Sidmouth Folk Festival

View on map
MusicSidmouth
DatesDates TBA · Usually AugustCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
CrowdMediumAbout 65,000 people
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival has run continuously every
LanguageEnglishCurrency: GBP
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Sidmouth Folk Festival in Sidmouth

One of England's longest-running folk festivals, held in the Devon coastal town of Sidmouth every first week of August since 1955. Now branded Sidmouth Folk Week after a 2005 relaunch that followed a funding crisis, it fills the town with over seven hundred events spanning dance, song, concerts and workshops.

Sidmouth's folk festival began in 1955 as a folk dance event organised by the English Folk Dance and Song Society, directed by Nibs Matthews and Margaret Grant, with its first edition running from late July into early August, a scheduling pattern that has stuck ever since as the first week of August.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival has run continuously every August since 1955 despite three changes of name and a near-cancellation around its fiftieth edition in 2004, when funding withdrawal by the local council and commercial sponsors briefly ended the event before a local steering group relaunched it in 2005 as Sidmouth Folk Week

02

The mystery stays covered

Its scale, now over seven hundred separate events across a single week in a small Devon coastal town, is unusual for a festival of purely traditional folk and dance programming rather than mainstream popular music

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Ceilidh dancing and folk song sessions have remained central to the festival's programming since its founding in 1955

Water and renewal

Living ritual

continuing under its current Sidmouth Folk Week branding established after the 2005 relaunch

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually August

Getting around

For Sidmouth Folk Festival, plan transport around the exact Sidmouth venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Comfortable walking shoes for moving between town venues, with a light layer for coastal Devon evenings and flat shoes if attending dance sessions or ceilidhs.

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For Sidmouth Folk Festival, stay near the part of Sidmouth you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

GBP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map50.69 N, 3.24 WOpen in Google Maps

Sidmouth, England, United Kingdom

Nearest airportCWL — Cardiff
TransportFor Sidmouth Folk Festival, plan transport around the exact Sidmouth venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Sidmouth Folk Festival, stay near the part of Sidmouth you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Sidmouth via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Sidmouth, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for August.Compare faresFestival gearComfortable walking shoes for moving between town venues, with a light layer for coastal Devon evenings and flat shoes if attending dance sessions or ceilidhs.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United Kingdom and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Sidmouth Folk Festival?

Sidmouth Folk Festival is listed for August · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Sidmouth Folk Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Sidmouth, United Kingdom. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Sidmouth, England, United Kingdom

How big is it?

Medium: 65000

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLsidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually August
Source statusOfficial source linked
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