Thanks to everyone who joined us for 19th Annual Folks Festival (August 14-16). Susan Tedeschi, Brett Dennen, Gillian Welch, Madeleine Peyroux, Rufus Wainwright, the legendary Don McLean, a special solo set from M. Ward (with guests Gillian Welch & David Rawlings), Scottish songwriting legend Dougie MacLean, and much more. Help us in our planning for the 20th Anniversary next August, (Aug 13-15, 2010) by sharing your thoughts in our online Festival Survey. One randomly chosen survey entry will win a pair of tickets to next year's festival. Plan to join us this fall for one of our intimate concerts in the Wildflower Pavilion.
The Festival
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| Folks Fest fun |
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Lyons locals often look forward to the Folks Festival as their time to finally relax and enjoy summer. In contrast to the hot licks and hyper tempos of RockyGrass, the mellower moods of Folks Fest are the perfect antidote for the warm Colorado sun. Claim your space with a blanket or tarp, set down your low-back chair, and settle in for unforgettable days of music.
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| Gillian Welch returns to Folks |
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The festival opens with the prestigious Folks Songwriter Showcase, where a juried group of the most gifted new songwriters from around the world compete for a spot in the 2010 lineup. Songwriting workshops continue throughout the festival in the intimacy of the new Wildflower Pavilion. Music runs on the main stage from morning 'til after 10pm each night, projected through the best sound at any festival in the country.
Festivarians at the Folks Festival welcome newcomers with a space on their tarp and conversation about summer and song. Children create their masterpieces in the sandy beach next to the stage while parents dream their own masterpieces to the sound of acoustic guitars and lyrical songs.
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| Beach next to the stage |
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Pack a picnic - you're welcome to bring in food and drinks, just no alcohol or glass. Or enjoy a wide variety of food options (from fish tacos to ice cream, dumplings to bbq) from our food vendors, as well as beer and wine, and free filtered local water.
As the sun sets over the Rocky Mountain Foothills the campgrounds come alive with festivarians from around the country eager to sing their latest creations or share in the creation of new ones with new friends. Whether you are a musician or a music lover, camps from around Colorado and around the country welcome you in with a hearty hug. Connect with your past and future tarpmates on the Folks Fest board at Festivarian.com.
A Summer Day in Lyons
In August the St. Vrain is transformed from a hub of recreation to a cooling wet paradise. The shallow depths of the river are filled with damp armchairs and constantly evolving rock sculptures.
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| Rainbow of last year's festival |
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The relaxed pace leaves time to explore the spectacular environment of Lyons, Colorado. The historic quarry town is located just 15 miles north of Boulder in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The small town (population 1,600) is known for its antique stores, restaurants, artists, and musicians.
Numerous camping options nearby include: on-site at the festival grounds or under the cliffs at Meadow Park (a quick five-minute walk to the festival). Convenient parking is available at the Olson Property, just a 10-minute walk (or free shuttle bus ride) to the festival grounds.
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| Watching the stage from a hammock |
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Non-musical activities in and around Lyons include numerous trails for hiking and mountain biking at Hall Ranch, Heil Valley Ranch and Rabbit Mountain; touring through Rocky Mountain National Park (40 minutes up the hill from Lyons); or enjoying our rivers for swimming, tubing, or simply cooling off for a few minutes.
Join us throughout the year for concerts in our intimate Wildflower Pavilion - including Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Gregory Alan Isakov, Adam Aijala & Ben Kaufmann, and much more.