2-Day Passes On Sale 4/25 | Single-Day Passes On Sale in June
ESTABLISHED IN 2024
A celebration of folk.
Evanston Folk Festival returns for its second year on the spectacular lakefront at Dawes Park on Chicago’s North Shore. Join us September 6 + 7, 2025, as more than 30 world-class artists take the stage with Lake Michigan as a beautiful backdrop. Listen and learn at in-person interviews and panels with authors and luminaries presented by Chicago Public Media. And keep the music going after the sun sets with intimate evening performances at Cahn Auditorium.
And folk festival wouldn’t exist without our folks…so grab your weekend passes and we’ll see you in September for another magical weekend celebrating the rich history of folk music in Evanston.
Folk Fest in the News
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First-ever Evanston Folk Festival draws crowds to the lakefront
Chicago Tribune
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The first Evanston Folk Festival embraces conversation and diversity in folk music
Chicago Reader
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Saturday and Sunday Photo Recap
Brooklyn Vegan
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First Evanston Folk Festival Appreciates the Old and Attracts the New
Chicago Maroon
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Evanston Folk Fest floods the lakefront with music and majesty
Evanston Roundtable
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Sierra Ferrell, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and others announced for first-time Evanston Folk Festival
Chicago Tribune
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Interview Segment with General Manager Jordan Lulloff
CBS News Chicago
OUR FOLKS
SOME FEEDBACK FROM
“A VERY worthy first effort. Saw some favorites, learned some new artists. Loved the location!”
“You truly did a tremendous job putting that together. The lake as a backdrop was amazing, but I also loved the signage and stage design. Subtle details like even the ‘conversation tent’ letters on the tent itself — and the life-affirming signs hanging from trees — added an unexpected (but fully appreciated) charm.”
“It was like a Newport Folk Fest for us! Let's do it again next year!”
“Excellent…! I appreciated the early emails about parking and logistics, as well as the clear signage pointing the way to the gate. I can only imagine the coordinated effort between the event planning team and the city of Evanston, but from the attendee perspective it was SEAMLESS. Thank you, humans!.”