal Annapolis Valley fruits, offering flavors such as strawberry, lime, and blueberry lemonade. NELLIE’S TAKE OUT: Offering fries, fish & chips, scallops & chips, clams & chips, hot dogs, snacks like chips, chocolate bars, candy, and refreshing cold/hot beverages. SHORE LUNCH: A varied selection of healthy sushi, using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Committed to sustainability, Shore Lunch supports local farmers in delivering the finest culinary experience.
Vendors’ area at 2022 Festival, David and Freda Baillieul photo
Rain VenuesWe care about your comfort!! While we hope the sun shines on Folk Harbour, all outdoor venues move indoors in case of rain. The Wharf Stage moves to the Zwicker Wharf Building and the Lunenburg Bandstand moves to St. John’s Parish Hall.To date, rain has never resulted in cancellation of a Main Stage event. Our tent is modern and weather tight! However, heavy rains may restrict overflow seating outside the tent.
What to bring to Festival● a water bottle Folk Harbour is working very hard to reduce our environmental footprint. Please help us! Our vendors do not sell bottled water, but refill stations are available in Lunenburg, including near the Box Office at our Main Stage.
● a travel mug We have been told that there are NO compostable coffee cups that are accepted in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg’s compost facility; therefore, it is essential that people bring their own mugs.
● clothing for all weather conditions Be prepared for hot, sunny afternoons, and cool, breezy evenings. Except in the case of storms, some flaps of the Main Stage tent will be open to allow for air circulation, and outdoor seating and viewing. If you don’t want the fresh air, sit toward the middle of the tent and don’t forget to bring a blanket!
Folk Harbour VenuesFolk Harbour is distinct in that our venues are found throughout the UNESCO-heritage town of Lunenburg, and each stage has its own particular charm. We don’t want to brag, but we believe you won’t find more beautiful venues anywhere!
Main Stage tent, David and Freda Baillieul photoSpacious grounds at the Main Stage site on Blockhouse Hill, David and Freda Baillieul photo
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church The historic Lunenburg Opera House
Wharf stage, Garry Woodcock photo Central United Church, Jeffrey Dreves photo
The MusicNow that we have told you how to get tickets, about the venues and how to get between them, we should probably remind you what this is really about: the music!
This year’s Festival theme is “The Power of Song”, with Folk Steps highlighting “Women and the Power of Song”. Of course throughout the weekend, you can count on hearing a range of styles that includes Celtic, Francophone, zydeco, singer-songwriter, traditional, and others. There is truly something for everyone!
The full Festival schedule is available here. The list of performers can be found here.As with all live presentations, lineups and schedules are subject to change
Participating during the Festival There are plenty of ways to participate in the Festival. There are vocal and dance workshops, and people of all ages are encouraged to dance when the mood strikes! Below are photos of impromptu dancing at the Wharf Stage (David and Freda Baillieul photo), a Celtic Dance workshop (Garry Woodcock photo), and a young dancer at the Banstand Stage (Kerry Jarvis photo).
Young Fiddlers at the 2022 Festival, Garry Woodcock photo Val Meister Young Fiddlers On Saturday, August 12, young musicians of all skill levels are invited to participate in this long-standing Folk Harbour event. Even those who don’t play the fiddle can receive instruction on techniques for accompanists (guitar, bass, cello, harmonica, etc.)
Val Meister was a founder of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society, a Lifetime Friend of the Festival, a former member of the executive of the Society, and a fervent supporter of Folk Harbour. We gratefully acknowledge The Leanne Children’s Foundation for providing funding for the Val Meister Young Fiddlers Workshop so that we can offer this to young musicians free of charge. For more information or to register, contact the Folk Harbour office: (902) 634-3180, admin@folkharbour.com
Kerry Jarvis photo Volunteers We still have a need for people to help us put on this fantastic event. There is a particular need for those able to help with Site (e.g. setting up the Main Stage tent and seating), Box Office (taking tickets at the door to venues), In-Town Transportation (driving musicians between Festival venues), and Airport Transportation (picking up / dropping off musicians at the Halifax airport). If you can be a part of what makes our Festival so successful, please call the Folk Harbour office at (902) 634-3180 or e-mail admin@folkharbour.com
Need more information? ● the Folk Harbour website(www.folkharbour.com) is full of Festival details, including a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section ● the Festival guide book is printed and ready for your perusal! Copies can be picked up at the Folk Harbour office (125 Montague St., Lunenburg) ● the Folk Harbour office is open Monday to Friday. You can call at (902) 634-3180 if there is information you need but can’t find elsewhere, or e-mail admin@folkharbour.com ● as of Tuesday, August 8, please go to the Keller Williams Realty building at 6 King St., Lunenburg, to pick up a guide book; all Festival venues will have guide books, too!
Excitement is mounting as we approach another Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival. We hope this information helps you prepare to get as much as possible out of this event.
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Folk Harbour
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization. They are focused on preserving and celebrating the tradition of folk music through educational programs, youth scholarships and showcasing world-class musicians from across Canada, United States and beyond.
Parking
15 Green St., Lunenburg, Google maps
● a travel mug
● clothing for all weather conditions
Main Stage tent, David and Freda Baillieul photo
Spacious grounds at the Main Stage site on Blockhouse Hill, David and Freda Baillieul photo
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
The historic Lunenburg Opera House
Wharf stage, Garry Woodcock photo
Central United Church, Jeffrey Dreves photo
Young Fiddlers at the 2022 Festival, Garry Woodcock photo
Kerry Jarvis photo
Folk Harbour
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization. They are focused on preserving and celebrating the tradition of folk music through educational programs, youth scholarships and showcasing world-class musicians from across Canada, United States and beyond.