Dive Into Shrewsbury Folk Fest: Music, Dance, Yoga & More Await!

The Shrewsbury Folk Festival is one of the most anticipated events in the folk music world, and it is returning to Shropshire this year. The festival will be held at the West Midlands Showground from August 28 to August 31. Thousands of people are expected to attend, and the event promises a packed schedule with live music, dancing, workshops, and a youth festival. Some of the big names performing include Northern Irish folk singer Cara Dillon, Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders, Fantastic Negrito, Dustbowl Revival, and Talisk x Gardener Brothers: Unleashed.

If you are planning to attend, it is important to know when you can arrive. Thursday camping ticket holders can enter the site from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Friday camping ticket holders can arrive from 7:00 am. If you have a day ticket, you can enter from 12:00 pm on Friday and from 9:00 am on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The festival officially starts at 3:00 pm on Friday and ends around midnight. On Saturday and Sunday, the music and activities begin at noon and continue until 12:45 am. On Monday, the festival starts at noon and wraps up at 6:00 pm. Make sure you have your e-ticket ready before you arrive.

The festival is located at West Midlands Showground, Berwick Road, Shrewsbury, SY1 2PF. There is a large car park on site. Campers receive a free car park pass when they arrive, while non-campers can book parking online or pay with cash or card on the day. The car park opens at noon on Friday and is managed by volunteers during the day and watched by security at night. If you prefer public transport, National Express coaches travel to Shrewsbury, and there are special buses running between the festival and the town on Saturday and Sunday. These buses leave every 15 minutes from gate 1 and run from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The Shrewsbury train station is only a 10 to 15-minute walk from the showground. If you are cycling, you can lock your bike to a chainlink fence at the edge of the festival.

The festival features five main stages: Severn, Pengwern, Sabrina, Village, and the Dance Tent. Each stage will host a variety of musical acts throughout the four days. The full schedule is available online. Barbecues are allowed, but only if they are properly built and at least 18 inches off the ground. Open fires and disposable barbecues are not permitted. Organizers recommend keeping a bucket of water or sand nearby for safety and remind everyone to keep barbecues away from tents and caravans. They also advise checking for updates about fire safety, especially if the weather is dry.

In addition to music, the festival offers a wide range of activities. There are yoga and pilates classes each morning, and a special children’s festival called Pandemonium! for kids from birth to 11 years old. This area includes music, dance, crafts, storytelling, and drama. Teenagers aged 11 to 20 can visit Refolkus, a space for music, dance, circus skills, henna tattooing, and more. The Siskin Folk Club is a dedicated venue for sing-a-rounds, music sessions, and the festival choir, which will also host a multi-faith gathering on Sunday morning. There are also workshops for singing, songwriting, playing instruments, and crafting. With so much to do, the Shrewsbury Folk Festival is a great event for music lovers, families, and anyone looking to experience the joy of folk culture.