The Vancouver Folk Music Festival (VFMF), founded in 1978, is an outdoor multistage music festival, located at Jericho Beach Park on the west side of Vancouver, British Columbia. It takes place annually on the third weekend of July, drawing over 30,000 attendees each year. The festival has attracted artists from across the world, including Adam Cohen, Ani Difranco, Utah Phillips, Pete Seeger, Tuvan throat singers, Sarah Harmer, Veda Hille, Feist, K'naan, and Ferron, among many others.

History

The Vancouver Folk Music Festival was founded in 1978 by Mitch Podolak and Colin Gorrie, who also helped establish the Winnipeg Folk Festival; Ernie Fladell and Franz Fitzgibbon, employees at the City of Vancouver's social planning department; and Gary Cristall, who coordinated the event. The inaugural festival took place from August 11 through 13, 1978 in Stanley Park, and an estimated 10,000 people were in attendance. Performers included Mary McCaslin and Jim Ringer, Odetta, Stan Rogers. Leon Redbone, Leon Bibb, and John Hammond. In 1979, the event was changed to take place the third weekend of July at Jericho Beach. Late in the year, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society was established as a non-profit organization and given control of future versions of the festival. In early years, the organization operated a dedicated record label called Festival Records.

Previous Lineups

2023 Lineup

The 46th annual festival was held July 14–16, 2023.

2019 Lineup

The 42nd annual festival was held July 19–21, 2019.

2018 Lineup

The 41st annual festival was held July 13–16, 2018.

2017 Lineup

The 40th annual festival was held July 13–16, 2017.

2016 Lineup

The 39th annual festival was held July 15–17, 2016.

2015 Lineup

The 38th annual festival was held July 17–19, 2015.

2014 Lineup

The 37th annual festival was held July 18–20, 2014.

2013 Lineup

The 36th annual festival was held July 19–21, 2013.

2012 Lineup

The 35th annual festival was held July 13–15, 2012.

2011 Lineup

The 34th annual festival was held July 15–17, 2011.

2010 Lineup

The 33rd annual festival was held July 16–18, 2010. Artists included:

2009 Lineup

The 32nd annual festival was held on July 17–19, 2009.

2008 Lineup

The 31st annual festival was held from July 18–20, 2008. Artists included:

2007 Lineup

The 30th annual festival was held from July 13–15, 2007.

2006 Lineup

The 29th annual VFMF was held from July 14–16, 2006.

1978 Lineup

The 1st annual festival was held August 11–13, 1978.