Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The 47th annual Calgary Folk Music Festival kicks off Thursday evening, and the four-day event will have to contend with hot and smoky conditions throughout the weekend.
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued heat warnings Thursday for most of the southern and east-central parts of the province, with daytime temperatures expected to reach above 30 degrees over the next three days.
Widespread smoke is also forecasted through Friday, expected to disperse by noon that day.
“We’re monitoring [the smoke] from multiple different angles,” said Folk Fest executive director Sarah Leishman, adding they released a wildfire smoke handbook in June to provide a framework for navigating smoky conditions during outdoor events.
Last year, organizers purchased air monitors, Leishman said, which collect air quality data in real time to provide updates on conditions.
“We are going to have hyperlocal data right here on Prince’s Island Park because of our ability to to use the information from those monitors,” she said.
WATCH | Calgary Folk Fest organizers develop wildfire smoke handbook:
Calgary Folk Fest wants to help events stay on despite wildfire smoke
After facing a hazy 2024, Calgary Folk Music Festival organizers say they found a lack of guidelines for events navigating wildfire smoke. Nearly two years later, the group is releasing its own guidebook to try to help other outdoor events plan for similar situations.
As for managing the heat, Leishman said misters will be set up across the island, along with water stations for visitors to keep hydrated. Attendees can also bring their own water and non-alcoholic beverages, she said.
Environment Canada advises residents to take frequent breaks from the heat, stay hydrated and not to leave people or pets in vehicles.
It also warns people to monitor for signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, including high body temperature, lack of sweat, confusion, fainting and unconsciousness.
Festival features more than 70 artists
When Folk Fest began in 1980, it was only a two-day affair with three stages. This year’s festival features more than 70 artists with concerts across seven stages, as well as collaborative workshop sessions.
Folk Fest artistic director Kerry Clarke said organizers take a broad interpretation of what folk music is, and try to feature artists from a range of genres, including R&B, hip-hop and indie.
Kerry Clarke, the artistic director for the Calgary Folk Fest, says this year’s lineup is all about highlighting original songwriting and folk music’s evolution. (Mike Symington/CBC)
“It’s really about original songwriting, and it’s about traditional music and its evolution,” Clarke said.
She said the lineup is a mix of household names and newer artists. Some of the headliners include Of Monsters and Men, Killer Mike and Thundercat.
This is the second year Calgary-based singer and songwriter Kate Stevens is performing at the festival. She said Folk Fest is like a “homecoming” for all the artists involved, allowing them to connect with others from the music community.
“I just get to see them every single year and get to play music with my friends and be in this open air setting, which is just some of the best stages in the entire world,” she said.
Calgary singer and songwriter Kate Stevens practises as crews finish setup work ahead of the Calgary Folk Music Festival on July 23, 2026. (Mike Symington/CBC)
Stevens added that despite how large the festival has become, it manages to maintain a close-knit feel for audiences and artists.
“The people who are coming to this extravaganza of music, if you will, they’re here to listen. They’re here to absorb the stories that you tell,” she said.
“The people who are right in front of you … you can just see their faces and feel the connection, and it’s truly unlike anything that we play for the entire summer.”
Folk Fest gets underway at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, with the performances running through Sunday.