The 38th Annual Mission Folk Music Festival has announced its weekend slate of performances returning to Fraser River Heritage Park July 25-27.
The lineup includes three evening Main Stage showcases on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings between 6 and 11pm. From 11am, on Saturday and Sunday, audiences will be treated to an array of over 30 collaborative workshop performances, concerts, interactive get-togethers, jams, song circles and more on the 4 daytime stages.
The 2025 festival offers a diverse roster of more than 20 acts from across North America and the world, offering a range of musical genres and styles as well as disciplines, both traditional and contemporary.
EVENING MAIN STAGE: evenings offer an exciting and eclectic showcase of festival artists, featuring 4-5 acts each night including;
Friday: the tuchus-shaking klezmer energy of Shpilkis and Australia’s blues wizard, Lloyd Spiegel.
Saturday: the rich American roots music of Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons and the Latin fusion of Empanadas Ilegales.
Sunday: a performance of the Festival Choir, the dynamic Brazilian choro sounds of Tio Chorinho and vocalist Flávia Nascimento. Closing the festival on Sunday, the musical genius of multi-award-winning singer-songwriter, Julian Taylor.
DAYTIME: workshops, concerts, talks and more offer a chance to get to know a number of this year’s artists more closely. Concert performances are an opportunity to get up-close and personal with artist, experiencing and enjoying their music, stories, talents and cultures in smaller and more intimate daytime settings.
Each day also offers a number of unique, one-time-only collaborative workshops between artists who share a common bond, but who may meet for the first time on stage. Brought together around a theme, workshops are places where magic can and will happen.
Collaborations include; “Squeeze the Day” on Saturday, puts Washington State’s travelling folk-troubadour-accordionist, Strangely, together with choro accordion wizard, Milos Popovic from Tio Chorinho. You just want to be there to see what these maestros of the squeezebox can cook up together! On Sunday, “Herstory” sees the audacious chorale of Minuscule and Mimi O’Bonsawin share the stage; and later in the day, “Hornucopia” brings two very different musical ensembles together for what is sure to be an electrifying musical connection: Empanadas Ilegales meets Shpilkis. These are just samplings of the dynamic offerings in store.
For those looking to explore their own musical leanings, the festival also offers the Workshop Stage, where audience participation is welcome for bring-your-own instrument workshops and jams, sing-along sessions, song circles, and the rehearsals of the always remarkable MFMF Choir.
To help complete the weekend visitors can find an Artisan Marketplace and Food Court with a licensed, shaded Beer Garden. Weekend camping is also available onsite for those who want to take advantage of every minute of The Festival.
The Mission Folk Music Festival runs July 25 to 27, 2025 at Fraser River Heritage Park, 7494 Mary Street, Mission, BC. Ticket information and the full list of Main Stage artists, concerts, workshops and participatory sessions are available at missionfolkmusicfestival.ca