27 December, 2022
Woodford Folk Festival opens to a triumphant return
A little rain was no dampener to the triumphant return of the Woodford Folk Festival, which is now the largest gathering of performers in the world.
Marking 35 years of the Woodford Folk Festival, this year has seen record ticket sales including an early sell-out of season camping tickets.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch celebrated the return of the annual Woodford Folk Festival by welcoming back live performance, artists and audiences from across the nation.
"Woodford Folk Festival brings communities together and delivers arts, First Nations culture, music, dance, circus, ceremony and important conversations in one of Queensland's most beautiful settings,” Minister Enoch said.
“The Palaszczuk Government is investing $4 million over four years from 2021-22 into Woodfordia to grow the sustainability of this signature festival, boost cultural tourism and generate long-term economic benefits for the wider region.”
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Palaszczuk Government had backed Woodfordia to build back better from the pandemic with year-round visitor experiences.
“We’ve invested $1.2 million in 20 permanent luxury, fully furnished glamping tents to help Woodfordia expand into camp stays for corporate functions and short holidays,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Camping is a Woodford Folk Festival tradition, generating up to $25 million for the Moreton Bay region visitor economy.”
Founder and Festival Director Bill Hauritz AM thanked the Queensland Government for its ongoing support.
“If it were not for the support of the Queensland Government, it’s hard to imagine how we would have arrived at this point,” Mr Hauritz said.
“We’re excited to be back.
“Although season camping has sold out, there are still plenty of day and evening tickets available for those who are keen to close out the year in the beautiful surrounds of Woodford.”
Minister Enoch said the return of Woodford Folk Festival further boosts the state’s reputation for exceptional arts and cultural experiences as we prepare for the significant opportunities presented by the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
General Manager Amanda Jackes said the programme of shows and venues put together is impressive from one end of the diverse genres to the other.
“It’s difficult to think how anyone could deny the quality of the acts on the music stages producers of the Woodford Folk Festival, the planting, festival of small halls and Lake Gkula camping and the spoken word programme which includes an address by the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with a dynamic array of speakers,” said Jackes.
“It’ll be a few days short of three years since we closed the gates of our last Woodford Folk Festival.”
Mr Hauritz said attendees can expect “lots of changes” following the COVID shutdown.
“We work so very hard to be focussed on our patrons who we love.
“While this is the best we can do and while we’re aiming that this year might be our best, it’s our gorgeous patrons who will determine that.
“After all, it’s for them.”
The Woodford Folk Festival programme is available online along with all the information needed on how to do Woodford here: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/
Buy tickets to this year’s Woodford Folk Festival here: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/tickets/
The 2022 Woodford Folk Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
The event is held on Jinibara country in the Moreton Bay region and runs from December 27 to January 1.
