Environmental Sustainability Initiatives

At the Peterborough Folk Festival, we are committed to making our event as sustainable as possible. Check out some of our green initiatives down below!

Reusable Dishes and Cutlery 

Our dedicated EcoTeam volunteers wash our set of reusable dishes and cutlery for festival-goers at the EcoStation. For our event, local food vendors serve up their delicious delicacies on our reusable dishes. Our EcoTeam volunteers wash these dishes when you’re finished and return them sparkling clean to the food vendors for reuse!

Compost Collection

In 2024, Peterborough Folk Fest is excited to offer compost collection along with garbage and recycling, thanks to the City of Peterborough’s organic waste collection program. Visit one of our waste stations to scrape your plate or toss any food scraps. Chat with a friendly EcoTeam volunteer and ensure you’re putting trash in its correct place or use the posted QR code to access the City’s Sorting Wizard tool! Learn more about Peterborough’s compost collection here.

Free Drinking Water 

We provide drinking water free of charge to festival goers at our refilling station. You won’t see single-use water bottles being sold by our vendors! Bring your reusable water bottle to refill or purchase one of our Peterborough Folk Festival reusable water bottles at the Merchandise Booth and stay hydrated all weekend long.

Shuttle Bus 

We’re excited to offer a free shuttle bus from downtown Peterborough to Nicholls Oval Park every half hour. Leave your car at home! Hop on the shuttle to enjoy the music and head home when you’re ready. Check out the full shuttle bus schedule and route here.

B!KE Valet Bike Parking

Cycling to the festival? Keep your bike safe and secure with B!KE’s complimentary bike valet service! Since 2019, PFF has partnered with B!KE: the Peterborough Community Bike Shop to provide free, secure bike parking for festival goers. B!KE's monitored bike parking is conveniently located at the side of the Rotary Trail, just south of the main stage area. All types of bikes welcome! Please note that bike parking is first come, first serve, and racks can be full to capacity at times during the day, so bring a lock just in case. 

B!KE is a non-profit charity providing bike-related services to the Peterborough region since 2006. Find out more about their bike repair teaching workshop, sales of bikes and parts, and community education programs at www.communitybikeshop.org or on social media @communitybikeshop.

Generation Solar Stage 

Drop by the Generation Solar Stage to enjoy fabulous music and performance, powered entirely by the sun! For over 20 years, Generation Solar, a green energy company serving Peterborough and the surrounding area, has partnered with Peterborough Folk Festival to sponsor this unique stage. Look for the Generation Solar van parked nearby, which houses powerful batteries charged using solar panels at their headquarters. These batteries power our performers' instruments, amplifiers, and other sound equipment. Learn more about Generation Solar here.

Music Declares Emergency 

Music Declares Emergency is a coalition of artists, organizations, and industry professionals from around the world united in climate action, working to push for immediate government response to protect planet earth. We’ve signed on to their Declaration, communicating our commitment to climate action. As their motto goes, there’s no music on a dead planet. Learn more about the coalition and read the Declaration here.