One of the few big events in the town most likely to go ahead this year, the Swanage Folk Festival is desperately short of stewards and without them it can’t happen.
The organisers are appealing for volunteers to come forward to help over the weekend from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th September 2021.
Stewards being briefed at a previous Swanage Folk Festival
Ninebarrow and Bram Taylor
Anyone who commits to giving more than eight hours of their time gets a free weekend ticket which includes access to the evening music events.
The names of the headline acts have just been revealed and include Ninebarrow, Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys, Bram Taylor and Cornish singer/songwriter Joe Francis known as Winter Mountain
Headline act Ninebarrow is booked to appear
“We’d be really grateful”
Christine Moore, who is coordinating the volunteer stewards said:
“So far, everything is going ok with the planning for the festival. It’s likely that we’ll be able to go ahead with our usual annual folk festival events in September. However we need about 50 stewards to ensure everyone’s safety and to help things run smoothly and we’re desperately short.
“I’m appealing to anyone who can give a bit of time, even if it’s just a few hours, to contact me. There are lots of lovely people in Swanage and in the surrounding areas who give so generously of their time but this year I know some of the events they support have sadly been cancelled.
“So if for this year they could come and help us, we’d be really grateful. It’ll be so disappointing if the festival is allowed to go ahead but we can’t staff it!
“We know that lots of people are unsure what they’ll be doing in September but if they can get in touch if they’d like to help, we’d really appreciate it – no experience required!”
Swanage Folk Festival parade in 2019
Collecting donations
Steward roles include collecting donations, serving at the bar, selling tickets, overseeing events and helping with the road closure for the parade.
The plans for this year’s festival include a marquee up at Sandpit Field with music acts, plus workshops and stalls. They’ll also be shanty singers by the railway station, as well as music at Swanage Bandstand.
The hope is that the annual procession will still go ahead where Morris Dancers parade through the High Street, Institute Road and along Shore Road.
Swanage Folk Festival parade in 2019
