40th Tucson Folk Festival Set to Dazzle with 150+ Music Acts at Free Annual Celebration

The Tucson Folk Festival is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary with an impressive lineup featuring live performances from notable artists such as Cheryl Wheeler, Kenny White, Orkesta Mendoza, and Las Azaleas. The festival will take place from Friday, April 4, through Sunday, April 6, showcasing over 150 acts.

For four decades, this festival has been a cornerstone of Tucson’s cultural scene, recognized as one of the largest and longest-running free festivals in the United States, as highlighted by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance.

The event will commence on Friday with the highly anticipated 2025 Stefan George Memorial Songwriting Contest Finalist Show. Admiral Radio, the 2024 winner, will kick off the festivities at 6 p.m., followed by Oregon duo Fox and Bones, who won in 2023. Both acts will perform at the Jácome Plaza stage, promising a night steeped in storytelling and vibrant melodies.

Festival-goers can explore six stages across Downtown Tucson. Highlights include the Plaza Stage at Jácome Plaza, North Church Stage, Presidio Museum Stage, Court Stage, Telles Stage, and Wildflower Stage. Each location will host a diverse array of performances throughout the weekend.

Saturday’s lineup features Tucson’s own all-women mariachi group, Las Azaleas, known for their harmonious performances. Local artist Brett Dooley will also grace the North Church Stage with his lyrical narratives. The Songwriting Contest winner will perform at 6:15 p.m. on the Plaza Stage. Fans of Celtic music can anticipate a high-energy set by Dunnóg at the Court Stage.

Sunday wraps up the festival with a strong showing from Tucson-based artists, including Sophia Rankin and The Sound, Sabra Faulk and Nancy McCallion as The Nevermores, and the genre-fusing group Tesoro, known for their flamenco-infused sound.

A full schedule detailing performance times and stages is available on the Tucson Folk Festival website.