2023 Lineup
ScheduleMapFAQ
Workshops, Jams, and Dance
Marketplace Vendors
Food and Drinks

Accessibility

The North Carolina Folk Festival takes place within the streets of downtown Greensboro — with activities and venues on both paved and grass/park surfaces, and one activity inside the Greensboro Cultural Center. Information about the site and accessing various components of the festival follows.

Disability Parking

Parking garages and surface lots operated by the City of Greensboro designate disability parking spaces to those with disability plates and placards. Parking Fee is $10 per vehicle, per day during the festival.

Disability Parking for Oversized Vehicles

If traveling in a vehicle that exceeds the height limitations of the parking garages, there are two surface lots that will be available for accessible parking:

Public Transportation

Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA), Higher Education Area Transit (HEAT) and Specialized Community Area Transportation (SCAT) provide a public transportation option to attend the NC Folk Fest.  All GTA and HEAT buses are equipped for persons with disabilities including those using wheelchairs, scooters or other mobility devices. Visit ridegta.com for route maps, schedules and to view the live bus tracker. SCAT bus services specifically for persons with disabilities are available for current qualified users only by calling the normal reservations line.

Festival Stages and Activities

The North Carolina Folk Festival takes place almost entirely outdoors – hosting four performance stages, a family activities area, a participatory music jam space, and a crafts marketplace. There is a single indoor space hosting official festival activities inside the Greensboro Cultural Center. A description of each follows:

  • Cone Health CityStage: Located on a paved parking lot owned by Lincoln Financial Group at the corner of East Market Street and North Davie Street. Cone Health CityStage is situated directly on a paved parking lot with an audience area that that is not covered by a tent. This paved area is slightly sloped – with the highest area closest to Davie Street slightly sloping down to the east where the performance stage is located under the tent. Wheelchairs and other mobility units may access the site near the corner of Davie Street and Market Street – just to the east of the corner sidewalk curb cut along Market Street. Look for the entrance to the Cone Health CityStage that is marked with signs (and is unobstructed by the small cement barriers built into the lot.)

  • Family Area at LeBauer Park: Located in LeBauer Park at the intersection of North Davie Street and Summit Avenue. LeBauer Park was recently constructed and contains both paved and grassy areas. The Family Area where festival activities will take place is situated on the flat area of this public park closest to Davie Street – with an audience area that is not covered by a tent. There are many curb cuts and wide access points to LeBauer Park from North Davie Street.

  • Lawn Stage: Located on a grassy area owned by Elon University at the corner of Bellemeade Street and Commerce Place. Lawn Stage will be tented – covering both performance and audience spaces, with room for audiences to spill out into areas outside the covered area. The grassy lawn is flat. Wheelchairs and other mobility units may access the site at on the Commerce Place (western) side of the tent. Look for the unobstructed entrance to the Lawn Stage that is marked with signs.

  • Old Courthouse Stage: Located on Market Street at the intersection with John Wesley Way (between Eugene and Greene Streets). The Old Courthouse Stage is situated directly on Market Street – a paved street that will be closed to vehicular traffic during the festival to accommodate festival-goers – with an audience area that is not covered by a tent. Wheelchairs and other mobility units may access the site by directly approaching the stage via the paved street.

  • Van Dyke Stage: Located indoors in the Van Dyke Performance Space within the Greensboro Cultural Center at the intersection of Friendly Avenue and Davie Street. The Van Dyke Stage is situated on the 1st floor of the Greensboro Cultural Center. Wheelchairs and other mobility units may access the Van Dyke by entering the Greensboro Cultural Center from its Davie Street entrance and taking the elevator down one floor; OR via paved pathways marked with directional signs to the Van Dyke from LeBauer Park that will guide folks to the 1st floor entrance to the Cultural Center and Van Dyke Performance Space. Performances in the space will take place on a raised stage  with ground-level space for audience seating and viewing.

  • Center City Jams: Located in Center City Park along Friendly Avenue between Elm Street and Davie Street. Center City Jams will be tented and situated in the grassy Oval Lawn at the Pavilion on Center City Park’s western side along Elm Street. Wheelchairs and other mobility units may access the park from the many curb cuts and sidewalks surrounding the park – and make your way to the Center City Jams tent via paved pathways to the Oval Lawn.

  • Dance Local at NC Folk Fest: Located indoors within the Greensboro Cultural Center at the intersection of Friendly Avenue and Davie Street. Dance Local will take place in Studio #305 on the third floor of the Greensboro Cultural Center. Wheelchairs and other mobility units may access Studio #305 the Greensboro Cultural Center from its Davie Street entrance and taking the elevator up one floor; OR via paved pathways marked with directional signs to the ground (1st) floor of the Greensboro Cultural Center via LeBauer Park from which an elevator can be taken to the 3rd floor. Dance activities in the space will take place on the sprung dance floor with additional ground-level space for viewing and additional participation.

Regrettably, the North Carolina Folk Festival is not able to provide transportation services to attendees during the festival.

Accessible Restrooms

The North Carolina Folk Festival provides accessible-designated port-a-johns around the festival site to supplement ADA accessible facilities at LeBauer Park and the Greensboro Cultural Center. Additional facilities are available in private and other businesses in downtown Greensboro – subject to the business owner’s rules for use of their private facilities. Where to find accessible restroom facilities provided by the Festival and with the City of Greensboro during our event:

ASL Interpreted Performances

In partnership with Communication Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (CSDHH), we will provide American Sign Language interpretation of these select festival performances:

Friday, September 8:

  • 8 P.M. to 9 P.M. performance by Leyla McCalla on the Cone Health City Stage
  •  9:30 P.M. to 10:30 P.M. performance by The Dedicated Men of Zion on the Cone Health City Stage

Saturday, September 9:

  • 3 P.M. to 4 P.M. performance by Damn The Banjos on the Cone Health City Stage
  • 4:30 P.M. to 6 P.M. performance by Ethno U.S.A. on the Cone Health City Stage
  • 9:30 P.M. to 10:30 P.M. performance by Ric Robertson on the Cone Health City Stage

Sunday, September 10:

  • 12 P.M. to 1 P.M. performance by Queen Bees on the Lawn Stage
  • 1 P.M. to 2 P.M. performance by Faith and Harmony on the Old Courthouse Stage
  • 3 P.M. to 4 P.M. performance by Zoe and Cloyd on the Lawn Stage