The Sidmouth Folk Festival is all about participation. Whether you’re dancing, singing, playing, making, listening, taking part in one of the hundreds of workshops, or simply soaking up the seaside festival atmosphere, it’s all about being in the moment.
And there are plenty of ways to get involved!
What Workshops Are There?
There are over 250! Our wide-reaching workshop events programme offers hundreds of opportunities to learn and develop skills across the folk arts in a secure and inclusive community of teachers and learners.
From perennial favourites and exciting innovations, try one-off taster sessions or to commit to week-long series. Amongst the favourite festival regulars returning are Sandra Kerr’s Festival Choir, John Kirkpatrick with his Festival Concert Band, Mark Clarke with Creative Making, and Nick and Mary Barber with the Big Band.
How Much Do They Cost?
Workshops are included in All-in-One, Week, Weekend and Day Tickets. You can also buy a Workshop Pass that offer 6 workshops for a reduced rate.
Some workshops on the seafront are free for all.
Instrumental
Look out for the full workshop programme in July.
Song
Look out for the full workshop programme in July.
Dance
Look out for the full workshop programme in July.
Craft
Look out for the full workshop programme in July.
What Sessions Are Happening?
More than you can shake a bodhran stick at!
Programmed sessions include Family friendly sessions at the Rugby Club (mixed).
Song Sessions at The Royal York & Faulkner.
Betsy’s at Bulverton Sessions start in the early evening and end in the early morning. Playing until the the sun comes up on the Bulverton hill is a rite of passage!
Fringe sessions include Upstairs at the Anchor: Song sessions, Middle Bar Singers: to drink, laugh and sing.
Unaccompanied singarounds are from 12.30-3pm and 8-11pm each day, starting on Thursday, the day before the Festival officially starts. Tuesday evening is usually a shanty fundraiser for Sidmouth Lifeboat and Thursday pm the singers jump into the sea and carry on singing opposite the Bedford Hotel at 3pm.
Royal York and Faulkner: The Gloom, Doom and Despondency Competition is on Thursday at 4.30pm.
Music sessions
Anchor Inn: In the main bar (street level). Bedford Hotel: Pynes Bar. Swan Inn: All have Music sessions all day.
Radway Inn: English music session lunchtimes and evenings.
Where Can I Find Them?
Venues include The Royal York & Faulkner, The Anchor, The Bedford, Woodlands, Betsy’s at the Bulverton, Esplanade Shelters and even the Festival Bus.
How much are they?
Sessions are included in All-in-One, Week, Weekend and Day Tickets. A large number of the sessions are free entry, with donations encouraged.
Session Leaders
Look out for the programme in July for full details of the programmed sessions .
What Do the Festival Volunteers Do?
We’re looking for enthusiastic and friendly people to join the Sidmouth Volunteer Team and support our fabulous festival. You can get involved in a whole range of roles from helping in venues, with processions, on the campsite, collecting donations right through to working in artist liaison, the box offices and admin roles.
Who Runs the Sidmouth Volunteers?
Wicked Events specialise in recruiting & managing festival volunteers across the UK, and here at Sidmouth,
https://wickedevents.co.uk/
What Are The Benefits?
In return for your time you will get free access to all the festival events including one free Ham Evening Concert (subject to availability), for the Pre-Festivals and other Ham evening concerts you can get a discount), discounts at all the festival caterers, discounted week child season tickets, discounted festival bus ticket and free festival camping.
Discounts and choice of Ham evening tickets are redeemable at the festival, not in advance.
How Can I Apply?
Can I Get More Involved?
Yes! We are always on the look out for Team Leaders, plus there are options to support the festival year round, with distribution, marketing, site decoration and general advice.
Who Are The Friends of Sidmouth Folk Festival?
Anyone and everyone! You can’t have too many Friends! Especially in Sidmouth – where the festival has led to lifelong friendships amongst people who love the festival, the town, the dance and the music.
The Friends of The Sidmouth Folk Festival is managed by Sidmouth FolkWeek Ltd, (registered charity no. 1111958): 3 Fairleigh, Manor Road, Sidmouth, EX10 8RR. The charity supports the Sidmouth Folk Festival which is organised by Sidmouth FolkWeek Productions Ltd.
How Can I Join?
Joining is easy, you can subscribe online. The rates are £25 minimum for individuals or £40 minimum joint membership per year. If you are a UK taxpayer, please can you GiftAid your donation. You can pay by credit/debit card or PayPal and we would encourage you to do an annual renewal.
What's the Festival Fringe?
Sidmouth’s “Festival Fringe” is a part of the Folk Festival experience in the town, complementing the main Festival but not organised by it. Many enjoy participating, or just taking in the atmosphere. All Fringe events are free, but make a collection for the Festival. If you are at a Fringe session, please give generously to the Collectors as often as you can.
Here is a rough guide of what goes on, plus places where things could happen:
Upstairs at the Anchor: Song sessions, Middle Bar Singers: to drink, laugh and sing.
Unaccompanied singarounds are from 12.30-3pm and 8-11pm each day, starting on Thursday, the day before the Festival officially starts. Tuesday evening is usually a shanty fundraiser for Sidmouth Lifeboat and Thursday pm the singers jump into the sea and carry on singing opposite the Bedford Hotel at 3pm.
Royal York and Faulkner: Morning singarounds now appear in the main programme schedules. The Gloom, Doom and Despondency Competition is on Thursday at 4.30pm.
Music sessions
Anchor Inn: In the main bar (street level).
Bedford Hotel: Pynes Bar.
Swan Inn: All have Music sessions all day.
Radway Inn: English music session lunchtimes and evenings.
Dance
Herbaceous Border celebrate their 22nd year running Border Morris workshops on the Esplanade outside the Royal York and Faulkner Hotel. If you’re a dancer or musician without a side at Sidmouth, join them Sun-Fri 6pm to 7pm, preferably in kit. Workshops start Sunday following a celebration picnic at 4pm in Blackmore Gardens.
The daily Wild Thyme Border Morris morning workshops are in the main programme.
Collections?
Collections
Sidmouth FolkWeek Ltd (Registered Charity 1111958) has obtained the street licence from East Devon District Council to collect in Sidmouth during the Festival. Street collections from performances are an important part of the Festival’s income. If you are busking as musicians, singers, or a dance team, please register your name and collect an official tin or bucket. Tins or buckets can be collected and returned between 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 7.30pm from the Collections Office at the Bedford Hotel. Please make sure that all tins are returned by 6pm on the last Friday evening, prior to the Torchlight Procession.
Special Arrangements for the Torchlight Procession: Please collect buckets for the Torchlight Procession from the Collections Office by 7pm. After the procession please return the buckets to the Collections Office.
The Bill Rutter Collections Awards
Bill Rutter, Sidmouth Festival Director from 1961-79, encouraged everyone to participate and become part of the Festival team. The Festival has a long tradition of busking from all kinds of musicians, dancers, singers and artists. The award is presented to the dance
team which collects the highest amount during the festival and is keenly contested. The presentation will take place during LNE at The Bulverton around midnight on the final Friday. There is also an award for the volunteer collector who collects the most money during the week.
Street Performers
Street Performers
Please note that licensing arrangements and street closures for the Folk Festival limit use of the Market Square in particular, and unprogrammed performers could be moved on.
There are (unamplified) performances spaces on the Esplanade & at Blackmore Gardens.
Looking for Somewhere to Perform?
There are two large Festival Performance spaces on the Esplanade at York Steps and opposite the Bedford Hotel. Some scheduled sessions by Festival dance teams are marked on the A-boards. If you play acoustically, sing or dance, please make use of the opportunity these spaces provide. The Blackmore Craft Fair offers further acoustic opportunities, see the Craft Fair Manager for available slots each day.
Craft & Music Fayre at Blackmore
The Festival books traders for the free entry Craft & Music Fayre at Blackmore Gardens. Any other traders, including those on the seafront are organised independently and don’t contribute to the Festival.
We prioritise local businesses. Contact our Craft & Music Fayre Manager.
Catering at The Ham, Blackmore & Bulverton
The Festival organises catering at The Bulverton, Festival Campsite and The Ham. Any other pop up caterers, including those on the seafront, are organised independently and don’t contribute to the Festival.
We prioritise local businesses. Contact our Catering Concessions Booker .
We don’t require any applications from alcohol suppliers, The Anchors Away team & Blackmore/Bulverton Volunteers team supply our bars.
How to Buy
Super Early Bird Tickets now On Sale! Prices held or reduced from 2023 prices.
Types of Tickets
For detailed lists of what is included with each ticket, please refer to Terms & Conditions. Our handy comparison table may be helpful too! See Buy Tickets.
Do you have a home in Sidmouth? Call out for local accommodation.
We are currently looking for accommodation in Sidmouth for our Festival artists and crew. Do you have a property or a spare room or two available in Sidmouth? Would you like to help the Festival by renting to us? If so, please get in touch by emailing info@sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk with the header ‘Accommodation 2024’ and let us know the details of what you have available – number of rooms and whether single, twin or double – and whereabouts in the town you are based (street name and postcode).
For whole properties it would be on a self-catering basis and could be for between a week and two weeks. For rooms it would be on a bed and breakfast basis and could be for a night, a couple of nights, a week or even two/three weeks depending on who it is for and what their role is in the event.
Sponsorship & Advertising
The Festival provides a substantial economic benefit to the town of Sidmouth itself and also the surrounding region, with thousands of Festival visitors choosing to spend part of their vacation time here each year.
We offer a range of sponsorship packages which enable businesses to show their support of the Festival and which also offer promotional opportunities at individual events and venues throughout the Festival.
To find out more about what we can offer your business through association with this major and respected UK event, or If your business would like to be involved with future Sidmouth Folk Festivals, please contact Andy Griffiths, Local Sponsorship Co-ordinator. Advertising opportunities are also available in our Festival Programme.