FAQ

THE BASICS

  • The festival is centered around Dawes Park.

    There are two entrances to the fest:

    (1) North Entrance: Intersection of Sheridan and Forrest Place

    (2) South Entrance: Intersection of Sheridan and Greenwood

    View a site map HERE

  • Click here to see the festival grounds

    • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12: Gates open at 11:30 am

    • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13: Gates open at 11:30 am

  • We encourage patrons to park in the Segal Visitors Center or in one of the many public garages located in downtown Evanston. Closest garage locations are listed below, and for more information please visit the City of Evanston website.

    IF PARKING:

    • Segal Visitors Center at 1841 Sheridan Rd (Free all weekend)

    • Downtown Evanston Garages (Free on Sundays)

    • Church Street Self Park (closest) 

    • Sherman Plaza Self Park (2nd closest) 

    • 1800 Maple Self Park (3rd closest) 

    • IF TRAVELING BY TRAIN: Metra Davis + the Purple Line “L” station are a few blocks away from the North entrance to the festival grounds. The Metra schedule can be found on their website.

    • IF BIKING: Plenty of racks available at both entrances so you can park and lock your bike outside the festival grounds. No bikes will be allowed inside festival parameters.

    • IF TAKING A RIDESHARE: The best drop-off location is Cornelia Lunt Park (1706 Sheridan Road, Evanston) 

  • Absolutely! Evanston Folk Festival is proud to be a family friendly event and music fans of all ages are welcome.

    Children under the age of 12 receive free admission to the festival. Children aged 12 - 16 will require a half-priced children’s ticket for admission, which will be available for purchase at the entry gate, even if the event is sold out in advance.

  • The fest concludes at 8:30pm each night. For those looking to continue their musical journey, ticketed shows will take place at SPACE and Cahn Auditorium in the evenings once the fest ends.

  • Yes, we have reserved parking and ADA seating available. Those with eligible parking placards or license plates will be allowed to park along Greenwood Street at the South Entrance to the festival. You can enter the parking area by turning east off of Forest Street onto Greenwood Street. There will be signs indicating where there is parking. We’ll have ADA seating available at each stage. You may bring folding chairs with you for use during the festival.

    Golf cart assistance between the stage is available and can be coordinated at the Evanston Folk Festival Guest Services Tent.

  • These events are rain or shine. Please plan accordingly. If it rains, we will still have a show unless conditions become unsafe with high winds or lightning. Refunds will not be offered in the event of rain unless the majority of sets cannot safely take place. We reserve the right to adjust set times as needed and will share those updates via EFF social media accounts.

    Everyone’s safety is paramount and we work with a team of professionals to track incoming weather. In the event of a dangerous weather system an evacuation may be called through the loudspeaker. Please follow all instructions for the safety of yourself and fellow attendees and check @evanstonfolkfest for the most up-to-date information.

  • Re-entry is allowed, but you will have to go through a bag check every time.

  • The Evanston History Center will be closed for the duration of the event. Please visit their website to learn more about this incredible space and schedule a visit at another time.

  • We’re sorry for the inconvenience. We hope you’ll appreciate the detour we’ve worked through with the City of Evanston, and that perhaps you’ll get to enjoy some music on your way around the fest. We promise it’ll reopen first thing Monday morning after the fest concludes.

  • The Hilton Orrington + The Graduate Evanston are within walking distance to the Fest grounds.

PROGRAMMING

  • EFF will feature three stages with programming alternating throughout the day as well as a Conversation Tent and various pop-up activities through each day. These are not enormous festival stages, but rather are designed to compliment each of their respective locations while offering the best sound possible.

  • Set times for Saturday and Sunday will be released closer to the festival and after the lineup announces.

    Gates open at 11:30am each day, and we recommend arriving early to take advantage of music happening all day long.

  • The fest concludes at 8:30pm each night. For those looking to continue their musical journey, ticketed shows will take place at SPACE and Cahn Auditorium in the evenings once the fest ends.

  • Yes! Buying merchandise is a great way to support the Festival and the artists playing it.

  • The festival will consist of a variety of performance formats, mostly stripped down sets, but ranging from solo to full band performances.

  • Yes, but does not include access to official aftershows.

  • Yes. These evening shows will follow each day’s EFF programming and are ticketed separately. After shows will take place at Cahn Auditorium (600 Emerson Street) and Evanston Space (1245 Chicago Ave).

  • Yes, many artists will appear at the merch tent after their set to autograph and visit with fans.

  • Yes, we will be announcing free community events in partnership with Starlight concert series with the City of Evanston.

  • This is a space, where we’ll be exploring the songwriting craft, the history of folk music and storytelling, and bringing in thought leaders and visionaries from a variety of backgrounds. This will take place in a tent with seats that are available on a first-come first-serve basis and overflow seating is always available on the grass outside the tent.

  • Yes, we will post more on free community access as the event gets closer. Please check back.

FOOD & BEVERAGES

  • Yes, we’ll have multiple bars featuring a selection of beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic options. Menu coming soon!

    PLEASE NOTE: All bars are CASHLESS, though food vendors may choose to accept cash.

  • There are a wide variety of food vendors including those with vegan or gluten free offerings.

  • There will be water available for purchase, along with a free water stations so you can refill your own reusable water bottle.

  • Please see our ‘Permitted’ and ‘Prohibited’ items below for details on what you can and cannot bring into the festival grounds.

TICKETING

  • Absolutely! Evanston Folk Festival is proud to be a family friendly event and music fans of all ages are welcome.

    Children under the age of 12 receive free admission to the festival. Children aged 12 - 16 will require a half-priced children’s ticket for admission, which will be available for purchase at the entry gate, even if the event is sold out in advance.

  • These events are rain or shine. Please plan accordingly. If it rains, we will still have a show unless conditions become unsafe with high winds or lightning. Refunds will not be offered in the event of rain unless the majority of sets cannot safely take place. We reserve the right to adjust set times as needed and will share those updates via EFF social media accounts.

    Everyone’s safety is paramount and we work with a team of professionals to track incoming weather. In the event of a dangerous weather system an evacuation may be called through the loudspeaker. Please follow all instructions for the safety of yourself and fellow attendees and check @evanstonfolkfest for the most up-to-date information.

  • All tickets are non-refundable, but you can forward your tickets directly to a friend or family member via email if you have the original confirmation, e-tickets, and order number.

    Please note: No refunds will be made in the case of inclement weather unless the event is fully canceled (e.g. no portion of the concert takes place) and not rescheduled for a later date.

  • Re-entry is allowed, but you will have to go through a bag check every time.

  • Ticketweb is the official ticketing provider of Evanston Folk Festival. Please search your email for an Ticketweb confirmation number, and check your Spam/Promotional tab for additional info.

    As long as you provided your first and last name during the checkout process, we will be able to look you up in our system electronically on the evening of the show. Please bring a valid ID, as it must match the name on the tickets.

    NOTE: If you purchased tickets from an unofficial ticketing provider other than Eventbrite, we’re unable to confirm the validity of your order or process a refund if your tickets don’t scan at the gate. You must contact the customer service number associated with the platform where tickets were purchased for additional support.

  • Tickets will be available for sale at the gates if the fest is not sold out in advance.

    As a reminder, children aged 12-16 will require a half-priced children’s ticket for admission, which will be available for purchase at the entry gate, even if the event is sold out in advance.

  • Yes, but does not include access to official aftershows.

  • Yes. These evening shows will follow each day’s EFF programming and are ticketed separately. After shows will take place at Cahn Auditorium (600 Emerson Street) and Evanston Space (1245 Chicago Ave).

PERMITTED + PROHIBITED ITEMS

  • Dogs are not allowed at the Fest. Service animals are permitted.

  • Smoking is not allowed on the festival grounds.

  • The below items are allowed inside Evanston Folk Festival. Please note that all bags are subject to search at the entry gate.

    • Backpacks and purses

    • Empty refillable water bottles

    • Wagons and strollers

    • Folding chairs, lawn chairs and blankets (please be respectful of your neighbors and keep your area appropriately-sized for the number of guests in your group.)

    • Rain coats & ponchos

    • Coolers

    • Outside food

    • Factory sealed, non-alcoholic and non-THC beverages

  • The below items are NOT allowed inside the Evanston Folk Festival. Please note that all bags are subject to search at the entry gate.

    • Outside alcoholic beverages

    • Pets (service animals permitted)

    • Bicycles

    • Umbrellas

    • Weapons, fireworks, drugs

    • Tents, balls, frisbees, bags sets, and yard games

    • Musical instruments or speakers

    • Professional photo, video, or audio recording equipment. A professional camera is designated as any device with a detachable lens

MISC

  • The Evanston History Center will be closed for the duration of the event. Please visit their website to learn more about this incredible space and schedule a visit at another time.

  • Go to our ‘Volunteer’ page to sign up and receive more information about helping out at this year’s fest!

  • We’re sorry for the inconvenience. We hope you’ll appreciate the detour we’ve worked through with the City of Evanston, and that perhaps you’ll get to enjoy some music on your way around the fest. We promise it’ll reopen first thing Monday morning after the fest concludes.