Winnipeg Folk Fest goes all out for 50th year Record-breaking crowds, park upgrades, and highway renamed
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he Winnipeg Folk Festival turned 50 this year, and the province celebrated with more than just music. The golden anniversary brought on shiny new highway signs, over $1 million in park upgrades and nearly 80,000 people in attendance. The four-day celebration, which ran from July 10 to 13, outdid previous attendance records with 79,000 total festivalgoers. There was a mix of attendees, volunteers, artists and donors. The full sellout included weekend passes, camping tickets, and individual day passes for the busy Friday and Saturday lineups. In short, Folk Fest was the hottest (and maybe smokiest) ticket in town. The milestone did not just mean bigger crowds. This year, the Manitoban government contributed to the festival, announcing over $1.1 million in upgrades to Birds Hill Provincial Park, the longtime home of the festival. The funding was put toward planting new trees, improved campground roads, renovated washrooms in the group-use areas and new sewer systems. A recently completed water treatment plant was also part of the upgrade plan. “Winnipeg Folk Festival is one of Canada’s premier outdoor music festivals and part of the reason for this success is the hundreds of volunteers that return year after year,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor. To top it off, the province also made a symbolic gesture by officially naming a stretch of Provincial Trunk Highway 59 “Winnipeg Folk Fest
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Volunteer Way.” It is a tribute to the hundreds of volunteers who return every summer to help with everything from stage operations to safety patrols. “Seeing our volunteers acknowledged this way, on the eve of our 50th festival, honours the heart and energy they bring to the festival each year. They create the community and culture that draws people to our event. Without their dedication, there is no Winnipeg Folk Festival,” said Valerie Shantz, executive director at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. “These commemorative signs are just a small way that our government is acknowledging the legacy of this festival and the importance of arts and culture in Manitoba,” said Naylor. The festival had a classic lineup, with the opening night kicking off with Winnipeg-born and Folk Fest staple Fred Penner. Additional lineups featured big-name acts like Lake Street Dive, Jason Isbell, Mavis Staples, Peach Pit and local legend Bruce Cockburn, who even walked away with a key to the city. This year also marked the launch of a storytelling series, supported by government funding, designed to capture and share the stories that have shaped Folk Fest over the past five decades. Between the music, memories and upgrades, the festival seemed to be setting the stage for another 50 years of sunshine, mud and music in the meadow. Mark your calendars, the Winnipeg Folk Festival will return to Birds Hill Park from July 9 to 12, 2026.
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PHOTO BY MIKE THIESSEN / STAFF
Final mass marks closure of St. Paul’s Christ the King Chapel for 2024-25 Roy Albright Obah, staff Christ the King Chapel of St. Paul’s College has officially closed its on-campus mass services for the 2024-25 academic year, marking the end of a spiritually fulfilling season for Catholic faculty and students. On June 29, the chapel held its final mass of the term, a celebration that brought together the campus community to reflect, give thanks and prepare for the break ahead. The mass opened with remarks from campus ministry director, Eliude Cavalcante, who expressed gratitude on behalf of the leadership of Christ the King Chapel to all who contributed to the success of weekday and Sunday masses throughout the year.
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St. Paul’s priest chaplain, Fr. Mark Filips, delivered a sermon focused on openness, inviting congregants to listen to others, embrace new beginnings and move forward with hope rather than fear or doubt. Reflecting on the year’s highlights, Fr. Filips stated, “We have a phenomenal choir that’s all volunteer, but their talent is amazing under the direction of David, who is our choirmaster and pianist.” He went on to share one of the most touching moments of the year – the visit of the former archbishop, Richard Gagnon, who “came to celebrate his final mass with us here.” Describing it as an “emotional moment,” Fr. Filips acknowledged the archbishop’s continued support
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for the college and his deep commitment to engaging with young people. Among other memories, Fr. Filips recalled the recent outdoor mass at King’s Park, which he described as “intimate and [...] very beautiful.” Although on-campus masses will pause for the summer, the chapel continues to support the local Catholic community. Fr. Filips emphasized that while sacraments will not be offered during the break, “the chapel itself will still be open for people to come in and pray.” Students are encouraged to connect with nearby churches during the break. “There are two parishes relatively close by — Mary Mother and Saint Cont’d p. 3 / Vital
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Jesse Brogan, staff
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July 23, 2025
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VOL. 112, NO. 02