Chippenham Folk Festival is a long-standing, much-loved annual event that brings music, dance, and folk arts to the heart of the town. Organised by Chippenham Folk Festival CIC, the event exists to benefit the local community by promoting participation in folk music, song, dance, and cultural traditions.
Funding from CBLC will provide a contribution towards the festival’s free, non-ticketed events for the next 3 years – ensuring that everyone in the local community can experience and participate in the festival, regardless of their ability to pay for a ticketed event.
The festival delivers a wide range of free activities across Chippenham, with Island Park as a focal point for outdoor performances, dance displays, music workshops, and family-friendly entertainment. Activities include:
- Free-to-access folk dancing, workshops, and music-making sessions
- Interactive activities such as circus skills, crafts, and dance for children and families
- Performances from local, national, and international musicians
- Opportunities for residents to “have a go” at dancing, singing, or playing an instrument
The event is inclusive and intergenerational – offering both entertainment and active participation that can lead to longer-term benefits, such as taking up a new hobby, developing a creative skill, or making social connections.
The festival delivers a broad range of outcomes for Chippenham residents, including:
- Improved mental health and wellbeing
- Increased physical activity through dance and movement
- Increased creativity, confidence, and self-esteem
- Greater community participation and social cohesion
- Access to cultural experiences that would otherwise be unavailable locally
Chippenham Folk Festival is a unique event in the town, providing free entertainment, educational opportunities, and the chance for people to experience folk music and traditions in an informal, welcoming environment. Funding from CBLC will help ensure that the festival continues to offer these benefits to as many local residents as possible, maintaining the strong community engagement and sense of local pride that the festival generates year after year.
The CBLC grant makes it possible to provide this free entertainment and community involvement.
