The New Bedford Folk Festival is one of the Northeast’s most pleasant, refined and enjoyable music festivals. Slated for Saturday-Sunday, July 6-7, 2019 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the family-oriented festival, now in its 24th year, takes over the cobblestoned streets of this historic New England port city –- which is part of the Whaling National Historic Park. Visitors will soak in the area’s rich maritime history as they stroll its streets while listening to world-class contemporary and traditional folk music, Americana, blues and Celtic performers under tents set up along them and in the air-conditioned comfort of the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center and the fabulous New Bedford Whaling Museum’s auditorium.
As in years past, this year’s schedule includes a number of talented artists and acts — many performing in song-swap style workshops with folks whom they may have never even met, making for unique musical pairings. It also poses a dilemma of choices that may have some attendees scrambling from one stage to another nearby to catch certain artists.
There will be continuous music from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on seven sound stages, ranging from the intimate “Meet the Performer” area at the historic Seamen’s Bethel (which figures In Herman Melville’s classic novel, Moby Dick) and the National Park Garden Stage to the majestic 1200-seat Zeiterion Theater, the event’s presenter.
Dar Williams will perform during the 2019 New Bedford Folk Festival. (Photo: Tom Moore)
Besides the music, more than 90-juried artisans and crafts makers will set up booths along the cobblestoned streets between the performance tents and venues. Among them will be jewelers, instrument makers, tie dyeers, local honey purveyors, ceramic artists, vendors selling handmade health and beauty products, and more.
While in New Bedford, you also can enjoy fresh seafood and sample tasty cuisine at one of the whaling city’s many Portuguese restaurants. A food court and beer garden also will fill two blocks of Purchase Street in front of The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center and near the SouthCoast Stage, where a number of local artists are slated to perform.
Admission to the festival is quite affordable at $40 for the weekend or $30 for one-day, while a premium weekend pass is $140. Tickets are available for purchase at https://zeiterion.org/nb-folk-festival-2019/, by calling 508-994-2900, or in person at the box office at 684 Purchase Street. Children under 12 will be admitted free with an adult.
For more information and to see complete schedules for the weekend, visit www.newbedfordfolkfestival.com.
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