Mariposa Folk Festival brings 100+ performers to Orillia’s Tudhope Park

The stage is set for the 65th Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia, Ont. (Mariposa Folk Festival/Facebook)

The 65th annual Mariposa Folk Festival has begun in Orillia. The popular three-day festival, held at Tudhope Park, features over 100 performances on 11 stages, showcasing a diverse range of folk music.

The festival kicked off Friday morning on Mississauga Street with local live entertainment.

Harry Lee Follon, a musician from Guelph, was the first to perform and said it was a dream come true. “The fact that my name is first on the entire list is, it’s freaking me out a little bit, but it’s great and I’m really proud to be here.”

His preferred genre is Canadian folk with a splash of country. Follon added that festivals like Mariposa are important for musicians looking to gain more exposure.

“So many music venues and artists were suffering over the last few years, so it’s so great to see it come back alive in such a vibrant way,” said Follon.

Tudhope Park in downtown Orillia is the main location for the festival.

Pam Carter, president of Mariposa Folk Festival said there are activities for all ages. “We’ve got a kids program, we’ve got a couple of licensed areas, we’ve got a main stage so lots of music artisans, food vendors,” she said. “Truly, it’s a festival.

The impressive weekend lineup includes children’s favourites Splash ‘N Boots, Canadian singer/songwriter Serena Ryder, American singer/songwriter Waxahatchee, and acclaimed American indie folk and alternative country band Iron and Wine.

Kicking off the festival on Friday are The Sheepdogs, Langhorne Slim, The Paper Kites, Irish Mythen, and Les Hay Babies.

Local talent will be able to showcase their music to the crowds.

“When we do our workshop stages, we bring three or four artists together, and there could be an established artist and an emerging artist that come through showcase, and for that young artist to work on a stage with somebody is priceless,” said Carter.

The festival is more than just a good time, it’s also an economic boost for the city. “It brings approximately 48 per cent from out of town, so certainly for hotels and gas stations and service industries and all that collateral spending, it’s a huge boom to Orillia,” said Carter.

YJ Seoul Food is a local food vendor specializing in Korean cuisine. YJ Hong-McParland and her husband Jamie McParland run the business and live in Orillia and are excited to see familiar faces on the festival grounds.

“We love it the here, the energy’s positive vibe,” said YJ. “Everybody keeps a smile, and we enjoy the little kids, so walking around and, yeah, just lovely.”

The couple added the atmosphere surrounding the festival is a feeling you can’t find anywhere else. “I mean, she’s from Seoul, Korea, across the ocean, and just she knows more people in Orillia than I do, and I grew up here, so she has a lot of repeat customers that she is proud of,” said Jamie McParland.

Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult with a purchased ticket are free. There is also onsite camping available to weekend pass holders.

The Mariposa Folk Festival is the longest-running folk festival in North American and has been held annually in the Sunshine City for the past 25 years.