Everything you need to know about the Philadelphia Folk Festival featuring John Oates and Gangstagrass
Hall-of-famer John Oates and blue grass hip-hop group Gangstagrass are headlining.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Oates and genre-bending bluegrass hip-hop group Gangstagrass will headline the 61st Philadelphia Folk Festival, marking its return after a one-year hiatus.
In 2023, the festival paused as its organizing body, the Philadelphia Folksong Society, restructured following financial hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival’s cofounder and longtime host, Gene Shay, passed away in 2020, leading to two years of virtual-only events.
The festival, one of the country’s oldest outdoor music events, showcases traditional and contemporary folk music, from Friday, Aug. 16, to Sunday, Aug. 18, at the Old Pool Farm in Montgomery County.
This year’s festival, billed as “A New Legacy Begins,” will feature bluegrass legend Tony Trischka, the Alexis P. Suter Band, Cassie & Maggie, Dom Flemons, and From China to Appalachia with Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, and Chao Tian, among others. The Folksong Society has created a Spotify playlist to help attendees get acquainted with the performers.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 61st Philadelphia Folk Festival.
Tickets
Several ticket packages are available, including single-day passes, “All Festival” passes, and camping and family packages. Children up to 4 years old are free, with discounted tickets for children from 5 to 11 and 12 to 17. Buy Philadelphia Folk Festival tickets at folkfest.org/tickets.
Day pass: $100 to $120 for adults, $10 to $60 for youth
All Festival pass: $250 for adults, $5 to $120.50 for youth
Camping package: $300 for adult camping and festival tickets, $15 to $148 for youth
Family Four pack: $650 for two adults and two children, $775 for camping included
Schedule
The festival features seven stages for music and arts, each with their own schedule. Full schedules can be found online for the Camp Stage, Craft Stage, Culture Tent, Dulcimer Grove, Lobby Stage, Martin Stage, Tank Stage.
The festival starts each day at 8 a.m. with yoga led by Gina Molinari on the Camp Stage. Each night finishes off with headlining acts like Gangstagrass on Friday, Aug. 16, at 11:15 p.m., John Oates on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m., and Tony Trischka on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 7:45 p.m. on the Martin Stage, followed by Philly-born performers RUNA (Saturday) at 10:45 p.m. and John Flynn (Sunday) at 8:45.
Performer lineup
More than 50 musical acts will perform at Old Pool Farm, including John Oates, Gangstagrass, Tony Trishka, the Alexis P. Suter Band, Cassie & Maggie, Dom Flemons, and From China to Appalachia with Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, and Chao Tian.
Anarkhipov, Jersey Corn Pickers, Kicking Down Doors, Sug Daniels, and more also will play, showcasing talent from the Musical Artists Cooperative and Xtreme Folk Scene.
Camping
Campers get early access, late departure, and a special kickoff show on Thursday evening featuring Shanna in a Dress, Miss Emily, and the Adam Ezra Group.
Camping or RV access allows attendees to set up a campsite on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrival begins Thursday at 10 a.m., with departure by 11 a.m. on Monday. Toilets, water stations, and trash disposal sites are provided, with food, general supplies, and showers available for purchase.
No pets or motorized vehicles are allowed on campgrounds.
Parking
Reserved parking, free parking, VIP parking, and accessible parking are available at Old Pool Farm. Free parking is on a first-come, first-served basis, while reserved parking costs $50 but guarantees a weekend-long parking spot. Accessible parking spaces are available in all parking areas. Parking lots open at 8 a.m. daily.
Buy parking passes at folkfest.org/tickets. Questions? Email parkingpff@gmail.com.