It’s the last weekend in July, and for us, that means it’s time for Lowell’s celebration of diversity in music, food, and culture, Lowell Folk Festival.
Adrien and I have been coming to Folk Festivals for decades. Even when we lived nearby, we’d come for a Saturday or Sunday of music and food. More recently, as Downtown residents – bLowellians since 2014 – we can walk out our front door and take it all in, the “inconvenience” of being penned in by street closures, notwithstanding.
For me, the best part of this weekend is Folk Fest Friday because while today and tomorrow my “front lawn” will be filled with music and culture enthusiasts from all across the US, Friday’s kick-off feels more local. We run into neighbors and friends that we may not have seen for a while, the crowd is heavy on families with young children, and of course the local political types are out en force.
Each year the Folk Festival begins with a parade of nations, and for me that’s the highlight of highlights: a visual reminder of the diversity of our community. Many of the parade participants wear ethnic dress from their cultural history; the chanting, singing, and dancing is contagious. We may not always understand each other, but in this moment, there is recognition that Lowell is a special amalgam of cultures.
Sometimes I’ve been privileged to run into former students, now adults. I’ve been long-retired from teaching, but it has always been special to run in to former students who participate in the Friday events. (Kennis, if you see this, it’s never officially Folk Festival until I see you.)
Today, in its 38th iteration, the Folk Festival brings over 100,000 people to Downtown Lowell and the Lowell National Park. If you’ve never been, it’s not too late to experience the 2025 version as the Festival is ongoing through Sunday evening.
Coming to the Lowell Folk Festival is free which makes it wildly accessible and approachable for everyone. Despite the sudden loss of over $20,000 in federal grants for this year, the organizers are pledging to keep this wonderful event going. So when you see some of the hardy volunteers from the Bucket Brigade roaming the Festival, be sure to drop in a buck, or two, or three.
And be sure to circle the last weekend in July on your 2026 calendar.
After An Educator's Journey 