Festival Blog

Salisbury, MD – The search for the finest artisans and craftspeople in Maryland and on the Delmarva peninsula launches December 11. Selected applicants will be invited to join the 79th National Folk Festival, coming to Salisbury, Maryland, September 6 - 8, 2019. Applications may be submitted through the festival portal on SlideRoom (https://nationalfolkfestival.slideroom.com/) Application Deadline: Monday, April 1, 2019 The...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 26, 2018   National Council for the Traditional Arts Announces Selection of New Executive Director   SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND. The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Lora Bottinelli has been selected as the organization’s new executive director. Bottinelli is a skilled and experienced arts leader, administrator, fundraiser and folklorist...

Mayor Jake Day, National Folk Festival Local Manager Caroline O’Hare, and the National Council for the Traditional Arts are excited to announce that attendance estimates have been tallied, and the National Folk Festival in Salisbury, Maryland drew approximately 63,000 attendees in its inaugural year. “It’s an unequivocal success,” said Mayor Jake Day. “We expected to draw record crowds Downtown over...

The Party Has Started!! Friday night the Tremé Brass Band got a great party started in Salisbury, Maryland. But don’t just take my word for it. Festival goer Lori Carter described the opening parade this way: “The music! The sound! The excitement, the people just enjoying themselves. And the band, the Tremé Band was just fabulous. And the dancer was...

The National Folk Festival will feature a special interactive area with hands-on crafts, quiet games and active games, and other creative learning activities for young audiences and their families. The Family Stage, located within the Family Area, showcases a variety of performances, including storytelling, puppetry, and interactive music and dance. Both the Family Area and stage are open from noon...

The National Folk Festival unveiled its complete schedule of performance times and stage locations for more than 350 performers, demonstrators, and artisans set to appear September 7 through 9 in Downtown Salisbury, Maryland. From bluegrass, Irish and rockabilly — to reggae and mariachi, this year’s complete Festival schedule of performances and activities is now available at https://www.nationalfolkfestival.com/schedule “There is so much...

The National Folk Festival has just announced the accomplished artisans and craftspeople who will be featured in the festival’s juried Marketplace in 2018. The Festival Marketplace will offer festival attendees the opportunity to purchase the handmade creations from 23 of the finest artists and craftspeople from the State of Maryland and the Delmarva Peninsula. It will include both deeply traditional crafts and...

Parking locations and a free shuttle service have been announced for festival goers wishing to drive to the 78th National Folk Festival taking place over the weekend of September 7- 9, 2018, in downtown Salisbury. “With about 1,000 parking spaces located in our downtown parking lots and garage, plus 5,000 parking spaces available at and next to the Wicomico Youth &...

New stage performers announced include: Albert Lee (Malibu, California) – rockabilly Nicknamed “Mr. Telecaster,” this rockabilly guitar icon is noted for his unique picking technique, melodic sensibilities, and lightning speed. The Bing Brothers Band feat. Jake Krack (Marlinton and Huntington, West Virginia) – old-time string band One of the Mountain State’s finest old-time bands ably carries on their Appalachian musical...

THIS JUST IN - the 78th National Folk Festival announced today the Maryland Traditions Folklife Area & Stage program, sharing details about the performers, craftspeople and demonstrators who will be featured in this special area of the Festival in 2018, the first year of the event’s three-year residency in Salisbury. Adding to the festive air of the press event was the participation of three...