Take the Family to This Summer Folk Festival in Massachusetts

The 2025 Lowell Folk Festival is a good reason for families to travel to eastern Massachusetts for the weekend of July 25–27. In addition to the annual festival’s usual array of musical performances, this year’s program includes an entire area for children and their parents.

Now in its 38^th year, the free festival’s performance program brings together musicians representing musical traditions from across the globe. This year’s performers include Cajun legend BeauSoleil, Irish favorites Solas, blues rockers Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials, Gospel ensemble The Bullock Brothers, flamenco dancer and singer LOS RICOS, West Africa’s Bamba Wassoulou Groove, fado guitarist Ricard Parreira, and bluegrass group Crooked Road Revival.

Pop-up cafés and food trucks will provide plenty of choices, and when kids (and parents) need some downtime, Lowell Community Health Center will provide a Quiet Zone.

Christ Church United will host a musical instrument petting zoo, and a local school’s Afro-Latin Marimba Ensemble will perform July 26 at Butler Middle School, along with students from Angkor Dance Troupe.

Beyond the festival, families can explore other attractions in the area paying homage to the festival. The new Discovery Lowell Playspace is an interactive area along Merrimack Street, produced by award-winning Discovery Museum in nearby Acton and several youth-oriented community organizations.

Families familiar with Discovery Museum will recognize favorite activities such as air play, water play, sand play and bubble play. Also on Merrimack Street, the museum staff will be drawing chalk pictures of cats and, nearby, kids can get creative with felt, making replicas of favorite foods.