33rd Lowell Folk Festival Sizzles

Magnum and Company Gospel Brass Band.

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The heat was on this past weekend in Lowell, Massachusetts. The 33rd annual Lowell Folk Festival came to town from July 26-28, 2019, and it was hot. Not only was the weather hot, but the performances on the stages were hot as well as the food at the foodways demonstrations area. Considered the nation's longest running free folk festival, the Lowell Folk Festival had something for everyone who came.

In 1990, the Lowell Folk Festival was born out of the National Folk Festival, which came to town from 1987 through 1989. During that time, five downtown stages have grown to showcase the best in traditional music, folkcraft and foodways. In addition, over twenty local area non-profit organizations came to share food from their culture with festival goers, giving a taste of the world to those wishing to try something new.

A production of the City of Lowell, Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitor Bureau, National Council for the Traditional Arts, Lowell Festival Foundation and Lowell National Historical Park, combine efforts to make the Lowell Folk Festival the most authentic, non-commercial event of its kind. Support from numerous regional National Park Sites assisted operations, providing security, set-up and clean-up and information on the weekend events.

Yamini Kalluri & The Carnatic Ensemble at the 33rd annual Lowell Folk Festival.

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Couples dance at the 33rd annual Lowell Folk Festival.

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