Come back and mingle with the people wherever you come to Old Poole Farm.
After a year-long hiatus, the Philadelphia Folk Festival returns Friday through Sunday with a fresh burst of energy and nostalgia, courtesy of the Philadelphia Folksong Society, ready to rock, roll and revel in the rhythms and transformative power of folk that has enchanted the community with its tradition for six decades.
The Philadelphia Folk Festival is located at 1323 Salford Station Road on the Old Pool Farm near Schwenksville in Upper Salford Township. Enter “Harleysville” into the GPS.
Camping is permitted at the event. More information can be found here. Pets and ground fires are not permitted.
This year’s comeback will feature a special guest whose performance will touch the soul and heart of music lovers across the region – John Oates from North Wales Borough. Oates’ legendary partnership with Pottstown’s Darryl Hall produced smooth harmonies and chart hits that are now the soundtrack to countless lives.
Oates will perform on the Martin Stage on Friday at 7pm. RUNA will close out Saturday night with a performance at 10.45pm.
Gangstagrass will also be on the bill next weekend alongside Oates, playing on the main stage at the Martin on Friday night from 11:15 p.m. to midnight.
You can find all the stage plans here.
Admission is free for all children under four years.
A Friday day pass costs $100, $55 for youth ages 12-17, and $10 for children ages 5-11. A Saturday day pass, youth ages 12-17, and youth ages 5-11 are $120, $60, and $10, respectively. A Sunday day pass costs $105 for adults, $55 for youth ages 12-17, and $10 for youth ages 5-11.
An all-festival ticket is $250 for adults over the weekend, $120.50 for youth 12-17 and $5 for youth 5-11. Camping is $300 for the weekend, $148 for youth 12-17 and $15 for youth 5-11. VIP tent camping is $535 and VIP RV camping is $590. Special rates are available for RVs over 21 feet in length.
The festival is selling a family four-pack for the entire festival and camping for $775 and a family four-pack for the entire festival without camping for $650.
All ticket prices and information can be found here.
The event includes seven stages: Camp Stage, Craft Stage, Culture Tent, Dulcimer Grove, Lobby Stage, Tank Stage and Martin Stage.
The festival was more digital than ever this year. An app called Upped Events can be downloaded for Android and iPhone and features the full festival schedule, a map, all the food and craft stalls, and more.
Volunteers for the weekend event are welcome to sign up with a volunteer ticket. There are numerous volunteer committees that could use help for the festival.
Food vendors include Zuzu Confections (frozen fruit hand-dipped in chocolate and rolled in toppings. Vegan and dairy-free available); Brood Coffee Truck; Humpty’s Dumplings (cheesesteak, buffalo chicken, dessert dumplings); Thai Town at Chaiyo Grill; Virginia Foods (Mediterranean); and Upper Salford Fire Co., which will sell a classic American menu with all proceeds benefiting the volunteer fire department.
Frozen Island Frozen Treats, Hot Box Catering and the Skippack Lions Club serve food at the campground.
Here is a list of artists scheduled for the event:
A Day Without Love * Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt * Adam Ezra Group * AJ Lee & Blue Summit * Alexis P. Suter Band * Alice Howe & Freebo * ANARKHIPOV * Angelique Francis * Charlie Rutan (bagpiper) * BeauSoleil with Michael Doucet * Bethlehem and Sad Patrick * Brendan & Ryan * Calvin Arsenia * Cassie & Maggie * Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxers Old Time Coalition with Becky Hill & Rachel Eddy * FROM CHINA TO APPALACHIA with Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer & Chao Tian * Christine Havrilla * Craig Bickhardt with Aislinn Bickhardt, Michael G Ronstadt & Tom Hampton * Crys Matthews * CubiZm * Dave Gunning * Dom Flemons * Dylan Zangwill * Edge Hill Rounders * Ellis Paul * Gangstagrass * Gathering Time * Geneviève Racette * Give & Take Jugglers * Great Groove Band JP Cormier * Jack Murray * Jackson Pines * Jefferson Berry & the UAC * Jersey Corn Pickers * Jess Klein * John Flynn * John Gallager JR * John Oates * Jon Töpfer * Jonathan Byrd * Kicking Down Doors * Last Chance * Lenny Kaye * Mara Levine with Gathering Time * Mary Battiata * Matt Pless * Meghan Cary * MIKE MILLER sings again with Rich Myers, Scotty Rovner and friends * Miss Emily * Mr. David C. Perry * Ms Rachel * Nigel Wearne Persistent * Resistors * Pete Muller & Kindred Souls * Gina Leigh * Roland Kushner * Rolly Brown * Roy Book Binder * RUNA * The Secret Sisters * Shanna in a Dress * SOUND HEALING with Giselle Gorgi * Stephen Wade * Sug Daniels * The Faux Paws * The Honey Badgers * The Hoppin Boxcars * Theo Kandel * Tony Trischka’s EARLJAM – A Homage to Earl Scruggs * Turtle Ridge * Two of a Kind * Windborne * YOGA with Gina Molinari * Rounds Singing with Gathering Time *
