After 25 years, the Zeiterion announces an end to the New Bedford Folk Festival

“Following a triumphant 25th-anniversary event in 2022, the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center announces the conclusion of the New Bedford Folk Festival.

While alternatives were explored, rising costs made the event unsustainable. The Zeiterion produced this annual festival for five years, keeping it alive after the founders retired as producers. Those additional years brought together hundreds of artists, attracted over 15,000 tourists to the city, employed scores of production professionals, contributed $3M to our local economy, and filled downtown New Bedford with fantastic folk music.

We honor and thank all involved who created a brilliant twenty-five year tradition: the founders and recent musical directors Alan and Helene Korolenko, the dedicated festival staff, the City of New Bedford, musicians, vendors, downtown businesses, sponsors, donors and, of course, the faithful festival goers.” -New Bedford Folk Festival.

“It’s hard to thank people enough for the support from the city, from the Zeiterion, from the other entities that we worked under, and then an audience that just kept coming, and that’s what kept us going.” – Alan Korolenko.