Nominations now open for the Emerging Artist Award!

The Emerging Artist Award was created in 2001 to recognize upcoming talented local musicians. Since then, the award has been given to 11 artists who have used the opportunities provided as a springboard to advance their career. You can read more about past winners by visiting our Emerging Artist page.

Are you a terrific, up-and-coming musician in the Peterborough area?   The Emerging Artist Award exists to support and celebrate incredible local talent, offering guaranteed slots at the festival, and a trip to the Ontario Council of Folk Festival’s annual conference.

Artists are encouraged to self-nominate, and the deadline is May 31, 2012! Nominate yourself or a deserving artist now!

PFF 2012 – August 24 – 26!

Friday August 24, 8pm  Kick-Off Concert at The Market Hall
Join us to celebrate our 23nd festival at the beautifully-renovated Market Hall Theatre.

Saturday August 25, 11am – 11pm FREE Day-long Festival
In beautiful Nicholls Oval, there’s nothing like the sweet sounds of great music drifting over you as you check out an up-and-coming band,  try a hand-drumming workshop, browse the Artisan crafts, munch on delicious food from our vendors, or dance the night away under the stars.  A terrific Children’s Village (close to the washrooms!) keeps the kids happy with story telling and crafts, and a sense of community fills you as you see your neighbours and friends stroll the festival.  Materials for all workshops supplied free-of-charge, but space may be limited.

Sunday August 26, noon – 5pm FREE Workshops and Community Gathering
New this year: It’s our Do-It-Yourself Festival Day in beautiful Millennium Park by the Silver Bean Cafe. Sunday’s all about putting the folk in folk festival (that’s you!), with free hands-on instrument, music and movement workshops for adults and children, the Musical Petting Zoo, community performances, and not least: mass picnicking

Materials for all workshops supplied free-of-charge, but space may be limited.

The PFF is a small festival with a great heart; a sweetness pervades the weekend that has to do with the kindness of our volunteers, the skill of our artists, and the landscape itself, not to mention the community that surrounds us.  A true City festival on the banks of the mighty Otonabee River, we’re a little removed from the hustle and bustle of the downtown, but still close enough to bike, walk, skate, or canoe to all of our events.

We Love Our Volunteers!

Want to join a terrific team of enthusiastic, dedicated people? Email pffvolunteers@gmail.com for details, or check our Volunteering Page for a list of current needs.

The PFF is an entirely volunteer-run organization, and we couldn’t do a thing without the 100+ volunteers who help us out every year. Over at Festival Command we’re coming up with bigger and better projects, and lots of terrific ways to get involved. We’re looking for kind, ethical people who can set aside a little time from their summer to make some magic.

Most of the jobs are a light time commitment, and we can train you even if you have no experience. You’d be joining a great team and making a real difference at the festival and in the community.

Greening the Festival

Last year’s Green Team initiatives were a terrific success, and we’re hoping to do more this year – but we can’t without your help! We’re looking for volunteers for our Green initiatives; people with a passion for the festival, and for making us an environmentally-friendly as possible. Click on through to the Green Festival page to find out more about what we’re doing, and what you can do to help.

Remember to lug a mug, plates, cutlery and a water bottle! Dish washing is available on site, or you can pay a deposit to use our plates.

The Generation Solar Stage is 100% solar energy, provided by our generous sponsors Generation Solar.

We’ve also opted for Jerico t-shirts , printed by our good friends at Renegade Apparel –  manufactured in Toronto and screen-printed right here in town. Beautiful, sustainable, and anti-bacterial – all the things we strive for at the festival!

Thank you for another amazing year!

Well folks, PFF 2011 is wrapped up, and we really couldn’t be happier! A record attendance at all of our events over the weekend, brilliant weather, and a fabulous team of volunteers, artists, and supporters came together to create a truly special festival.  Thank you for supporting the dream of a mostly-free, urban folk festival where people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can come together to celebrate community and the arts.

If you’d like to get involved with the festival, we’re always in need of helping hands – check out our Volunteers Page to find out how you can help us keep this dream alive.

Who We Are

Welcome to the Peterborough Folk Festival! We’re a three-day festival in the heart of the beautiful city of Peterborough, Ontario. With lots of music, workshops, food and craft vendors, we’re certain that you’ll love our festival as much as we do!

Some Quick Festival Facts:

- The PFF is a 3-day music, food, craft and community festival which began in 1989.
- The festival annually draws approximately 8,000-9,000 people over three days, and features terrific undiscovered talent from across the country and the street.
- Festival features on Saturday in Nicholls Oval/Rotary Park include Arts and Craft vendors, Food vendors, a Children’s Area, demonstrations, workshops (including Yoga, dance, and songwriting), and a Community Village.

-Sunday’s Festival at Millennium Park features hands-on music, movement and art workshops and community participation

- PFF is a non-profit incorporated organization funded by The City of Peterborough, the Arts Presentation Canada program, the Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation, The Canadian Canoe Museum, The Peterborough Examiner, The Publican House Brewery, and many other local sponsors.
- Musicians are booked in a very competitive process with over 1000 submissions, and chosen by the Artistic Director in consultation with community and Board members.

The Peterborough Folk Festival – one last sweet summer weekend of live music and food and crafts, all in the heart of Beautiful Peterborough, ON.