Wimborne Minster Folk Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wimborne Minster Folk Festival |
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Alton Morris at Wimborne Folk Festival 2011
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| Genre | Folk music, folk dance |
| Frequency | Annually in June |
| Location(s) | Wimborne Minster, England |
| Inaugurated | 1979/1982 |
| Attendance | Up to 70,000 |
The Wimborne Minster Folk Festival is a lively annual event. It celebrates traditional English folk music and dance. The festival takes place in the market town of Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England. It is known around the world for its fun and traditional atmosphere. The festival attracts many visitors each year.
Contents
The Festival's Story
How the Festival Started
The festival began in 1979 or 1982 as a way to celebrate folk dance and music. It started as a one-day event. Soon, it grew into a full weekend festival. It happens every year in June, from Friday to Sunday. It is one of the biggest gatherings of dance teams and musicians in the South of England. Up to 70,000 people come to enjoy the fun.
During the festival, several streets near the old Wimborne Minster church are closed. This makes space for all the activities. You can enjoy concerts, ceilidhs (which are traditional folk dances), and workshops. There are also dance shows, street markets, and special areas for families.
In 2009, parts of the film Morris: A Life with Bells On were filmed at the festival. This movie is a funny mockumentary about morris dancing.
A New Beginning
In August 2012, the original organizers announced that the festival would stop. They had organized it for over 30 years. However, a small group of volunteers decided to keep the festival going. In September 2012, they took on the challenge.
With new organizers, the festival changed its name to Wimborne Minster Folk Festival. This was done at the request of the previous organizers. The new festival has been very successful every year. It has kept the festival's spirit alive.
In 2017, the festival saw new leaders. They helped it grow even more. They added new events, like a night of music and comedy. This included a "Laugh Out Loud" comedy competition.
In 2018, over 60 dance teams performed. About 70,000 people visited Wimborne for the festival. The festival keeps growing thanks to many volunteers. Local businesses, councils, and the audience also support it.
Festival During Challenging Times
The festival planned for 2020 did not happen. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public gatherings were not allowed to keep people safe. Instead, the festival committee helped the community. They used their café at Allendale Community Centre. This café became a "Food Facility." It provided meals for people who were struggling. This included those who had to self-isolate or could not work during the lockdowns. The café helped people throughout 2020 and into 2021.
An attempt was made to hold the 2020 festival later in August. But this also had to be cancelled. Protecting public health was the most important thing. However, the café kept the festival spirit alive. In the second half of 2020, it hosted small, socially distanced music shows. These featured local musicians when rules allowed.
In June 2021, an online event was held. It took place on the same weekend the festival would have been. Local performers were featured over two nights.
Recent Festivals
The festival returned in 2022. It was an even bigger event to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Art was added to the program, joining comedy (which started in 2019). These new activities gave the public more to enjoy. The festival continues to be a highlight in Wimborne Minster.
Key Festival Dates
- 1979 – The first event was on Saturday, August 18. It was a one-day event called "Wimborne Country Festival."
- 1982 – The "Wimborne Country Folk Festival" took place from June 11–13. Many consider this the first full festival.
- Since 1982, the festival has happened every year.
- 2010 – Held from June 11 to 13. It had 45 dance groups and about 20,000 visitors.
- 2019 – The festival ran from June 6 to 9.
- 2020 – The festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
