Education Days at Folk Festivals: Engaging Schools with Workshops and Teacher Packs

Introduction

Festivals are not just about entertainment – they can also be powerful platforms for education and community engagement. Many successful folk festivals around the world have introduced dedicated Education Days for schools, where students attend workshops, performances, and interactive sessions tailored to young audiences. By engaging local schools, providing learning resources for teachers, and making the experience accessible, festival organisers can inspire the next generation and build lasting community support. This article shares practical, real-world advice on how to plan and execute effective Education Days at folk festivals, drawing on examples from different countries and cultures.

Why Education Days Matter

Integrating an Education Day into a folk festival serves multiple purposes:

• Cultivating future audiences: Introducing children and teens to folk music, dance, and culture can spark a lifelong interest. For instance, Celtic Connections – one of Europe’s premier folk and roots music festivals – runs an award-winning education programme that has reached over 200,000 children since 1999 (www.celticconnections.com). By experiencing live folk performances in their youth, many of these students develop a lasting appreciation for the music and often return to the festival in later years with their families.
• Community goodwill: Education Days demonstrate a festival’s commitment to the local community. Schools, parents, and public officials often appreciate festivals that invest in young people. This can lead to stronger community relationships, positive media coverage, and even funding support from arts councils or sponsors who value educational outreach.
• Cultural preservation: Especially in folk festivals, there is a mission to preserve and pass on cultural traditions. Engaging youth through workshops in traditional music, crafts, or dance helps keep heritage alive. A great example is the Children’s Literature Festival (CLF) in Pakistan, which invites thousands of students to interactive sessions celebrating literature and arts (www.dawn.com). While it’s centered on books rather than music, the CLF illustrates how festivals can ignite young imaginations and celebrate cultural heritage in an accessible way.
• Expanded daytime programming: If your festival runs over multiple days, a school-focused day (often on a weekday before the main public crowds arrive) can make use of daytime slots and artist availability. It keeps artists busy with meaningful work and builds momentum leading into the main festival weekend.

By understanding these benefits, festival producers can approach Education Days not as a side activity, but as a core part of their festival’s mission and value.

Build Age-Appropriate Sessions with Clear Outcomes

When designing the content for an Education Day, it’s crucial to tailor sessions to the age group of the students and have clear learning outcomes in mind. A successful approach is to work closely with educators to ensure activities align with students’ interests and curriculum needs:

• Segment by age or grade: What captivates a four-year-old will differ from what engages a teenager. Consider running separate sessions for younger children (e.g. primary level) and older students (secondary level). Celtic Connections offers a great model – in 2025 their festival hosted four school concerts, with one concert specifically for nursery to early primary ages, and others aimed at P4–S6 (upper primary through high school) (www.celticconnections.com). The content of each concert was tailored appropriately, from interactive sing-alongs for little ones to performances by contemporary folk bands that resonate with teens.
• Set clear objectives: Decide what you want students to take away from each session. Is the goal to learn about a cultural tradition, to try an instrument, to create something, or simply to experience live music? Designing with the end in mind helps focus the activities. For example, a workshop might aim to have each child learn a simple folk dance step, or understand the history of a particular song, or even build a basic craft instrument to take home. By the end of the session, students and teachers should be able to articulate what new knowledge or skill was gained.
• Interactive and hands-on: Students learn best by doing. Plan participatory workshops where possible – drumming circles, folk dancing classes, storytelling with audience participation, etc. At Woodford Folk Festival in Australia, the dedicated Children’s Festival creates an environment where kids can try crafts, learn circus tricks, and pick up new skills in a fun way (www.familiesmagazine.com.au). These kinds of hands-on sessions not only keep young attendees engaged but also give them a sense of accomplishment.
• Use visuals and relatable examples: Keep in mind that some cultural or musical concepts might be completely new to the audience. Use visual aids, demonstrations, and simple language to get points across. If you’re teaching Gaelic singing to a class of non-Gaelic speakers, show pictures or objects related to the song’s story, or relate it to something in the students’ own culture. In diverse classrooms, consider language barriers – one festival in Ireland noted that using more visuals and a bit of the local language helped students from different backgrounds connect with the content (www.dawn.com).
• Time management: Young attention spans can be short. Plan sessions to fit within a school period (often 30–45 minutes for younger kids, up to an hour for older students), and incorporate variety – e.g. a 20-minute performance followed by a 20-minute interactive workshop. Build in transition time for groups to move between stages or activities if you have multiple stations.

By crafting age-appropriate sessions with specific outcomes, you ensure that an Education Day is not just a fun excursion, but a meaningful extension of the students’ learning. Teachers will appreciate a well-structured program that clearly benefits their students’ development.

Provide Teachers with Guides and Follow-Up Materials

To maximise the educational impact of a festival visit, support the teachers who are bringing the students. Most teachers will only participate if they can justify the trip as a learning opportunity, so providing Teacher Packs (resource guides) and follow-up materials is key:

• Pre-visit teacher guides: Supply teachers with an information pack well in advance of the Education Day. This might include background on the festival and artists, suggested classroom activities to prepare students, and links to relevant cultural or historical context. For example, the Cork International Film Festival in Ireland shares study guides for each film in its schools programme, helping teachers connect the screening content to their curriculum (artsineducation.ie). Similarly, a folk festival’s guide could contain song lyrics for a sing-along, a glossary of musical terms, or a brief history of the folk traditions students will see.
• Clear outcomes and curriculum ties: In your teacher pack, outline the learning outcomes of the upcoming Education Day sessions (e.g. “Students will learn about three traditional instruments and the regions they come from”) and mention any curriculum standards it supports. This makes it easier for teachers to get approval for the trip and to integrate the experience into their lesson plans. If possible, consult with a few local teachers when creating these materials to ensure they are age-level appropriate and curriculum-aligned.
• Student worksheets or activity sheets: Provide simple worksheets or booklets that teachers can use during or after the festival visit. This could be a “festival journal” where students jot down what they heard and saw, a quiz on facts they learned, or creative prompts like “draw your favourite instrument from today.” The goal is to reinforce the learning after the excitement of the event.
• Follow-up resources: After the festival, consider sending additional materials to the schools. This could be a link to a video of one of the performances they attended, suggestions for further reading or listening (e.g. recordings of folk songs, or craft instructions to try in class), or even an offer for a musician to do a follow-up Q&A via video call. The Arts in Education community often stresses continuing the engagement beyond the initial event (artsineducation.ie). By providing follow-ups, you help teachers extend the impact over multiple lessons.
• Professional development for teachers: In some cases, festivals have offered workshops for the teachers themselves, equipping them to bring more arts into the classroom. While not always feasible, even a short teacher briefing on the day of the event can be useful. Walk teachers through the schedule, point out learning opportunities, and encourage them to participate alongside the students during workshops.

By treating teachers as partners in the educational experience, you not only make their job easier but also increase the likelihood that they will sing the festival’s praises to administrators and other schools. A well-prepared teacher is your festival’s best ambassador in the education community.

Subsidise Buses and Lunches to Reduce Barriers

One of the biggest challenges schools face in attending external events is the cost and logistics of transport and meals. A truly inclusive Education Day will address these challenges head-on:

• Transport support: If your budget allows, subsidise the cost of buses or provide free transportation for school groups. This is especially critical for schools that are farther away or have tight budgets. For example, the Baboró International Arts Festival for Children in Ireland offers subsidised tickets for students and free tickets for teachers, and it provides detailed information on bus parking to make visits easier (www.baboro.ie) (www.baboro.ie). Some festivals partner with local transit authorities or bus companies as sponsors – in exchange for branding opportunities, a bus company might provide a certain number of school bus trips at low or no cost.
• Group booking and scheduling: Simplify the process of booking and arriving for multiple classes. Stagger arrival times of buses if you have many coming, and have volunteers ready to greet each bus, direct students, and handle any check-in quickly so that students spend maximum time enjoying the event. Provide clear instructions to drivers and teachers for drop-off and pick-up points. Consider scheduling the Education Day to start after morning rush hour and end before the school day normally would, so that bus logistics are smoother and teachers can get students back in time.
• Lunch and snacks: A hungry child is a distracted child. If the Education Day spans lunch, think about meal arrangements. Can your festival or a sponsor provide free or discounted lunch packs for the students? If not, ensure there is a clean, safe area where students can eat packed lunches and access to water and restroom facilities. In some cases, festivals have worked with charities or local businesses to offer lunch; in others, they’ve adjusted the schedule to be a half-day event concluding before lunch to avoid the complication.
• Ticket cost subsidies: Charging a small fee per student can help cover costs, but keep it as low as possible and offer discounts to schools in need. Many festivals keep student tickets very affordable (or free) and allow teachers and chaperones to attend at no charge. If you do need to charge, consider a scholarship or grant program for under-resourced schools. Even a short application for a “bus and tickets bursary” can ensure that a handful of schools who couldn’t afford to attend otherwise get the opportunity. Remember, the goal is impact, not profit, for an Education Day.
• Accessibility considerations: Make sure that the support extends to any special needs. If you have schools with differently-abled students, ensure your venue can accommodate them (ramps, reserved seating, etc.) and that transportation is accessible. If needed, subsidise an additional aide or nurse to come along for those students.

By removing financial and logistical obstacles, you enable all schools – not just wealthy or nearby ones – to participate. This greatly expands the reach of your festival’s educational efforts and builds goodwill. Many events find that investing in these subsidies pays off through increased attendance and a diverse audience that truly reflects the whole community.

Involve Artists Who Love Teaching

Not every performer is a great educator, and that’s okay. When planning Education Days, choose artists and facilitators who are enthusiastic about teaching and interacting with kids. The difference in energy and engagement can be profound:

• Select the right artists: Scan your lineup for those with experience in workshops or music education. Folk artists often have a natural storytelling vibe and many already do school outreach or kids’ shows. For example, at Celtic Connections’ school concerts, well-loved bands like Blazin’ Fiddles and Breabach not only performed but also connected with the young audience through conversation and humor (www.celticconnections.com). Their fiddlers might demonstrate a riff slowly for the kids or teach a simple chorus for everyone to sing along. Such interactions turn a passive concert into an active learning experience.
• Artist training and briefing: Even artists who haven’t taught before can shine if given guidance. Brief your participating artists on the demographics (e.g. “We’ll have 300 middle school students, many new to folk music”). Encourage them to include a bit of context about their songs, to ask questions (“Who here has seen a banjo before?”), or to invite a few students on stage for a demonstration if appropriate. Some festivals hold a short orientation for artists involved in Education Days to share best practices when performing for kids.
• Hands-on workshops with artists: Beyond performances, consider having artists lead workshops. Many folk musicians are passionate about their craft and love opportunities to share skills. A visiting dance troupe might run a 30-minute dance class, or a storyteller might lead a creative writing or oral history session. During the Celtic Connections Education Programme, in-school workshops are led by traditional musicians in Scots and Gaelic song, drumming, fiddle, and dance, giving pupils a chance to try the art form themselves (www.glasgowlife.org.uk). Artists who enjoy this format will make the workshop lively and memorable.
• Celebrate the educators: Make sure to publicly acknowledge the artists’ contribution to the Education Day. Whether it’s a thank-you in the festival program or a small honorarium or gift, showing appreciation helps sustain their interest in participating year after year. Some artists find these experiences so rewarding that they return to a festival primarily because of its community engagement ethos.
• Mix professionals and local talent: Don’t overlook local folk instructors or music teachers. They can be great co-facilitators alongside touring artists. For example, a local youth fiddle ensemble might join a headline fiddler on stage, or a school choir could perform a folk song they learned beforehand, opening the show for the pros. This not only gives students pride in participation but also strengthens ties between the festival and local arts educators.

When artists are genuinely invested in teaching, students can tell – and they respond with equal enthusiasm. The right artist can turn a simple performance into a two-way exchange of energy and inspiration. It’s not just the students who may learn; often the performers come away rejuvenated by the experience of engaging with such an eager young audience.

Logistics, Scheduling, and Safety Considerations

Running an Education Day for potentially hundreds (or even thousands) of children comes with special logistical and safety needs. Experienced festival organisers know that planning these details is as important as planning the content:

• Timing and scheduling: Coordinate with schools to choose the best day and time. Mid-week mornings often work well (e.g., Thursday or Friday starting around 10 AM) to allow travel time. Avoid stretching the day too long — a half-day (3–4 hours including breaks) is usually ideal for student attention spans and school timetables. Build a detailed schedule and share it with schools in advance so they know when each activity, break, and departure will happen.
• Dedicated festival staff and volunteers: Assign a team specifically to manage the Education Day. This includes greeters to meet buses, guides to shepherd each school group from one area to another, and staff to manage each workshop space. Ensure all staff and volunteers working with children are properly vetted (background checks if required by your country) and trained on child safety protocols. It’s wise to have a higher ratio of staff-to-participants than you would for general festival crowds, as children may need more direction.
• Safety and first aid: Child safety is paramount. Have a clear procedure in case a student gets lost — for example, instruct teachers to do headcounts between sessions, and station identifiable staff at key junctions. Make sure first aid services are on standby, and that you’ve communicated any emergency procedures to the teachers upon arrival. If the event is outdoors or in a large venue, consider using wristbands or badges for students with the school name and a contact number for a teacher, in case a child wanders off. Also, be mindful of volume levels for younger ears – provide ear protection if necessary during loud music performances.
• Venue setup: Arrange your venue to be school-friendly. Provide ample seating on the floor or chairs for younger kids at front so they can see, with older students or adults toward the back. If multiple activities are happening, use a rotation system (Group A to workshop tent, Group B to main stage, etc.) to prevent overcrowding. Have signs clearly marking areas (maybe even fun, colourful signage made with kid-friendly designs). Ensure bathroom access is convenient and monitor those areas for safety and cleanliness during the event.
• Ticketing and registration: Simplify how schools sign up. If using an online ticketing platform, create a special registration link or promo code for school groups. The Ticket Fairy platform, for instance, allows event organisers to create custom ticket categories (like a free “School Group” ticket) and password-protected pages, which is ideal for managing a private invitation event for schools. It also provides real-time attendee data, so you can easily track how many students and teachers are registered. Avoid complex pricing schemes or “dynamic pricing” for school tickets – schools need to budget in advance, so a flat, low rate or free admission is best. Once schools register, follow up with a personal email to confirm logistics, what to bring, and to answer any questions the teachers might have.
• Privacy and permissions: Ensure that photo and video consent is sorted out. Many schools require parental permission if children might be photographed or filmed. Communicate ahead of time if your festival plans to do any media coverage or if press will be present. It’s often simplest to designate certain “no photo” zones or give teachers different colored lanyards if their students should not be photographed, so your festival photographer knows whom to include or avoid.
• Weather contingencies: If any part of the Education Day is outdoors, have a backup plan for rain or extreme weather – whether that means moving under a marquee, into a hall, or having an alternate activity (like a film screening of a recorded folk performance) ready to go.
• Engage the whole school: Some festivals turn Education Day into an outreach that goes beyond the students who attend. For example, they might livestream a portion of the event to classrooms that couldn’t travel, or send a pair of artists to perform at a school for those who couldn’t make the trip. This can amplify the impact and also serve as a goodwill gesture that every school is included in some way.

By meticulously planning the logistics and safety aspects, you create a smooth experience that lets teachers focus on the learning and fun with their students, rather than worrying about organizational details. A well-run event will earn the trust of educators, meaning they’ll be eager to participate in future years.

Track Impact Beyond Attendance

It’s tempting to judge an Education Day’s success simply by counting how many students attended. While high attendance is a good sign, it’s not the only metric that matters. Seasoned festival producers look to track the impact of their educational initiatives in deeper ways:

• Collect feedback from teachers and students: Shortly after the event, send a feedback form to participating teachers. Ask questions like: “What did your students learn or enjoy the most?”, “Did the experience spark any follow-up activity back in the classroom?”, “How could we improve the program next time?”. Teachers’ qualitative responses will tell you a lot about the program’s effectiveness. Some festivals also encourage students to write thank-you letters or draw pictures of their favourite part – these can be heartwarming evidence of impact to share with stakeholders (and on social media, with permission).
• Follow student engagement over time: If possible, track whether the students who attended become more involved in the arts after. This could be anecdotal – for example, a teacher might report that some kids started a folk music club at school or begged their parents for violin lessons after the festival. In one notable case, students who attended folk workshops at a festival later formed their own young ceilidh band, eventually returning to perform at the same festival a few years down the line. Stories like these show a full-circle impact and can be used to promote and fundraise for your Education Days in the future.
• Measure community outcomes: Look at the bigger picture. Does your Education Day lead to new partnerships, such as schools inviting festival artists for school residencies, or local cultural organisations collaborating with you on year-round youth programs? Perhaps local authorities take note of your festival’s contribution and increase their support. Track things like repeat participation (do the same schools come each year and is that number growing?) and geographical reach (are you pulling in schools from farther away as word spreads?).
• Recognise and publicise the success: Share the impact with your festival team, funders, and the public. Issue a press release or a blog post highlighting successes – e.g. “Over 7,000 students experienced live music at our festival’s Education Day this year (www.celticconnections.com), many for the first time, and teachers report it inspired new music activities at their schools.” Such stories not only validate the effort but also inspire other festivals and artists to support educational outreach. They can also attract sponsors for subsequent editions (companies and foundations love to back projects that demonstrate social impact).
• Continuous improvement: Use the data and feedback to refine your approach. Maybe teachers suggested that the workshops were amazing but the day was a bit too long for the youngest kids – you can adjust the schedule next time. Or perhaps you discovered that providing a take-home booklet could help extend the learning – you can budget for that in the future. Treat each year as an opportunity to enhance the program. Over time, you’ll build a rich knowledge base of what works best for engaging youth at your festival.

Ultimately, the true impact of an Education Day is seen in the long-term – in how many young people develop a love for the arts, and in how the community perceives the festival. As Donald Shaw, the Creative Producer of Celtic Connections, pointed out, introducing children to live folk music “can encourage a lifelong love of music and inspire the next generation of musicians” (www.glasgowlife.org.uk). When you track and share the outcomes of your festival’s educational efforts, you’re not just counting heads – you’re counting the future.

Conclusion

Building Education Days into a folk festival’s program is an investment in the future – of the festival, of the art form, and of the community. By thoughtfully designing age-appropriate sessions, empowering teachers with resources, removing logistical barriers, and involving passionate educators, festivals can create magical experiences where young people learn and thrive. These initiatives require dedication and careful planning, but the rewards are immense: imagine a child’s eyes lighting up at the sound of a fiddle, a teenager discovering pride in their cultural heritage, or an artist finding new purpose through teaching.

For the next generation of festival producers, the message is clear: the legacy of a festival is not only in the memories it creates for today’s attendees, but also in the inspiration it plants for tomorrow. Education Days are a powerful way to plant those seeds. With every workshop and every school bus unloaded, you are not just running an event – you are passing the torch of tradition, creativity, and community spirit. And as any seasoned festival organiser will attest, there’s no feeling quite like witnessing that spark ignite in a young person, knowing it might lead them to become an artist, a cultural advocate, or even a festival producer in years to come.

Key Takeaways

• Early Engagement Matters: Introducing children and teens to folk festivals through Education Days helps cultivate future audiences and keep traditions alive.
• Tailor Content to the Age Group: Design age-appropriate workshops and performances with clear learning goals so that each student leaves with new knowledge or skills.
• Empower Teachers: Provide educators with guides, lesson tie-ins, and follow-up materials to integrate the festival experience into classroom learning.
• Remove Barriers: Offer subsidised tickets, free admission for teachers, and support for transport (buses) and logistics to ensure schools can participate regardless of budget.
• Choose the Right Facilitators: Involve festival artists and local talent who are enthusiastic about teaching and can create interactive, engaging sessions for kids.
• Plan Logistics and Safety: Schedule wisely, deploy a dedicated team for the school program, and have strong safety measures and child-friendly facilities in place.
• Measure Impact: Go beyond headcounts – gather feedback and stories to assess how the Education Day influenced students, and use these insights to improve future programs.
• Community and Legacy: A successful Education Day boosts community goodwill and leaves a lasting legacy by inspiring the next generation of musicians, artists, and festival-goers.