The 32^nd Lowell Folk Festival continues to provide the finest in traditional music, craft, foodways and more in downtown Lowell. This annual celebration is the best in traditional folk music, artisan crafts and ethnic foods, and will be returning to downtown Lowell with a full lineup beginning with the traditional parade of nations from Lowell’s City Hall Plaza to Boarding House Park. The free festival offers something for everyone, from 8 to 80-year-olds all within the heart of Lowell National Historical Park.

“This will be the 32nd year of the Lowell Folk Festival,” said Kevin Dwyer, Executive Director of the Lowell Folk Festival.  “There will be a number of great new artists to the lineup this year. For a lot of performers, it will be their first time in Lowell. It’s really exciting to bring new world class artists to Lowell and get our attendees to see them for the first time! This community has embraced a festival that has drawn millions of people over the last 30 years. We’re very excited to present the 32^nd festival this July.”

Look for the following performers to make the Lowell Folk Festival the place to be July 27-29, 2018.

Tribu Baharu – Colombian champeta

Bernard Allison Group – blues

Mary Jane Lamond & Wendy MacIsaac – Cape Breton song and fiddle

Kahulanui – Hawaiian swing

Kyle Huval & the Dixie Club Ramblers – Cajun

Rahzel – beatboxing

Neuza – Cabo Verde

Big Country Bluegrass – bluegrass

Orquesta SCC – salsa dura

Greek Rebetiko Trio – Greek rebetiko music

Salar Nadar & Mustafa Saeed – Afghan tabla and rubâb

Don Roy Trio with Rossby & Elsie Arnott – Franco-American

Cora Harvey Armstrong – gospel

Sidi Touré – Songhaï guitar music from Mali

Iberi – Georgian polyphonic singing

Tony Blazonczyk’s New Phaze – polka

More performers to come.

At the Folk Craft Area, the theme will be Painted, Plaited, Pounded, or Pulled

Lucy Larcom Park, Saturday & Sunday, 12 – 5 p.m.

The following Master Artists and their traditions include:

Jewish ritual garments, Amy Lassman

Holy images iconography, Christopher Gosey

Liturgical painting, Geoffrey Kostecki

Hooked rugs, Pam Bartlett

Norwegian rosemaling, Linda Miller

Black ash splint basketry, JoAnn Kelly Catsos & Steve Catsos

Finnish birch bark basketry, Elaine Moe

Mi’kmaq Wooden Flutes, David Lonebear Sanipass

Steep pan drums, Jason Roseman

Zimbabwe mbira, Solomon Murungu

Hammersmith Iron works, Carl Close, Jr.

Mithila arts, Sunanda Sahay & Anindita Lal

To celebrate the Festival’s 32^nd Anniversary the Foodways area will be featuring Flatbreads: Plain & Fancy. Check out cooks who have adapted their traditions and how they found their way to America, and to the Lowell Folk Festival! Make sure you stop by and have a “Taste of Tradition!”

The Lowell Folk Festival is presented by Lowell National Historical Park, Lowell Festival Foundation, the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of Lowell, the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact Phil Lupsiewicz at 978-275-1705 or phil_lupsiewicz@nps.gov.