Did you know one of the largest Folk Festivals in the country takes place right here in Lowell? This weekend, from Friday July 26 to Sunday July 28, the City of Lowell will be transformed into an amazing destination featuring a huge variety of musicians, dancers and performers, all kinds of ethnic foods, arts & crafts, children's activities and more at the Lowell Folk Festival. It's a wonderful family event, with opportunities to listen to and dance to all kinds of music, experience new art forms, and try new foods. All performances are free but there are items for purchase, such as foods and arts and crafts.
We've reviewed the schedules, maps and materials and pulled out the key activities and areas that will appeal most to families with children.
MUSIC & DANCE
Music and dance are the main attractions of the Lowell Folk Festival, and there is always an incredible variety of performers. Performers in 2024 are from Brazil, Ireland, the Cayman Islands and all over the US. They will be performing all kinds of music and dance, including bluegrass, Creole, polka, gospel, traditional Korean, Native American, blues, funk and R&B. See the complete list of artists, with links to videos, on the 2024 Performers page. Some artists who would appeal particularly to families include:
- High Fidelity ~ bluegrass
- Native Pride Dancers ~ powwow dance traditions
- The Polka Family Band ~ polka
- Swanky Kitchen Band ~ Cayman Island dance music
- Jesse Daniel ~ honky tonk
- Joe Hall & The Cane Cutters ~ Creole
FOOD
The Lowell Folk Festival organization does an amazing job coordinating ethnic food vendors, all of whom are from non-profit organizations. Their profits will be put to good use on a variety of projects, and they are required to use environmentally-friendly plates, utensils and packaging.
Visit the Food From Around The World page to read about the global food vendors that will be stationed at Boarding House Park, Market Street and near the Dance Pavilion. See the list of vendors and their locations on the Festival Map. Try all kinds of food, including Armenian, Greek, Polish, Middle Eastern, Asian, African, Filipino, Laotian, Burmese and more. If you'd prefer a sit-down restaurant, consider visiting Athenian Corner, Cobblestones, El Potro Mexican Bar & Grill, The Old Court, Jade Lowell, or Sahel Restaurant & Lounge, all sponsors of the Folk Festival and located near the festivities.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Visit the Experience Lowell Arts Market on Merrimack Street to meet more than 40 local artisans and view and purchase their work. Local organizations will also be set up in the market to share information, handouts, schedules, and activities, so that festival attendees can experience everything that Lowell’s arts and culture community has to offer.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Families can find lots of children's activities along Shattuck Street on Saturday and Sunday from 12-5 PM. Typically, there are crafts, games, dance performances from local dance schools, face painting, balloons, giveaways, street performers, snacks and more.
Be sure to visit the Street Performances area at the corner of Central and Merrimack Streets on Saturday and Sunday afternoon for a variety of performances, including breakdancing, mariachi, and a yo-yo show.
LOGISTICS & SCHEDULES
Performers rotate among the various stages and will appear at different times throughout the weekend. For a handy reference, print out a schedule and a map or save them to your phone.
Parking is available at downtown garages on John Street, Market Street, the Tsongas Arena, Warren Street, Middlesex Street, and Davidson Street off East Merrimack Street. Some of these garages may become inaccessible after Saturday at 9 AM; the Warren Street and Tsongas Arena garages should be accessible all weekend but may be full. Note that portions of downtown Lowell will be closed all weekend. Consider taking the LRTA bus from surrounding towns.
Stay tuned to the Lowell Folk Festival social media channels for updates and the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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