Catherine Russell is widely regarded as a premier interpreter of the American songbook
The Chankas of Perú present the acrobatic Andean scissors dance, which UNESCO has designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Boarding House Park serves as the largest venue within the Lowell Folk Festival
Joyful participants from Lowell's varied community march while carrying flags representing their native countries
Launched in 1987, this expansive free celebration of global music, culture, and cuisine has become one of the most beloved summer events in the United States.
LOWELL, MA, UNITED STATES, July 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — (Lowell MA-July 9, 2026) The 2026 Lowell Folk Festival kicks off on Friday, July 24 at 6:15pm with the traditional Parade of Flags winding through downtown Lowell to Boarding House Park. This lively opening ceremony signals the beginning of three extraordinary days filled with music and dance performances that honor folk traditions from across the globe. Additional details about the Lowell Folk Festival can be found at lowellfolkfestival.org.
In honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary, the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums will head the parade. Over 40 groups carrying flags, each comprised of local residents representing their ancestral nations, will proceed from City Hall to Boarding House Park. In a moving and joyful tribute to America’s diverse heritage, each group will pass before the main stage, proudly displaying their respective banners.
Ever since the National Folk Festival first arrived in Lowell in 1987 (it became the Lowell Folk Festival in 1990), this large-scale public celebration of world music and culture has evolved into one of the nation’s most popular free summer gatherings. This year’s edition carries extra significance as the City of Lowell commemorates its own Bicentennial.
Friday evening’s triple bill on the Boarding House Park stage features cuatro virtuoso Fabiola Mendez and her quartet, who perform traditional Puerto Rican music from her homeland; Melissa Carper & Emily Gimble offering classic country and western swing tunes; and Cabo Verdean funaná and batuque singer Elida Almeida, who delivers an irresistible blend of African rhythms, Latin instrumentation, top‑tier musicianship, and languid kriolu vocals.
Meanwhile, at the Rockland Trust Bank Dance Pavilion, attendees will be rocking and rolling to the zydeco beats of Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, as well as Super Chikan & the Fighting Cocks performing Delta blues.
The Festival continues on Saturday from Noon‑10pm and Sunday from Noon‑6pm, packed with music, dance, food, crafts, learning opportunities, and entertainment.
Access the complete 2026 Lowell Folk Festival Schedule Here
The Lowell Folk Festival features moderated talk/demonstration sessions that give audiences the chance to hear Festival artists from a range of cultural backgrounds explore the connections, similarities, and differences in their musical journeys.
At the Saab Family Foundation at Market Street Stage on Saturday, the sessions are titled Songs of the Lowdown & Down‑and‑Out with Elida Almeida, Michela Musolino (traditional Sicilian songs), Catherine Russell (jazz and blues), and Melissa Carper & Emily Gimble. On Sunday, two separate events take place: Moved by the Spirit with Haitian dancer Peniel Guerrier, The Chankas of Peru (Andean scissors dance), and the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers; and Doing Your Part: Harmony Traditions, featuring Alash (Tuvan throat singing), Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers (African‑American gospel), and Tres en Punto (Trio romántico).
Saturday at the Richard K. and Nancy L. Donahue Stage at Saint Anne’s Churchyard offers String Sensations with Irish musicians John Doyle (guitar) & Duncan Wickel (violin), Kunal Gunjal (South Indian santoor), and Fabiola Méndez (cuatro). On Sunday, the program is Singular American Sounds, with Super Chikan, Dat Mighty 9 feat. Big Chief Romeo (Mardi Gras Indian music), Authentic Unlimited (bluegrass), and Geno Delafos.
Along with dozens of music and dance performances on the festival schedule, the Discovery Lowell Playspace, Experience Lowell Marketplace, and the ever‑popular Global Foods ensure the Lowell Folk Festival has something for everyone.
Global Foods provides hungry festival‑goers with a world of choices, as cuisines from numerous cultures are prepared and sold by local non‑profits representing different traditions found in New England. Food vendors will be positioned across the festival at Boarding House Park, the Rockland Trust Bank Dance Pavilion, and the Saab Family Foundation Stage at Market Street.
The Discovery Lowell Playspace, situated on Merrimack Street between John St. and Central St., is a fun and inclusive area where young festival‑goers can take part in a wide variety of interactive activities. The Playspace Family Stage at the corner of Central and Merrimack will host performances by local youth groups on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, including special sets by the Wampanoag Nation Singers & Dancers and The Chankas of Perú.
The Experience Lowell Marketplace, located in the Rockland Trust Bank parking lot at 222 Merrimack Street, highlights the work of local and regional artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs, giving festival‑goers the chance to discover unique handmade goods while supporting small creative businesses.
The Lowell Folk Festival is produced by the Lowell Festival Foundation, City of Lowell, Greater Lowell Community Foundation, Lowell National Historical Park, National Council for the Traditional Arts, and Revolutionary Valley.
Community Partners are Mosaic Lowell and the Lowell Litter Krewe.
Major support for the Lowell Folk Festival comes from Saab Family Foundation, Rockland Trust Bank, Richard K And Nancy L Donahue Charitable Foundation, Mass Cultural Council, Mass Office of Travel & Tourism, Lowell Cultural Council, LMTLSS Media, Demoulas Foundation, UMass Lowell, Middlesex Community College, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Quality Beverage, Mahoney Oil Company/Eastern Salt Company, John Hunnewell Trust, Aubert Fay Foundation, Joseph P. Donahue Charitable Foundation Trust, Hilton Garden Inn Tewksbury Andover, Dylan & Pete’s Ice Cream, Gervais Auto Group, Lowell Five Bank, C4 Energy, Vinfen, LAZ Parking, Suffolk Construction, Lowell Ink, Progressive Pilgrimage, Albert E. J. Bergeron Insurance Agency, Fred C. Church Insurance, Mark‑One, Lowell Family Dental Practice, Owl Stamp Visual Solutions, and All Sports Heroes.
The Lowell Folk Festival acknowledges the contributions from exhibitors: ABA Centers of America, All at Home Health Care, AllPeople, Alzheimer’s Association, Bridge Club of Greater Lowell, Capital Vacations, Coast Cannabis Co. Discovery Museum, EcoView Windows & Doors, Edge Merrimack River, Garelick Farms, Jack Kerouac Center, Latinx Community Center for Empowerment, LeafFilter, Lowell Chess Club, Lowell City of Learning / UNESCO, Lowell Humane Society, Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race, LNRG, LVAD Strong, Medlife Advisors, Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, Mill City Grows, New York Life, NFI Lowell Family Resource Centers, Peabody Properties, Pollard Memorial Library, Power Home Remodeling, Project Learn, Renewal by Andersen, Rise Dispensary, Sisters Project Peru, Taffeta Music Hall, TDDS, Thrive Communities, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, and Women Accelerators
Business sponsors include Athenian Corner, Brew’d Awakenings, Cobblestones, El Potro, Fuse, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, Lazy Cat Lounge, lala books, Lowell Memorial Auditorium, The Old Court, TMI Properties, Washington Savings Bank, and Worthen House Cafe
A special thanks is extended to media partners: 92.5 The River, American Routes, Chelmsford Telemedia, CK Communications Group, Inside Lowell, Lowell Sun, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation (LTC), Mill City Weather, Stub Stories, and WCAP.
For information about the 2026 Lowell Folk Festival visit lowellfolkfestival.org. To stay posted on all updates follow the 2026 Lowell Folk Festival on Facebook and Instagram.
Adam R. Klein
CK Communications Group Inc
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