July 20, 2018
Yellowknife’s Folk on the Rocks Festival returns this weekend, for the 38th straight summer.
Founded in 1970 as an opportunity to expose local artists and musicians to southern talent and wider audiences, the small folk festival reflecting the rollicking frontier spirit of the day has grown into a vibrant, cosmopolitan event with thousands of attendees and broad economic impacts for the Yellowknife region.
The event draws visitors from across Canada, as well as from the USA, Europe, and Asia, while also maintaining the fiercely local principles that have kept “Folk Weekend” a ritual for NWT’ers for decades.
The festival’s many partnerships include local arts groups — providing an opportunity for aspiring artists to take part in events as part of Folk and providing a venue for established artists to sell their work.
These elements result in a one-of-a-kind event where the whole territory has a chance to celebrate the culture, art, and community of the NWT, while inviting others to join the party.
It is why the GNWT has supported this festival since its outset through programs like Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development. These funds help get organizations like Folk on the Rocks the resources they need to make an impact on our tourism and arts industries.
The importance of supporting these sectors is recognized in the mandate of the GNWT.