THUNDER BAY — The popular Thunder Bay Folklore Festival will not be held in 2025.
A letter sent to sponsors by festival organizers said rising costs an safety issues have led to the cancellation.
The letter indicates they plan to take one year off and organizers will re-evaluate the situation and the possibility of running the festival again in 2026.
According to the letter, it’s not feasible to raise booth rental prices or ticket prices, without the additional costs being passed on to visitors, which organizers say would have a heavy toll on attendance numbers.
“Many families and seniors have limited finances and could not afford to come if we raise prices for our family[1]friendly, affordable event. Our committee has considered ending on Saturday night at 8 p.m. for safety and eliminating our Saturday Night Feature Entertainers to save some costs but also face, increasing Gardens security, electrical, and other related costs,” reads the letter, signed by Folklore Festival chair Jim Squier and sponsorship and promotion chair Jeanetty Jumah and obtained by Dougall Media.
Jumah was asked for comment on Monday, but said she’ll have more to say in February.
The lack of free parking on Saturdays is also a factor.
“There are also serious safety issues for attendees around the Fort William Gardens which we were made aware of that we need to take into consideration for our Folklore visitors and participants,” the letter reads, without indicating what these safety issues are.
The letter also complains about a lack of support from the City of Thunder Bay, adding sponsors are also facing tough financial decisions and tend to want to provide in-kind support rather than cash.
Folklore Festival was cancelled between 2020 and 2022 as an in-person event, returning in 2023 and 2024 at the Gardens.
