Lisa Peters slept outside the gates of the Calgary Folk Music Festival in Prince’s Island Park Saturday night to get the closest spot possible to the front of the main stage.
Peters was saving the spot for her aunt to see Sunday’s headliner Loreena McKennitt, an Ontario musician influenced by Celtic and Middle Eastern music.
“In order to get good seats you have to sleep outside or be here at 4 a.m.,” said Peters. She wasn’t the only one saving spots for the closing act of the 30th annual Calgary Folk Music Festival, as the entire grass area in front of the main stage had been taken up by tarps and lawn chairs by mid-afternoon.
Artistic director Kerry Clarke said that the festival was sold out each day and that approximately 50,000 were expected over the four days. “We bring some amazing, special and unique artists to town and we want people to see them,” said Clarke.
Acts to grace the six stages included Sarah Harmer, Steven Page from the Barenaked Ladies and Arrested Development.
The only notable issue was the cancellation of headliner Michael Franti on Thursday night because of a ruptured appendix.
Single day tickets for Thursday will be refunded until Wednesday at Ticketmaster or the folk festival office.
