CityFolk Facts and Figures

Founded in 1994, CityFolk (formerly the Ottawa Folk Festival) was inspired by Ottawa’s thriving folk scene. The event is modeled on long-standing major Canadian festivals and features multifaceted artistic disciplines and an inclusive programming philosophy.

Based in the nation’s capital (population approx. 1,000,000) and centrally located between Montreal and Toronto (110 miles west of Montreal and 220 miles east of Toronto), the organization is a fast-rising star in the festival scene for these reasons:

  • Incorporated, non-profit charitable status #884426040RP0001
  • Over 30,000+ visitors
  • More than 700 community volunteers
  • Economic impact in National Capital Region = 5,968,070

Located at the RA Centre Grounds | 2451 Riverside Drive, ideally situated on a major transit artery, the RA Centre provides effortless accessibility for all attendees. Its prime location places it just minutes from Lansdowne Park—the city’s sports hub—and within a 15-minute radius of both downtown Ottawa and the International Airport, ensuring maximum visibility and convenience.

A history of booking some of the most important acts in the world, including The Glorious Sons, Gretta Van Fleet, Alex Warren, The Pogues, The Beaches, Milky Chance, Rise Against, Zach Bryan, Orville Peck, Jack Johnson, Hozier, Headstones, The Arkells, Leon Bridges, Our Lady Peace + Live+Bush, X Ambassadors, Van Morrison, City and Colour, Bon Iver, Vampire Weekend, Levon Helm Band, Michael Franti, Ben Harper, Matthew Good, Feist, Emmylou Harris, Kendrick Lamar, Great Big Sea and many more.

Social Media:

  • Facebook 17K+ followers
  • Instagram 9K+ followers
  • Over 1.3M Impressions
  • Website 1.3M+ page views, 145K+ unique visitors, 512K+ sessions
  • Promotional/Advertising campaign valued at more than $300K

Media Coverage Overview:

  • 2.2B Media reach in 2025
  • TV: blanket coverage on CBC as well as significant representation on CT

Festival Community Demographics:

  • 45.9% male, 54.1% female
  • 18-34 years – 45%
  • 35-44 years – 22%
  • 45-54 years – 21%
  • 55+ years – 12%

Income:

  • $60K to $99K – 31.6%
  • $100K+ – 46.5%

For further information regarding sponsorship opportunities, please contact:

Nathalie Laperrière
Director of Sponsorship
Tel: 613.230-8234 ext 231
Email: nlaperriere@ottawabluesfest.ca