Winterfolk

Pages shown are Winterfolk VIII – Feb 2010

Will Be updated to Winterfolk IX – Feb 2011 as Information Becomes Available

Winterfolk VIII      About      Artists      Schedule      Sponsors      Volunteers      Get a Gig

• What Is Winterfolk's Mission
• What is Winterfolk
• When is Winterfolk
• Where Will Winterfolk be Held?
  • Map To Winterfolk
  • Directions by TTC and Car
• How Will Winterfolk be Promoted?
• How Much Will it Cost to Attend?
• Contact Information
• A Brief History of Winterfolk

What is Winterfolk's Mission ?

Winterfolk was formed to entertain, educate, enlighten, engage and encourage our community about various folk music styles including roots, blues, folk and more. Winterfolk is presented by 'The Association of Artists for A Better World', a registered Non-Profit Organization, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Winterfolk folk has no paid employees, and maintains no staff. Funds received from submissions are used towards festival expenses, the majority of which is paid to the artists. Top of Page

What is Winterfolk ?

.Winterfolk (VIII) is an eighth annual event for Toronto. More than 100 artists will be performing live at seven or more area venues over the course of four days. It will also include workshops for guitar playing, song writing, and more.

• Winterfolk is presented by 'The Association of Artists for A Better World', a registered non-profit organization.
• Winterfolk is a member of the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. (OCFF)
• Winterfolk is supported and sanctioned by the Danforth BIA. (Business Improvement Area)
• Winterfolk programming supports our community, and offers stages to new and emerging talent.

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When is Winterfolk?

Winterfolk VIII will run an extra day this year, so will be four days in length. The dates are February 12 – 15, 2010, in Toronto Canada.  

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Where Will Winterfolk be Held?

Winterfolk Will be held on six stages, in four venues, at the corners of Danforth and Broadview.

Winterfolk Venues

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Map To Winterfolk

Winterfolk is located on Danforth Ave, East of Broadview, Closest Subway is Broadview Top of Page

Directions To Winterfolk

Directions: Winterfolk is accessible from two subway stops – Broadview and Chester – both within a short walk from the north of Danforth Ave. Trains traveling East & West begin at approximately 6:00am Monday to Saturday and at 9:00am on Sunday. Last trains out of the area (East & West) end at approximately 2:00am each night. Contact TTC directly for additional information including: route times and availability at 416.393.4636.. Directions from Young Line – Travel along the Yonge-Finch line to Bloor Station. At the Bloor-Yonge Station switch to the Bloor-Danforth line (down the stairs) and take the eastbound subway to Broadview. Directions from Union Station – using the Subway Entering the subway at Union Station take the Yonge-Finch line North to Bloor-Yonge Station. At Bloor switch to the Bloor-Danforth line (down the stairs) and take the eastbound subway to Broadview. Directions from Pearson Airport – By car : Take HWY 409 South to HWY 401 East Exit HWY 401 (East) and head south along the Don Valley Parkway Exit the Don Valley Parkway at Bloor St At the top of the ramp to Bloor St turn LEFT and cross the bridge to the Danforth BIA Directions from Pearson Airport – By bus & subway: Take to the bus to Yorkdale Shopping Centre At Yorkdale Shopping Centre take the subway to Bloor Station. At Bloor switch to the Bloor-Danforth line (down the stairs) and take the eastbound subway to Broadview or Chester Station. Parking -Winterfolk is serviced by two Green P parking facilities at: 1. Broadview (north of the Danforth) behind the TTC 2. Jackman Ave (north of the Danforth) behind the Carrot Common Street-level parallel parking by ticket purchase (excluding Holidays) is available along Danforth Ave: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm (2 hour max) Monday to Friday 6:00pm to 9:00pm (3 hour max) Saturday 8:00am to 6:00pm (2 hour max) Saturday 6:00pm to 9:00pm (3 hour max) Sunday 1:00pm to 6:00pm (2 hour max) Sunday 6:00pm to 9:00pm (3 hour max) Tickets to be displayed on your dash can be purchased with Cash, VISA, MasterCard, and AMEX at $1.00 per hour. Top of Page

 How Will Winterfolk be Promoted?

This has not yet been fully determined at the time of writing, but as in previous years Winterfolk will be advertised in the local music scene, flyer distribution and other media outlets. A Winterfolk Program Guide will be distributed at all of the participating venues. The Winterfolk Program Guide will include information on all of the artists, venues, workshops, schedules, etc. Press releases will be issued to the media to generate additional publicity. Television, radio and print coverage are all expected. Top of Page

How Much Will it Cost to Attend?

As in previous years, Winterfolk is a free festival, with a few of the stages charging admission. Details will be posted in the near future. Top of Page

Contact Information 

 Top of Page A Brief History of Winterfolk Winterfolk is a free family weekend featuring over 100 artists in six venues for 4 days of roots and blues music. The idea was create the scenario of a summer festival, but in the winter. With numerous stages running throughout the weekend, festival goers could move from stage to stage – venue to venue – to see their favorite artists. Winterfolk started from nothing. Winterfolk was founded in 2002. Initially the festival was staged at a few clubs in the Spadina and College area of Toronto for the first two years. The vision expanded as the organizers realized the potential of the little festival which was about to grow. The Winterfolk concept, scope, appeal and artistic value rapidly drew attention from artists, media, venues, audience as well as all facets of the roots community in Toronto. In the first year, the festival attracted only about 500 people, but would continue to grow in subsequent years. By our second year, 2003, the OCFF (Ontario Council of Folk Festivals) waived their two-year waiting period, and invited Winterfolk II to become a member festival. The city of Toronto’s annual Winterfest calendar coincided with the Winterfolk schedule, and included Winterfolk as a participating member and offered representation in their brochures and activity calendar. Attendance doubled in year two. Winterfolk III showed substantial growth and momentum. The festival was moved to the Danforth and Broadview area of Toronto in 2004, for a number of reasons including a more culturally diverse neighborhood, virtually unlimited potential for growth, and to take advantage of the ability to work with the local Danforth BIA who was eager to welcome Winterfolk to the area. In April 2004, Winterfolk applied and received non-profit status in the province of Ontario, organization under the name ‘The Association of Artists for a Better World’. (A Better World is a legal short form). Winterfolk IV was the first time the festival offered free admission to all the performances, and we spent much of the year involved in fundraising activities to increase revenues. This seemed to be a desirable format as attendance now reached the 3000 level, and our goal was to maintain it as no cost for attendance so we could involve and introduce more people to roots music. The festival has continued annually to attract artists and audiences. Winterfolk VIII is scheduled for February 12-15, 2010. More than 100 artists will be performing live at six or more area venues over the course of four days. It will also include workshops for guitar playing, song writing, and more. Winterfolk brings much-needed commerce and revenue to the area merchants during a typically slow retail time. Presented annually in February, Winterfolk fills a gap in the calendars of both the festival goers as well as artists. The festival has grown continuously since its inception, and is now becoming well known in the city of Toronto. Top of Page