THUNDER BAY – It’s official, the Thunder Bay Folklore Festival has been cancelled for 2025.
As reported earlier this year, event organizers cited rising costs and safety issues as the reasons behind not continuing on with the multicultural event, which drew thousands each year to Fort William Gardens.
“Folklore is a family event that brings together our community and increasing ticket prices, or increasing booth rental costs, meaning vendors would have to pass on their additional costs to visitors, and this all would take a heavy toll on attendance numbers in these already very challenging financial times for Folklore visitors,” said promotions chair Jeanetty Jumah, in a release issued on Tuesday morning.
Organizers said they considered closing things down at 8 p.m. on Saturday for safety reasons, while eliminating the costs of having Saturday night entertainment, but with increasing security, electrical and other costs, it wouldn’t have made enough of a difference.
Parking was also a concern.
Safety and security issues were also a factor, Jumah said.
“There are also serious safety issues for attendees around the Fort William Gardens which were were made aware of that we need to take into consideration for our Folklore visitors, participants and young volunteers.”
Jumah told CKPR Radio it was more about the cost of hiring security and changes to rules surrounding security at the Gardens.
Organizers say they will take 2025 off and reevaluate their ability to host the event again in 2026.
“We have been in contact with many other festival organizers and they have made less money or lost money and are also in a similar position and will make their own decisions.”
