Welcome to the FAQ for the 24-hour Folkathon 2026!  

The idea for the Folkathon is to fill 24 hours with sessions, performances, singarounds, and dancing, raising money for charity as we do it.  There will be a camping field and a barbecue available for cooking your own food on. Here are the basic details, and some FAQs:

Where: Conygres campsite, Old London Road, Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 7NR

When: 7pm Friday 12th to 7pm Saturday 13th June 2026 (site accessible from 3pm on Friday 12th until 11am on Sunday 14th)

What: dancing, playing, singing - anything folky!  And watching/listening too, of course.

Why: for the fun of it, for the challenge, and for our three charities.

Who: you, and any groups you do folky stuff with.

A provisional programme for this year's Folkathon is now available. 

The broad outline is: dancing on the Friday evening, an eclectic mixture overnight, a walk on Saturday morning, performances and a singaround during the day on Saturday, and sessions on Saturday afternoon.

Prices

A list of prices can be found below. We will have a card reader this year, but please bring cash as a backup and for donation buckets!

• Parking: Free

• One day only: £5 per person

• Friday and Saturday (not staying overnight): £10 per person

• Friday and Saturday (including camping): £15 per person

• Friday and Saturday (staying in camper van): £15 per person, plus £5 for the vehicle

The event itself ends at 7pm on the Saturday, but many of us will be staying to clear up, so feel free to stay another night (until Sunday) for no extra cost. Please vacate the site by 11am on Sunday.

These prices are to cover the costs of the event (such as hiring the venue and providing water, electricity, charcoal for the barbecue etc.), but if you feel that you will not be able to pay the full price, please just donate what you can.

However, other than covering the costs mentioned above, the money will be donated to charity, so it would be very much appreciated if you could donate generously!

Are there any performance slots still available?

The timetable for this year is almost complete; we have no official performance slots remaining.

If you already have a slot, we may be able to shift things by 5-10 minutes if you want to change it or increase its duration. If you want to adjust your performance slot, please email us at 24hour.folkathon@gmail.com. Please be aware that not all changes will be possible. As we may still make some changes, please do check the programme before the Folkathon in case your slot has been affected. 

In addition, on the Friday evening, you will be able to sign up for a performance slot at the Open Mic, which is happening at 00:30 on Saturday morning. 

Merchandise

The deadline for merchandise orders for 2026 has now passed.

Where is the venue and what is it like?

This year the 24-Hour Folkathon will be taking place at Conygres campsite (address above).

To get there by bus from Bristol, the two options are:

FirstBus Y1, Y2 or Y6 to Yate, then Eurocoaches Y8 to Wotton-under-Edge;

FirstBus T1 to Thornbury, then Stagecoach 60 to Wotton-under-Edge.

If you are coming by bus, please plan your journey in advance as some of these routes do not run very frequently. Alternatively, there will be lots of people coming to and from Bristol and the surrounding area. If you need a lift, please email us at 24hour.folkathon@gmail.com, and we'll try to put you in touch with someone.

At the venue itself, there is a fairly small hall, a kitchen, a camping field, a grass area with a gazebo, a campfire, a car park, and a wooded area next to the site. Most of the performances and dancing will be in the Hall - there are benches provided, but please bring a camping chair.

What organisations are being supported?

All proceeds from entry fees and donations, other than covering the cost of the site, will be split between the following three organisations:

     Read With Me

     British Heart Foundation

     British Red Cross

Please bring cash to the event, or donate via the GiveWheel link above, thank you!

What should I bring?

• Cash (we will have a card reader and a GiveWheel donation QR code, but please bring cash as a backup in case they don't work!)

• Your instrument(s) (or voice!)

• Sensible shoes for dancing

• Sensible shoes for walking in the woods

• Portable chair

• Travel mug for drinks

• Food to cook on the barbecue (plus other snacks, breakfast etc.)

• Alcoholic drinks, if wanted

Is food provided?

No food will be provided, but the barbecues will be lit between 5pm and 8pm for cooking your own food on both the Friday and Saturday nights. Charcoal and firewood will be provided. One barbecue will be used exclusively for vegetarian food, and this will be labelled clearly.  

There is a kitchen with a fridge-freezer, kettle, urn, toaster and sinks. Plates, bowls, mugs and cutlery will not be provided.

You may use the fridge-freezer for storing your own food and drink, but please label your items clearly to identify them as yours, keep raw meat properly sealed and separate at the bottom of the fridge, and take your leftovers home with you at the end.

Drinks - hot water and tea bags, instant coffee, sugar, milk and squash will be provided for free throughout the weekend. Please feel free to make a small donation to cover costs, and bring cake to share if you would like to. Please bring your own cup!

Kitchen - washing up liquid, cloths and cleaning products will be provided. Please keep the kitchen clean and tidy.

What are the camping arrangements?

There is a large field where you will be able to set up a tent. Alternatively, you can bring a camper van and sleep in it overnight for an extra charge of £5. Please put your tent in a sensible location, allowing enough space for everyone, and ask us if you are unsure where to set up. If the field is dry, you can park your car next to your tent. Please take all of your rubbish home with you.

Is there a car park?

Yes, there is space for 20-30 cars in the car park, and your car can stay there overnight if necessary. There is also overflow parking on the roadside just outside Conygres, but this does get busy with walkers at the weekend.

Can I bring my dog?

Dogs are allowed at the Folkathon, but must be kept on a short lead at all times whilst on the site, and are not permitted inside the buildings. Clear up after your dog and take all of its waste home with you.

There are excellent off-lead walks in the woods nearby.

Are there toilets?

Yes, there are separate male, female and disabled-access toilets, with sinks with hot and cold water. Soap, toilet roll and small hand towels will be provided.  There are no showers available.  Please keep the facilities clean and notify us of any problems. 

Do I have to stay up for the full 24 hours?

No, you can sleep in a tent or camper van, or you can go home for the night and come back the next day.

Will there be opportunities for a session or singaround?

At various times throughout the 24 hours, there will be sessions, as well as opportunities for playing during the day. Please check the programme for more information. There will be a singaround at the campfire (hosted by Kevin Kennedy) from 12:00-14:00 on the Saturday while the main performances are happening.

Can I just watch without performing or playing?

Yes - even though there will be lots of opportunities for playing and dancing, this is not compulsory, and lots of people will just be watching the performances.

Can I bring an amplifier for my instrument?

Due to the rules of the campsite, no amplified instruments will be permitted during the Folkathon. However, if you think it is necessary to amplify your instrument, please email us to check.

Will there be any dancing?

Yes, there will be a ceilidh, and the opportunity to join in with some French dancing. There will also be clog dance and Morris dance displays. 

Are there going to be any walks during the event?

There will be an official Folkathon Morning Walk at 08:00 on Saturday 13th this year, probably through the woods around Conygres. Please wear sensible shoes and don't forget your instrument as we may stop for tunes along the way! During the rest of the Folkathon, feel free to go on your own walk, for example into Wotton-under-Edge or to the nearby William Tyndale Monument.

For those who would rather not come on the walk, Paul Dennant and Kath Fletcher will be hosting a relaxed session in the Hall.

How do I find out more?

Email us at 24hour.folkathon@gmail.com and ask!