Did you know one of the largest Folk Festivals in the country takes place right here in Lowell? From Friday July 25 to Sunday July 27, the City of Lowell will be transformed into an amazing destination featuring a huge variety of musicians, dancers and performers, all kinds of ethnic foods, arts & crafts, children's activities and more at the Lowell Folk Festival. It's a wonderful family event, with opportunities to listen to and dance to all kinds of music, experience new art forms, and try new foods. All performances are free but there are items for purchase, such as foods and arts and crafts. Plus, this year, the Discovery Museum will be presenting the Discovery Lowell Playspace on Merrimack Street!
We've reviewed the schedules, maps and materials and pulled out the key activities and areas that will appeal most to families with children.
MUSIC & DANCE
Music and dance are the main attractions of the Lowell Folk Festival, and there is always an incredible variety of performers. Performers in 2025 are from Canada, Mali, Portugal, Colombia and all over the US. They will be performing all kinds of music and dance, including Greek, traditional Irish, polka, flamenco, Native American dance, blues, cajun, traditional Cambodian, gospel, bluegrass and more. See the complete list of artists, with links to videos, on the 2025 Performers page. Some artists who would appeal particularly to families include:
- Pan Franek, Zosia & The Polka Towners ~ polka
- Red Baraat ~ dhol (Indian bhangra, high energy)
- Solas ~ Irish folk music
- Martha Spencer & The Wonderland Country Band ~ Appalachian
- Cécelia ~ Québécois and Celtic music
FOOD
The Lowell Folk Festival organization does an amazing job coordinating ethnic food vendors, all of whom are from non-profit organizations. Their profits will be put to good use on a variety of projects, and they are required to use environmentally-friendly plates, utensils and packaging.
Visit the Food From Around The World page to read about the global food vendors that will be stationed at Boarding House Park, Market Street and near the Dance Pavilion. See the list of vendors and their locations on the Festival Map. Try all kinds of food, including Armenian, Greek, Polish, Jamaican, Middle Eastern, Asian, African, Filipino, Laotian, Burmese and more. If you'd prefer a sit-down restaurant, consider visiting Athenian Corner, Cobblestones, El Potro Mexican Bar & Grill, Brew'd Awakening, The Old Court, Gormley's Cafe, or Worthen House Cafe, all sponsors of the Folk Festival and located near the festivities.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Visit the Experience Lowell Arts Market on Merrimack Street on Saturday July 26 from 12-7 pm and Sunday July 27 from 12-5 pm. Meet more than 40 local artisans and view and purchase their work. Local organizations will also be set up in the market to share information, handouts, schedules, and activities, so that festival attendees can experience everything that Lowell’s arts and culture community has to offer.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Head to the Discovery Lowell Playspace on Merrimack Street for lots of children's activities from 12-5 pm on Saturday and Sunday from 12-5 PM. Typically, there are crafts, games, dance performances from local dance schools, face painting, balloons, giveaways, street performers, snacks and more.
Be sure to visit the Street Performances area at the corner of Central and Merrimack Streets on Saturday and Sunday afternoon for a variety of performances, including breakdancing, mariachi, and a yo-yo show.
LOGISTICS & SCHEDULES
Performers rotate among the various stages and will appear at different times throughout the weekend. See the daily schedule.
Parking is available at downtown garages on John Street, Market Street, the Tsongas Arena, Warren Street, Middlesex Street, and Davidson Street off East Merrimack Street. Some of these garages may become inaccessible after Saturday at 9 AM; the Warren Street and Tsongas Arena garages should be accessible all weekend but may be full. Note that portions of downtown Lowell will be closed all weekend. Check the Directions page for a map and more information. Consider taking the LRTA bus from surrounding towns ~ it's FREE all weekend!
Stay tuned to the Lowell Folk Festival social media channels for updates and the latest news: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Macaroni KID Lowell is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in the greater Lowell area.
We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week, and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more. We proudly serve thousands of families in Lowell, Dracut, Chelmsford, Westford, Tyngsboro, Dunstable, Littleton, Groton, Billerica, Tewksbury, and other surrounding communities.
Subscribe today to receive our email newsletter every Wednesday!
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
Advertise with us to reach thousands of local families!
