FASH seeks to encourage
greater participation in folk activities and one way that this happens
is through the many festivals around the country. Festivals are amazing;
they usually have a diverse range of people, of all ages, enjoying themselves
making music, singing, listening or dancing.
We have several festivals
in and around our area; for next year, the dates we have are...
- May Heydays at Evesham 2nd
- 5th May 2025. Draft programme already on website but warning "Don't
print it yet". Tickets available on-line or by mailing in a completed
booking form.
- Upton-upon-Severn Folk Festival
2nd - 5th May 2025. Early bird tickets available until the end of January.
Many of the artists' details already on the website - programme not
yet available.
- Whitchurch Folk Festival
10th May 2025. Second year of the Festival - just one day. Many artists
already anounced, tickets available via the website - note that total
numbers are limited so book early.
- Wolverton
Folk and Blues Fair 10th May 2025. Presently very little information
on the Facebook page.
- Winchester
Mayfest 17th May 2025. Free festival - lots of dance displays, some
other events. 2025 details still to be published.
- Chippenham Folk Festival
23rd - 26th May 2025. 'Early Bird' tickets now sold out. Many performers
announced, with more being added; no programme yet on the website.
- Wessex Folk Festival
31st May and 1st June 2025. No entrance fees to Wessex Festival, "warm-up"
session in the harbourside pubs on the Friday evening.
- Tangled Roots Festival
7th June 2025. Tickets available via the website but no festival details
yet.
- Wimborne Minster Folk Festival
6th - 8th June 2025. Individual event tickets and weekend tickets now
available. Details of the individual events on the website.
- Lichfield Folk Festival
20th - 22nd June 2025. Dance Festival - booking opens 6th January; 'earlybird'
prices held from 2024. Draft programme not yet on the website.
- New Forest Folk
Festival 2nd - 6th July 2025. 'Earlybird' tickets now sold out -
save £10 on the full price buy purchasing before the end of May.
Details of artists still to be posted on the website.
- Warwick Folk Festival
24th 27th July 2025. Ttickets already available, Some of the line-up
on the website but no detailed programme yet.
- Wickham Festival 31st July - 3th August 2025. "Tier
2 earlybird" tickets now available. Some of the line-up announced
but lots more to come.
- Sidmouth Folk Week
1st - 8th August 2025. Lots of information now on the website but no
detailed programme yet. Tickets on sale; check carefully that everything
you need is included in your choice of ticket -there are many options.
- Purbeck Valley
Folk Festival 14th - 17th August 2025. 'Earlybird' tickets presently
available saving £30 (adult). Some artists listings can be seen
on-line but but lots still "TBA".
- Lyme Folk Weekend 22nd - 25th
August 2025. Lyme Regis Folk Festival. No information at all yet. Dates
are presumed.
- Found Festival 22nd -
24th August 2025. No Towersey Festival this year. Perhaps consider Found
Festival? Claydon Estate, Buckingham. Rather more than a folk festival
maybe, no menu bar on the website - click on the three lines top right
of the home page.
- Wallingford Bunkfest 29th -
31st August 2025. No information yet other than the date, on the webite.
- Swanage Folk Festival 5th - 7th September 2025. Some
free events. Weekend tickets cover the evening events; afternoon concerts
are extra. Tickets already on sale.
- Southdowns Folk Festival
(Bognor Regis) 19th - 21st September 2025. No details yet.
- Malmesbury Folk and
Roots Festival 20th September 2025. No details yet.
The list is far from exhaustive and there are many other festivals further
afield. Most of the Folk Festivals in the UK are listed here.
Sadly, EFDSS, who used to have a comprehensive list, no longer seem to
be listing Folk Festivals.
All these festivals
vary. Some are all about Morris dance displays with perhaps a ceilidh
one evening, others are all about dancing, or listening to bands on stages.
There are also festivals which have a wide range of workshops, dances,
concerts and displays. Some festivals are in towns with hotel accommodation,
others have camping.
If anyone cares to
write about any other festivals, then it would be great. Please send them
to the Solent Waves Editor or
see our contacts page
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