Lowell Folk Festival
- Dates
- Jul 23 to 25, 2027
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Downtown Lowell (Boarding House Park + multiple stages)
- Price
- Free
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Nov 10, 2026
Lowell Folk Festival returns to Lowell, MA, Jul 23 to 25, 2027. Froligo tracks free-entry details, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Lowell Folk Festival is a free three-day celebration of traditional music, dance, crafts and food that takes over downtown Lowell, Massachusetts, on the last full weekend of July. The organizer is calling the July 23 to 25, 2027 edition its 40th. It grew out of the National Folk Festival, which Lowell hosted from 1987 to 1989, and has run since 1990 with the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of Lowell, Lowell National Historical Park and other partners. Stages sit at Boarding House Park, St. Anne's Churchyard, Arcand Drive and Market Street, with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
How it works
Performances and activities are free. Most of downtown Lowell becomes festival grounds, with four stages and a dance pavilion, and visitors either settle at one stage or move around by schedule. Friday evening opens with a dance parade, then music runs from noon on Saturday and Sunday. Parking is in city garages at event rates, since downtown streets are closed or redirected, or visitors can come by public transport. The festival carries on rain or shine. Bring a blanket, sunscreen and a hat.
Who it suits
It suits families and anyone who likes to sample music and food from around the world without buying a ticket. The organizer says children of all ages attend, with a Family Activities Area and a crafts demonstration area. Dancing is encouraged, especially at the Dance Pavilion. All venues are wheelchair accessible, with sign language interpreters at the Boarding House Park stage and selected others.
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Listen
Tap an artist to play them right here.
No official playlist linked yet. Find Lowell Folk Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Here's who played in 2026:
Getting there
Nearest airport BOS.
How do I get to Lowell Folk Festival?
By car
Most people drive to Lowell Folk Festival. The nearest major airport is BOS, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
From any Logan terminal, take the free SL1 bus to South Station or the Blue Line to Haymarket (then walk ~5 min to North Station). At North Station, board the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line to Lowell Station, which sits in the same building as the LRTA Kennedy Center/Gallagher Terminal. A free LRTA shuttle then runs from the terminal directly to the downtown festival area, about 0.1 mi away. Notably, all MBTA Commuter Rail service is fare-free every Friday through 30 Aug 2026, covering the festival's Friday leg.
Book / infoFestival shuttle
Free shuttle service runs from the LRTA Kennedy Center/Gallagher Terminal (115 Thorndike St, same building as Lowell's MBTA Commuter Rail station) to the downtown festival area. This is the officially documented festival shuttle, distinct from LRTA's regular fixed bus routes.
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
Uber and Lyft both run in Lowell with standard app-based pickup. For the Logan-to-Lowell leg itself (~28 mi), rideshare/taxi is a costly alternative to the fare-free Friday commuter rail + free LRTA shuttle combination.
Book / infoTaxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
Cost City garages: $15-20/day depending on garage (two official-adjacent sources gave slightly different per-garage rates. City of Lowell parking-info post says Ayotte/Downes/HCID/Leo Roy at $20 and Lower Locks/Davidson Lot/Early at $15. HCID Garage 3-day festival pass: $44 (Fri start through Sun 6pm). On-street 'Event Rate' parking: flat $5/visit Friday 5pm-Sunday 5pm on nine designated streets (Bartlett, Brown, Cabot, Davidson, E. Merrimack, Fr. Morrissette Blvd, Fayette, Hall, Suffolk). Downtown streets are closed/re-directed for the festival footprint. HCID Garage (350.4 Dutton St) is the organizer-recommended option for easy access from the Lowell Connector via Thorndike St, a walk through the National Park Visitor Center to the Market St venue area. Free LRTA-shuttle-plus-Commuter-Rail-park-and-ride at the Gallagher Terminal garage (115 Thorndike St) is presented as the organizer's preferred low-hassle alternative to driving directly downtown.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at BOS
If you are hiring a car, it is worth checking parking near the venue before you go.
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Where
Map shows the center of Lowell. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
The venue has its own page with capacity, accessibility and parking.
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Lowell Folk Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 1
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMid-range hotels 2
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirport hotels 2
1 Hotel Drive, Boston, MA 02128
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates207 Porter Street, Boston, MA 02128
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMore hotels nearby 1
Airbnb & private camping
Lowell's Airbnb average daily rate runs around $120/night in normal conditions (AirDNA market data); this is a free, 100k+-attendance festival drawing hundreds of thousands over the weekend, and downtown hotels are reported to commonly sell out with 4-8 week advance booking recommended.
Search AirbnbHipcamp has a dedicated 'Camping Near Boston, MA' directory (Lowell is ~28 mi northwest of Boston, within that catchment) with a range of tent/RV sites and glamping/cabin options in the wider Boston/Middlesex area, a real if left-field alternative to a downtown hotel for anyone comfortable driving in for festival days.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Downtown Lowell
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
What to bring
Entry rules
Accessibility & comfort
What the organizer or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
Confirm your specific needs with the organizer's access team before you travel.
Pricing
Got fresher info? Tell us, a real person checks every tip, and we love fresh info.
Quick answers
When is Lowell Folk Festival 2027?
Jul 23 to 25, 2027
How much are Lowell Folk Festival tickets?
Entry is free.
Where is Lowell Folk Festival held?
Downtown Lowell (Boarding House Park + multiple stages), Lowell, MA.