Hundreds of fans line up early for 40th Folk Fest
Hundreds line up around the block for coveted spot on Gallagher Park hill
After more than 25 years lining up for the Folk Fest “tarp run,” Cathy Bernier is finally at the front of the queue.
The 40th edition of the festival, which features a packed lineup including Hozier, Brandi Carlile and the War and Treaty, kicked off Thursday night and coveted spots on the Gallagher Park hill for mainstage performances drew hundreds of attendees to line up early outside the park.
For Bernier, who lives half the year in Honduras, the festival is a homecoming of sorts each summer.
“The music is fabulous and so are the people,” she said Thursday, sitting in the shade along 96 Avenue. “I can’t imagine a year that goes by that I wouldn’t be doing this.”
Attendees congregate in a corral of sorts near the Muttart Conservatory, each receiving a ticket with the name of an act on it. Once their act is called, they hold tight to their ticket and wait in line outside the park for hours until it advances and they are called to nab a space on the hill.
Since chances of getting an earlier ticket increase the more people from each tarp take a ticket, Bernier makes sure everyone who plans to use the tarp as a home base that day comes to the corral.
“I just peer-pressure my family and say if they want to sit on the tarp, they have to come into the corral,” said Bernier with a laugh.
On Saturday and Sunday, that can mean arriving at the corral before 7 a.m. after a late night of music the day before.
While many might expect the line to be unruly, it was calm on Thursday afternoon. Folks had arrived by 1:30 p.m. for ticket calling and sat along the edge of 96 Avenue in lawn chairs, reading books and chatting with their neighbours.
Bernier is most excited for Blue Rodeo and The Waifs this weekend and hopes her good luck continues for the next three days.
“The tarp run is part of the tradition, so you just keep up with it,” said Bernier.
“There’s not a bad spot on the hill.”
Thursday and Saturday evening tickets are sold out. A limited number of Friday and Sunday tickets are available.