Downtown Lowell (Boarding House Park + multiple stages)
Most of Downtown Lowell becomes festival grounds for the Lowell Folk Festival, with multiple outdoor stages in sun and shade, a kids' playspace, and food cooked by local non-profits rather than commercial vendors. City parking garages and special event street rates cover the weekend, with a three day pass available at the HCID Garage. The festival has run every year since 1990, during the last full weekend in July.
Before you go
- Indoor or outdoor
- Outdoor, across multiple downtown stages
- Official site
- lowellfolkfestival.org
- Next festival here
- Lowell Folk Festival, Jul 23 to 25, 2027
Festivals here
Venue basics: Spread across most of Downtown Lowell · Multiple outdoor stages, sun and shade · City garages and street parking.
Getting there and parking
Festival-specific · Lowell Folk FestivalParking is available throughout the city, with all city parking garages open along with special event rate parking on specific streets. Garages charge fifteen to twenty dollars, a three day pass for the HCID Garage costs forty four dollars, and disability parking is on the first floor of the Joseph Downes and Leo Roy garages.
Accessibility
We don't yet have confirmed information about accessibility at Downtown Lowell (Boarding House Park + multiple stages). The venue's own pages are the place to check: lowellfolkfestival.org.
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Downtown Lowell (Boarding House Park + multiple stages). The venue's own pages are the place to check: lowellfolkfestival.org.
Food, water and what you can bring
Festival-specific · Lowell Folk FestivalAll global food vendors are non-profit organizations serving home-cooked dishes from their own heritage, and profits go to those nonprofits rather than to the festival itself. Food is served on paper plates with biodegradable utensils, and the Lowell Litter Krewe sorts and recycles festival waste.
Recently at Downtown Lowell (Boarding House Park + multiple stages)
Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums are kicking off the festival on Friday night! 🪈🥁
From the venue · Jul 23, 2026
CATHERINE RUSSELL at LOWELL FOLK - From Radio Birdland
From the venue · Jul 23, 2026
#lowellfolk
From the venue · Jul 23, 2026
Quick answers
Is the Lowell Folk Festival at one venue?
No. Most of Downtown Lowell becomes festival grounds, with multiple outdoor stages in sun and shade spread across the city.
Where do I park for the Lowell Folk Festival?
In any of the city's parking garages, which stay open all weekend, or on specific streets with special event rates. A three day pass at the HCID Garage costs forty four dollars.
Is there disability parking at the Lowell Folk Festival?
Yes, on the first floor of the Joseph Downes and Leo Roy garages.
Who runs the food stalls at the Lowell Folk Festival?
Local non-profit organizations, who keep the profits from their own sales rather than the festival.
Is the Lowell Folk Festival good for kids?
Yes. The Discovery Lowell Playspace offers sand play, water play, trains, magnets, bubbles and chalk, anchored by the Discovery Museum.
How long has the Lowell Folk Festival been running?
Since 1990, held every year during the last full weekend in July.
A little history
The festival began in 1990, continuing after Lowell hosted the National Folk Festival from 1987 to 1989. It runs during the last full weekend in July each year, organized by six producing partners including the City of Lowell, Lowell National Historical Park and the National Council for the Traditional Arts.