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