After Almost 40 Years, Yakima Folklife Festival Sadly Comes to an End

It is with a heavy heart to announce that another staple tradition in the Yakima valley is coming to a close.

The Folklife Festival was such a staple tradition for so many. Music would fill the air, the great food from the vendors and prime location would bring so many people together for several decades. My father was involved being in a few of the bands that would play at this event and it was always a highlight for him to attend and perform.

The question many may have would be 'well, if Yakima Folklife Association isn't doing it, can someone else pick it up? And I'm not exactly sure the answer to that, either. I do think chances are good someone will do something similar to fill this hole but putting on events of this magnitude are such a labor of love that, yes, someone could do a festival like this as there are already many festivals in the Yakima valley but to pull this off the way it has been pulled off for as many years as this has existed is no easy plug-and-play format. I hope someone does do something similar and, if they do, we'll definitely support it. Here's hoping.

In the meantime, folk is not going anywhere in the Yakima valley. Support your live and local musicians any chance you can to keep music alive in the Yakima valley.