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Running a folk festival is a year-round event. A couple of weeks ago our festival team leaders and Yuin Folk Committee members got together for a day to look in detail at the successful 2023 festival, see what we did well and what can be improved for 2024. Our thanks to all involved and to the many thousands who turned up for our first full festival since 2019.

Each year, we survey patrons, performers and volunteers and look at their comments and suggestions. We’re glad to say that majority of comments were positive and that we’ve taken on-board any constructive comments and criticism.

Performer applications are now open for our 2024 Festival which will run from March 1st to 3rd. If you’re a performer or know have friends or family who you think would do well at our festival, please point them to the performer application page ».

Later in the year — around about October – we will be putting out a call for volunteers, without which the festival wouldn’t be possible.

You might be surprised to know that we’ve calculated the value of our volunteers – including organising committee members who work throughout the year – at over $700,000.

That said, the costs of running the festival have increased substantially in the past few years- driven by inflation and particularly increased fuel prices.

We are very aware of cost-of-living increases on festival goers and we are intent on keeping our ticket prices at a reasonable level and providing great value for money.

We expect early bird tickets to be available towards the end of September but put March 1st to 3rd in your diaries and, if you’ve enjoyed our festival in the past, try to bring some friends who haven’t been to this beautiful event.

Festivals come in all shapes and sizes, from the large spectaculars where thousands dance in front of huge stages with giant sound systems and dazzling light shows, to those like ours, smaller and more intimate, and where everyone who steps over through the gate makes their own unique contribution to creating the event.

We think our festival is very special.  

What began 29 years ago as a street festival in the historic main street of Cobargo has grown into a joyful three-day celebration of  folk and roots music, song, dance, craft and more in the relaxed Sapphire Coast hinterland of New South Wales.  Proudly produced and presented by the Yuin Folk Club Inc since 1996, the Cobargo Folk Festival is wholly volunteer-run, independent and non-commercial.  Any profits we make go to helping grow music and art in our beautiful region. 

Our festival is a place where you can immerse yourself in a range of different experiences, camp and reconnect with family and friends, join other musos in a pick or a session, perhaps with a couple of performers, enjoy a drink and some great food. Along with our concerts and an enthralling First Nations program featuring the Yuin Elders’ Yarning Tent, we have workshops open to all, KIDBARGO! – our kids’ festival and The Crossing Youth Stage, where you might spot an emerging young artist with a shiny career ahead.

Authentic, original, creative, inspiring – come and join us in March 2024. From our hearts to yours with love from a bunch of local folk who care.

The 2020 Cobargo Folk Festival is postponed because of the devastation caused to the people of Cobargo by the 2020 New Year’s Eve bushfires.

Two fabulous Yuin Folk Club concerts are coming up in April!  First up, the awesome Flats and Sharps, a high energy Cornish bluegrass/Old Timey band featuring star Candelo bass player, Robyn Martin, on Thursday 5 April from 7pm. Then we have Cara, a wonderful Celtic band based in Germany on Sunday 8 April from 4pm. Both bands are coming to us straight from the National Folk Festival. The raffle proceeds from both concerts plus a donation from the Yuin Folk Club and any other private donations from participants will go to the Mayoral Appeal Fund following the Tathra bushfires. Tickets $20 for YFC members and $25 for non-members or $30 for both concerts for members and $40 for both concerts for non-members. Concerts at the Cobargo School of Arts Hall, tix at the door. See you there!

2018 Cobargo Folk Festival Raffle Results:

1st Prize Ticket 2977 2 Adult Season Passes to the 2018 Woodford Folk Festival, M Telfon
2nd Prize Ticket 2471 2 Adult Season Passes to the 2019 Illawarra Folk Festival, J Bass
3rd Prize Ticket 1520 2 nights accommodation for 4 guests at one of the Seaview Beach Houses (Bermagui), C Stanford
4th Prize Ticket 2889 2 Adult Season Passes with camping to the 2019 Cobargo Folk Festival, K Hadley
5th Prize Ticket 1513 1 nights accommodation for 2 people at the Harbourvew Motel (Bermagui), W Byrne
6th Prize Ticket 1225 2 Adult Season Passes (With Camping) to the 2018 Folk By The Sea, Natalie
7th Prize Ticket 1103 Leather Hat Donated by South Coast Leather, Cobargo, A Calfas
8th Prize Ticket 2666 Assorted CD’s Donated by Festival Performers, R Newberry
9th Prize Ticket 2083 2 Adult Season Tickets (with camping) to Nariel Folk Festival, G Wadsley