Every year, millions of Australians go to music festivals. They go for the joy of seeing their favourite performers from Australia and overseas and taking a break from life’s many stresses.
We think our festival is very special.
What began 28 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 on the beautiful Cobargo Showground in the hinterland of the Far South Coast of New South Wales.
Proudly produced and presented by the community-owned, not-for-profit, Yuin Folk Club Inc since 1996, the Cobargo Folk Festival is wholly volunteer-run, independent and non-commercial.
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 a unique contribution to creating the event.
Our festival is a place where you can be immersed in a range of different experiences, camp and reconnect with old friends and enjoy a session or four, perhaps with the performers, over a drink and some great food. We believe that everyone has a creative soul, that music, art and culture are available to everyone and that music traditions are to be handed on through the generations. Our workshops, dances, spoken word activities and sessions/picks are designed to offer all who come to our festival the chance to have a go, from beginners to experienced musicians and dancers.
The festival would not happen without our volunteers who give their time so generously before, during and after during the festival each year. Many of our volunteers have such a good time that they volunteer with us year after year. If you are interested in volunteering please visit the volunteers page on this website to learn how. We’re a multigenerational team who create a multigenerational festival for humans from birth onwards!
The festival serves as a local fundraiser and surpluses are used to fund the next year’s festival, to improve community facilities and infrastructure and to support music education and development in our region.
The Cobargo Folk Festival has become a regular event on the calendar of many residents of the South Coast, NSW, the ACT and interstate. You might like to stay awhile and explore this beautiful region. There’s lots to do: the festival location is just five minutes’ walk from historic Cobargo Village and some of Australia’s best beaches are just a little over 15 minutes away from the Festival site. The historic village of Tilba is just down the road, as are the stunning Gulaga and Biamanga National Parks. Have a look at the Sapphire Coast tourism website and our Useful Links page for more information.
We invite you to come to beautiful Cobargo, enjoy our festival and have a great time in the Bega Valley.
The heart of community — authentic, creative, inspiring. Come and join us in 2025.
