Evanston’s lovely lakefront will once again be alive with music this fall, as the Evanston Folk Festival returns Sept. 12-13 to Dawes Park. Produced by SPACE Presents, the parent company of Evanston SPACE, the weekend’s lineup was announced Monday morning and features over 30 acts including Trampled by Turtles, Indigo Girls, Josh Ritter, Valerie June and Sierra Hull.
“The warm embrace this festival has received since its inception in 2024 has been inspiring to see, and we have high hopes for this third edition building on that incredibly solid foundation,” said Jake Samuels, director of music for SPACE and 16” on Center, in a press release.
General tickets go on sale starting at 10 a.m Friday, March 20, on the festival’s website. Tickets will also be available at a free Folk Fest Lineup Party at Evanston SPACE, 1243 Chicago Ave., at 5:30 p.m. Monday that will include contests, specialty merch, cake and performances by the Evanston Folk Choir.
Now in its third year, the Folk Fest celebrates the rich folk music tradition that has strong roots in Evanston. The two-day event is truly a feast for the senses and features three stages of music, intimate Tent Talks, family-friendly activities and dozens of food vendors, local businesses and nonprofits. “Guests can sit and listen to music, enjoy unbelievable scenery, and not feel rushed,” Samuels previously told the RoundTable. “There’s so much to see and explore.”
The festival includes a series of panel discussions in the Chicago Public Media Tent Talks, which bring together thought leaders and visionaries to explore songwriting craft, folk music and storytelling. This year’s discussions in the tents include Emily Saliers and Amy Ray of Indigo Girls, a Rosh Hashanah Sing Along and John Prine’s Chicago with Mark Guarino.
The weekend also features special after-hour performances, including Punch Brothers at Cahn Auditorium on Friday, Sept. 11. Additional shows at SPACE and Cahn have yet to be announced…