We acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Chippewa Tri-Council, made up of Beausoleil First Nation, Georgina Island First Nation and Rama First Nation. We also recognize the enduring presence of the First Nation, Metis and Inuit on this land.
Please note: NO REFUNDS. RAIN OR SHINE
Line-up is subject to change.
This is an outdoor event, rain or shine. If significant weather delays are anticipated, we will let you know through announcements on our stage monitors.
FESTIVAL VIBE
As one of the longest running folk festivals in North America, the Mariposa Folk Festival continues to build an amazing legacy. Mariposa is renowned for its wide range of folk/roots artists, with 100+ performances of every kind on its 11 stages that showcase music, dance and spoken word – but there’s much more at the Mariposa Folk Festival! Most of the programming invites audience participation of all ages, while engaging and educating patrons in folk culture.
The whole festival is child and family-friendly! The Mariposa family-friendly vibe goes well beyond the Folkplay area. We encourage parents and grandparents to bring kids to enjoy every aspect of the festival. Families with children are welcome at every stage including the Pub Tent, where many family fun music and activities are programmed.
Click here to view the line-up and schedules. Please note that it is always subject to change.
Get the App! Download the free Mariposa Folk app from the Apple Store or Playstore. If you have the previous year’s app installed on your device, uninstall it first.
Artisans
We have an entire community of folk artisans nestled in the trees, displaying and selling their beautiful and unique handcrafted works including: jewellery, musical instruments, soaps, paintings, apparel, pottery, glass, carving, weaving, candles and much more.
Hands-on experiences
Get out of your comfort zone and try something new! Learn and grow at Mariposa by participating in many of our popular interactive workshops – join a drum circle, make a craft, write a song, dance, paint and let your creativity flow!
Studio Point
Studio Point is an intimate spot where artists, art aficionados and hobbyists can drop by to observe and learn from accomplished painters. Create your own masterpiece with brushes and paints supplied.
Folkplay for Kids
Our Folkplay area is a festival-within-a-festival for children and those young at heart. There are many amazing participatory activities and crafts for kids that include: interactive concerts on the Sunshine Stage, making garlands, dancing, experimenting with musical instruments, face painting, bubble making, kite flying and water fun.
Community Village
Mariposa welcomes many community groups and non-profit organizations to the festival. The organizations exhibiting in our Community Village are carefully selected to provide a diverse and balanced educational experience. Check them out and learn more about the world around you.
Interactive Stages
Participate indance, story telling, jewellery making and more.
Sorry, there are no refunds. The festival takes place rain or shine. The festival has over 60 artists. It is not a concert. The line-up is always subject to change.
In 2022, 2023 and 2024 the festival sold out prior to the event so no tickets were available at the gate.
Yes! Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a guardian with a purchased ticket or when accompanied by a person with festival accreditation. Parental discretion may be advised for some programming.
As the festival may be loud at times, we recommend bringing earplugs or noise cancelling headphones for children. They are not available for purchase on site.
The Mariposa Folk Festival is a nonprofit event. It typically receives about 15-20% of revenues from government funding. This means 80% of the revenues needed each year to meet expenses come from earned revenue – ticket sales, festival sales and sponsorship support.
GENERAL
Rain or shine, this is an outdoor event. If significant weather delays are anticipated, we will let you know through announcements on our stage monitors.
The festival is located in J. B. Tudhope Memorial Park, 500 Atherley Road, Orillia Ontario.
You will receive a wristband in exchange for your ticket. You may come and go as you wish until 11pm each day when you show your wristband at the gate. Please do not remove your wristband while you are in the park. Weekend wristbands need to stay on your wrist for the full weekend.
Amenities are available to make your festival experience enjoyable. Locations are indicated on the site map – click here.
Refillable water station
ATM
Phone charging stations
First Aid
Information Booth
Porta potties
Accessible washrooms
The Festival happens rain or shine. Pack weather-appropriate clothing: raincoats, jackets, hats and sunscreen, etc. You should bring a warm sweater for the evening concert as the stage is near the water and often gets chilly at night.
There are lots of ways to enjoy the evening Main Stage – dancing, standing, sitting or reclining on a blanket/tarp, or lounging in a low chair. Be a good neighbour and keep the access path clear so that everyone can enter and exit safely – without blocking the view!
Designated areas for accessible seating are available at the Main Stage and Pub Stage. For patrons and their companions entering the Pub stage, please contact the Site Safety Volunteers located at the entrance to the venue. Upon request, they will guide you to an accessible entrance and seating area.
Blankets are placed in the designated area in front of the stage. Low chairs can be placed behind blankets and all other chairs behind the low chairs. Those with high backed chairs blocking others may be asked by Mariposa to move. Please only take the space that you need.
All items left behind will be removed each night after the main stage closes and placed in an unsecured compound located behind the Accreditation tent where they may be retrieved during festival hours. All items left overnight are at your own risk.
Seating may not be reserved in the Pub tent.
Wagons must be parked outside of the audience seating area.
There are many activities available for children of all ages. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a guardian in the children’s area – Folkplay.Click here for a list of activities.
As the festival can be loud at times, we recommend bringing earplugs or noise cancelling headphones for children. They are not available for purchase onsite.
Yes, the Bebe Station Lounge is located in the central festival site.It’s a shaded and sheltered area for young families to relax and furnished with chairs and equipped with diapers, wipes, snacks and more.
Two paid phone charging stations are available (you pay to rent a charging battery for your phone) – one is located in the Emporium, the other is by the ATM at the rowing club near the end of the food trail.
Or try the bike-powered phone charging station, for free, located beside the Information Booth.
Yes, you may bring your camera, however professional audiotape or video recording of concerts or workshops is not permitted.
In consideration of admittance to the Mariposa Folk Festival, all ticket holders, accompanying children, guests and vendors acknowledge the right of the Mariposa Folk Festival and its successors and assignees to use their likenesses and/or voices, as may be obtained by filming, picture taking or recording during the festival, without any written release or further compensation, for any purposes whatsoever.
No. Only registered service animals are allowed on the site, in the festival and campgrounds. All service animals must be harnessed.
Please go to the Lost & Found located at the Information Booth to reclaim your lost item. Found items will be taken to the Mariposa Folk Festival office located at 10 Peter St S Orillia post festival.
The festival’s Lost & Found is located at the Information Booth located at the main cross roads.
Take a memento from the Mariposa Folk Festival home with you!Artist and festival merchandise will be available to purchase in the Emporium. Find CD’s, vinyl, souvenir shirts, hoodies, hats and other collectables from present to past Mariposa.
Debit and credit are preferred with cash accepted.
FOOD & DRINK
Absolutely! You can also bring a picnic if you’d like – but without any alcoholic beverages. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available.
Yes, by all means. Just make sure to place your recyclables in the appropriate recycling bins onsite and minimize the amount of garbage you leave behind.
Note – the festival is plastic water bottle free, so bring along your own water bottle to stay hydrated, and refill onsite. Resusable water bottles are available for purchase.
Controlled drugs and alcohol are not permitted on the festival grounds.
Our Food Trail onsite provides a wide selection of hot food entrees, portable food and beverage options for a variety of palettes. Please keep in mind that campfires and charcoal barbecues are not permitted.
There is an opportunity to wet your whistle at three licensed areas while watching your favourite artist perform. Stop by the Pub Tent, Bohemian Stage or Alice’s Tent for beer, craft beer, cider, coolers and wine. Non–alcoholic beverages are also available.
Tickets are required and can be purchased at the licensed areas as well as at the gazebo in Community Village.
It is prohibited to bring alcohol onto festival grounds, and to carry or consume it outside of the licensed areas, during and outside of festival operating hours (zero tolerance).
HOUSE RULES
Smoking/vaping tobacco, cannabis and other substances is prohibited on the entire festival grounds. Campers are allowed to smoke/vape on an approved campsite in the Pete Seeger Memorial Campground, as per Chapter 954 of the City of Orillia Municipal Code.
Our best advice – only bring what you really need. In keeping with the motto of ‘Leave No Trace’, we definitely encourage you to only bring things which you can take home with you.
Bags and backpacks are permitted onsite as well as food, travel mugs, sports bottles, etc. Note – all bags are subject to check. Festival gate volunteers and event staff/security have the right to search any items brought onsite and dispose of contents under the suspicion of alcohol and/or drugs.
Any non-alcoholic beverages are permitted to be brought on site, however should be unopened.
NO alcohol, drugs, audio/video recorders, or fireworks/firecrackers/open flames are permitted. Blankets and tarps used to sit on while viewing the shows are acceptable, but can not be larger than 8 by 10 feet.
YES portable collapsible chairs YES cell phones YES soft sided coolers and snacks YES blankets, beach towels, tarps YES empty refillable drink containers YES small backpacks, bags, purses – subject to check YES wagons YES personal cameras without removable lenses YES binoculars YES umbrellas (small handheld ones – no patio, golf or beach umbrellas) YES baby strollers YES prescribed medication in original packaging
NO weapons, colours or contraband NO bicycles inside festival grounds NO skateboards, roller blades, scooters, carts or personalized motorized vehicles (unless used as a mobility aid) NO illegal substances or drug paraphernalia NO liquids except in sealed containers NO pets – service animals are permitted NO drones, UAV or remote controlled devices NO fireworks NO beach balls, soccer balls, baseballs, footballs, etc. NO squirt guns or water toys NO megaphones NO non-collapsible chairs
CAMPING & RVs
All camping is located within defined zones. The allocation of the camping spaces is made on a first come, first served basis. Click here for more information.
No, all campsites are unserviced as our venue functions as a temporary campground only.
There is potable water available. Generators are not permitted onsite.
The space allocated for each camp will be modest in size. Camping committee volunteers will determine where camps are placed, the adjacency, and the amount of space surrounding each camp.
Yes, we offer unserviced RV camping in a specific area in both of our campgrounds.
There is no surcharge for RVs less than 5 meters in length, and no surcharge for tents. There is a two-tiered surcharge for RVs greater than 5 meters in length: 5 meters to 8 meters; greater than 8 meters
Please note that the Camping Oversize Surcharge applies to the RV and is charged only once, regardless how many people are staying in the RV. However, every camper aged 13+ staying in the RV is still required to have their own camping pass.
Children 12 and under are admitted free. Youth 13 – 17 need a youth camping ticket. Please keep in mind that anyone under 18 needs to camp with a ticket bearing adult.
Sorry, camping is only sold bundled with a 3-day ticket.
Sorry, only people who are camping can enter the campgrounds.
The capacity of the festival campground is established in consultation with the OPP . It is capped to ensure a positive and safe experience for everyone.
GETTING THERE
You can walk, bike, bus or drive to the festival.
Parking is available for $20 cash per day. Parking is limited due to space constraints. Parking passes are purchased upon entry.
If you live too far away to bike to the festival, you can park your car at Orillia Recreation Centre, 255 West St S and bike the rest of the way. Click here for further details.
Is there a place to leave my bike?
Yes, there is unsupervised bicycle parking available at the Main and Back gates.Bikes cannot be brought onto the site. Please do not lock your bicycle to the perimeter fencing. Look for more info here.
Yes, two free shuttle bus routes operate to the festival site from designated stops, where ample free parking is available.
Yes! They can be left in the bus aisles, as long as they are secure.
Bicycles are not allowed on buses. Unfortunately, exterior bike racks are not approved for use by buses on the highway.
The last bus leaves the site at 1:00am
Take the free downtown shuttle bus Friday or the festival shuttle bus all weekend.Click here for further information.
Yes, limited accessible parking is available on site for those who already possess a government issued handicap parking pass. Parking is $20 cash per day.
Visit our accommodations page for more information about camping onsite and camping, motel/B&B accommodations around the area.
Overnight parking is only available for campers and strictly in the campground parking lot.
GET INVOLVED
Volunteer applications for the 2025 festival will open in January
We love great food and are proud to offer festivalgoers a delicious variety of ethical and sustainable food choices. Food Vendor applications usually open in December. Visit our Get Involved page for more information.
Mariposa Folk Festival is a showcase for first-class sponsorship experiences. The festival offers unique opportunities for sponsors to create and deliver customized marketing activities. Click here to get in touch with our sponsorship department.
GREEN MARIPOSA
The Mariposa Folk Festival aims to be a leader in waste management.
All forks, knives, spoons, plates, food containers, napkins, paper and cups purchased from a vendor onsite at Mariposa are compostable and should be disposed in the barrel labelled ‘organics’. All food waste is also placed in this barrel.
Mariposa Folk Festival is a leader in festival ‘greening’ initiatives. Please help us keep Mariposa green!
We are single use plastic water bottle free festival.
We are a compostable festival. Anything served at the festival, all food items and drinks, including all cups, containers and utensils are compostable.
Please use the containers found throughout the festival grounds.
If you pack it in, pack it out.
Our Green Team are all volunteers.
We respect park water and land.
ACCESSIBILITY
Yes, the festival strives to make our site accessible to all patrons. Throughout the site you’ll find accessible washrooms and seating areas. Most of the festival site is flat, grassy or paved. Our staff and volunteers will be eager to assist.
Yes, limited accessible parking is available on site for those who already possess a government issued accessible parking pass. Parking is $20 cash per day.
Designated areas for accessible seating are available at the Main Stage and Pub Stage. For patrons and their companions entering the Pub stage, please contact the Site Safety Volunteers located at the entrance to the venue. Upon request, they will guide you to an accessible entrance and seating area. Please bring your own chair if you require one.
SAFETY
OPP, Orillia Volunteer Fire Fighters (OFD), Simcoe County Paramedics First Aid (EMS), Event Site Safety.
The Mariposa Folk Festival partners with emergency services such as OPP, OFD and EMS Services to provide assistance and security as required. Various healthcare and public safety personnel will be around site throughout the weekend. Any festival volunteer (identified by their volunteer t-shirt) can assist you in locating First Aid or security services.
If you are unable to reach that area, please ask any volunteer to help you, or call 911. Tell the operator that you are at the Mariposa Folk Festival at J. B. Tudhope Memorial Park on Atherley Road in Orillia and give them your exact location on the festival site. If possible, ask the nearest person to advise a volunteer so that the festival organizers are able to meet emergency personnel and bring them directly to you.
• First Aid is located adjacent to the Information Booth/front gate and can handle any minor cuts, scrapes and issues. EMS Services, also located on there, can handle other more serious conditions.
• Star Security Team and our Site Safety volunteer team can be found at critical locations on site, including perimeters, entry points and throughout the general site. Site Safety Volunteers, who can be identified by their red ‘Site Safety’ volunteer t-shirts, can answer any questions and act as first response to general security-related situations.
• In event of emergency, OPP will be on location and can provide immediate assistance.
Children can be registered at the Information Booth so that in the event of separation, it will be easier to reunite them with their parent/guardian. If you become separated from your child, or find a lost child proceed to the Information Booth.
