Event Info

The National Folk Festival is the nation’s longest-running traditional arts event, a FREE, three-day outdoor multicultural celebration of music, dance, and traditional arts and culture, which historically draws upwards of 150,000 attendees by year three, along with an economic impact ranging from approximately $15-30 million a year. Produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the National Folk Festival has been presented in 28 cities across the country—from Richmond, VA, and Butte, MT, to Lowell, MA, and St. Louis, MO—since its inception in 1934. This is the first time in the festival’s long history that it has been presented in Mississippi—often considered the birthplace of America’s music—as well as the Deep South.

The 82nd National Folk Festival will be held in downtown Jackson, MS, November 7-9, 2025. The dates for years 2026 and 2027 will be announced soon.

Jackson is the host city for the National Folk Festival for three years, from 2025 to 2027. The National Folk Festival partners with communities across the nation to present the festival, free to the public, for three years with the understanding that the local host community intends to continue its own festival once the National moves on to its next site.

The National Folk Festival is FREE! for all. To keep it going we need your support. Please donate as you can... $5, $10, $20

Help keep the National Folk Festival a FREE event! A group of community volunteers carrying buckets will be circulating the festival asking for your support. All donations made through the bucket brigade help to directly cover the costs of the festival. The suggested donation is $20 per person per day. Thank you in advance for your support!

Items that are not permitted include, but are not limited to: Pets (service animals are permitted) Coolers Large backpacks Alcohol Bottles/glass containers Contraband (drugs and weapons) Laser pointers Bikes, skateboards, inline skates Flying objects (drones, kites, Frisbees, footballs, etc.)

If at any time while onsite you have more questions, need assistance, or just want to say hi, swing by one of the three information tents. Our volunteers are there to help!

Safety is our highest priority and we monitor all potential weather-related impacts on our audiences. Performances are RAIN OR SHINE except where indicated, there are no rain dates. All best efforts will be made to present performances regardless of weather. If severe weather is observed in the area, we will make announcements from stages including the severity of the storm, evacuation, and/or event suspension procedures.

Emergency service centers will be available at several locations at the National Folk Festival. They will be well-marked on festival maps, available at information booths and posted around the festival site.

If a child or person in your party gets lost please approach a staff member or volunteer immediately. Staff and volunteers have access to persons with radios, who can get you help right away.

If you experience odd behavior or see something you know shouldn’t be somewhere, say something. Report suspicious behavior to any security, staff, or volunteer team member.

Special photographers and videographers have been hired by festival organizers to document the event. Some images and videos may be used in later promotional materials. Your presence at the event is seen as your permission for such promotional use by the non-profit organizers.