Woodford Folk Festival

For more than 30 years, the Woodford Folk Festival sat quietly but persistently on my bucket list — like a song you never quite forget the words to, even if you’ve never sung it out loud. I’d heard the stories. I’d seen the photos. Every year, I’d think, Maybe next time. And then, at long last, this year, I went.

It didn’t disappoint. In fact, it absolutely lit me up.

I went with my daughters and their friends, which only made the experience richer. Sharing it with them — seeing their excitement, watching them discover the magic of Woodford for themselves — was something I’ll always treasure. We all had a ball.

We camped, which was part of the fun - waking up in anticipation of a new day full of music and fun, brewing coffee and cooking breakfast as the sun rose, as well as sharing stories under  the gazebo at night. A few of my daughters’ friends opted for glamping, which, honestly, was a pretty smart move - especially when you factor in the cost of traveling from Melbourne or hiring a car. Plus, if the skies open up (as they sometimes do), they don’t have to worry about soggy tents or wet sleeping bags.

We attended three days and were well and truly saturated with music. But there’s so much more to Woodford than just music. If you’re attending for the full six days, I’d definitely recommend mixing things up — try a few workshops, take a swim in the lake, explore the quieter corners of the festival grounds.

One of our favourite ways to recharge was to settle in with a cup of the best-brewed chai you can get (outside of my own kitchen, that is). Other times, we’d cool off with a swim in the lake — often in the company of a resident live mermaid, who’d enchant us with stories in her sing-song voice. Je t’aime — have I been entranced?

From their website (www.woodfordfolkfestival.com):

“The Woodford Folk Festival is held annually over six days and six nights, from Dec 27th through to January 1st. More than 2,000 local, national and international artists, musicians and presenters grace the stages of Woodfordia.

The festival programme features concerts, dances, street theatre, writers’ panels, film festival, comedy sessions, acoustic jams, social dialogue and debate, folk medicine, an entire children’s festival, an environmental programme featuring talks, debates and films, art and craft workshops, circus performances and workshops, late-night cabarets, parades and special events — including the spectacular fire event.”

So where is the Woodford Folk Festival?
It’s located north of Brisbane, in a beautiful, bushy, hilly area. It’s run by volunteers, who are thoroughly professional. The venue, transport, gigs, and facilities were all top notch. 

Importantly, the proceeds go back into the upkeep and development of the venue itself. From an engineering perspective the works are impressive with water treatment works for the lake and amenities, power and sound equipment, drainage etc.

For more details, their website gives a better rundown than I ever could: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com

What I loved most:

  • Excellent value for money

  • A respectful, family-friendly atmosphere — no excessive drunkenness or obvious drug use

  • A huge variety of acts across numerous venues

  • A truly welcoming, inclusive vibe

It was a beautiful way to spend that often in-between, reflective time between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

If you’ve ever thought about going — go. Five, ten, thirty years so what - create the list and work towards acting upon it. Life has a funny way of nudging you toward the things your spirit needs. Woodford, it turns out, was one of mine. There are a few more in the list - Tamworth country music, Parkes Elvis and Port Fairy folk music festivals to name some of them.

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Location: Woodford QLD 4514, Australia

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