Regina Folk Festival prepares for the weekend

The Queen City Ex may be over for another year, but that doesn’t mean summer fun is over in Regina – the 49th Annual Regina Folk Festival begins on Aug 10.

Every year the festival fills Victoria Park with crafts, arts, food, and of course, music.

Bruce Cockburn is back as a headliner this year.

“It’s our fiftieth next year, so I was like ‘maybe I should save Bruce for then,'” mused Sandra Butel, an organizer with the festival.

“But then he brought out a new album and I was like ‘oh good, I can do it now.'”

Cockburn takes the stage on Sunday night, while Walk off the Earth headlines on Friday and Neko Case on Saturday.

There are acts all day all weekend and Butel recommends people check out Reverend Sekou. She calls him a powerhouse.

“I often wonder if he’s going to hurt his neck because he’s doing a lot of head-banging in his music, which is very soul-driven. And he’s got a fabulous band with him – they’re all six-foot and he’s, like, not.”

Along with the music, there are also crafts, an art market, a beer garden, and kids areas. Butel praised the people who put on the festival every year.

“We’re really glad to be able to keep presenting it, and presenting all our daytime stuff for free so that everybody has access.”

Tickets can still be purchased for the festival, with weekend passes selling for $120 each plus fees.