Volunteer

​The Maryland Folk Festival needs the support of more than 800 volunteers to work with Festival staff and technicians to pull together an event that will make Salisbury—and Maryland—proud!

All Maryland Folk Festival volunteers will make great memories and enjoy more than a few pleasant surprises. At the end of the day, volunteers will go home with a free T-shirt and the undying gratitude of Festival attendees and organizers.

Volunteers may sign up individually or with groups of friends or business associates. Average volunteer shifts are three to four hours; prospective volunteers may sign up for several shifts during the three-day event.

The Festival is also a wonderful place for your family, school, church, office, or civic organization to volunteer as a group!

When shifts open, go HERE to register online. You will receive an automatic email confirmation of your application.
Training will be provided.

Questions? E-mail Festival Volunteer Coordinators at volunteer@mdfolkfest.com

VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTIONS 

Backstage Support
Love to see how the magic is made? You’ll get a “backstage pass” to behind-the-scenes action, as part of the backstage support team. These volunteers support our hard-working stage crews by helping the venue function smoothly. You might be assisting with hospitality, helping with seating, making sure only authorized people are backstage, or taking a moment to watch the show. Seven stages need your help maintaining a calm and welcoming environment. Medium physical demand.

Bicycle Valet
Help green our the festival and our community by enabling more people to choose bicycling as a mode of transportation to the festival. The Bike Valet station provides a safe and central location for festival goers to leave park their bicycle. Volunteers will work with the extraordinary members of Salisbury's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) to offer this free and GREEN service to all. Medium physical demand.

Bucket Brigade
We need energetic and outgoing folks to keep Maryland Folk Festival going into the future! The Bucket Brigade collects audience donations to support this free event. You’ll be walking around in teams, reminding audience members that a “drop in the bucket” makes the Festival possible. This is a fun assignment – you get to chat with festival patrons and listen to great music simultaneously. It’s also a perfect volunteer opportunity for clubs, work teams, and families. (Volunteers under 16 are welcome, when accompanied by an adult.) Sign up individually or as a team! Medium physical demand, with lots of walking.

Festival Desk
As a Festival Desk volunteer, your smile and helpful demeanor will welcome festival performers and staff to Salisbury. As you check them in and provide key information, you’re helping them be ready to present a fantastic festival. After your shift, the Festival is only steps away! Volunteers must be friendly and organized. Low physical demand.

Downtown Visitor Center
Welcome visitors to the vity of Salisbury and provide directions and assistance about our Downtown. Volunteers will be inside and at the front desk. Indoors and low physical demand.

Green Team
Help us build a green festival, by joining the Green Team! We will be establishing recycling and composting opportunities across the Festival. The hardest part is keeping trash out of the recycle and compost bins, which is where volunteers can make a big difference. Volunteers will staff eco-stations around the festival, assisting festival patrons to get their trash in the right place and sorting bins before they are picked up.

Guest Services
Direct. Assist. Recommend and Aid. These are some of the things you'll do as a Guest Services Volunteer. Combining tasks of Info booths and First Aid Booths. whether it is giving directions to a stage or handing out a Band Aid this area is there to assist festival goers. Low physical demand.

Ice & Water Brigade
The Ice & Water Brigade keep Festival participants hydrated, and food and beverages cool, by supplying water and ice to food courts, beverage sales booths, and backstage hospitality. A key role is monitoring the water and ice levels in various locations, so they can be refilled in advance of need. Volunteers with strong backs and good logistical minds are especially welcome. Medium physical demand, with some lifting and carrying.

Music Logging
What was the name of that song? You’ll have reason to ask the artists as one of our Music Loggers. We need personable, detail-oriented folks to record and accurately document live Festival performances, from a prime reserved seat near the audio engineer’s house mix position. These recordings and written logs will become part of the permanent collection in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. We provide the recorders and training, and you provide attention to detail and a friendly demeanor. Low physical demand.

Site Setup & Take Down
The best-kept secret of the Festival is how much fun the Festival Operations crew have. You could be doing anything from painting platforms to hanging signage, setting up chairs to building the dance floor. Practical experience in construction, carpentry, or logistics is ideal – but we’re happy to have anyone who is willing and able. Festival Operations begin two weeks prior to and lasts for 4-5 days after the Festival. Join the team for a day, a week, or the whole event! Tasks vary from low to high physical demand.

Transportation
If you’re comfortable behind the wheel and enjoy hosting new people, consider joining the Transportation team. We need safety-conscious, patient drivers to provide shuttle service to performers, staff and presenters. The Festival will provide a fleet of vans and golf carts, with a radio dispatcher to keep things flowing smoothly. All drivers will participate in mandatory training and must be at least 21 years of age. To ensure the safety of all, Transportation volunteers are required to go through a background check of their motor vehicle record. Low to medium physical demand.

Volunteer Registration
We are looking for friendly, organized people to get our volunteers off on the right foot. The Volunteer Registration greet fellow volunteers, sign them in, and assist them in getting to where they need to be. If you’re great at being welcoming and keeping a cool head when it gets busy, we need you at Registration! Low physical demand.
​

Sign-up Join us!

Underage Volunteer Policy

For volunteers under 18, the following requirements apply:

• Under 12: We are not able to accept volunteers under age 12, with or without an adult.
• Ages 12 – 15: Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian at all times.
• Ages 16-17: Volunteers ages 16 and 17 who are not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian are required to have a signed waiver form that has their parent/guardian's signature. Without it, the minor will not be able to volunteer. Waivers will be provided.
• All volunteers under 18 must have a parent or guardian co-sign a waiver form. Waivers will be available prior to and at the event.

See individual Needs for the specific ages accepted for that Need.