Lowell Folk Festival ends on high note Clock restarts for next year’s 3-day event - The Lowell Sun

One of the student volunteers staffing the busy Iskwelahang Pilipino food booth during the 38th Annual Lowell Folk Festival that ran July 25-27, 2025. (Melanie Gilbert/Lowell Sun)

LOWELL — The licenses plates in the city’s garages tell part of the story of the 38th Lowell Folk Festival.

A majority of cars bore plates from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. But others hailed from the Mid-Atlantic states of New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania; to the Midwest states of Ohio and Michigan; and as far south as Texas, Florida and South Carolina.

“The Lowell Folk Festival continues to be a magnet for visitors from across the country,” Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Danielle McFadden said by text Sunday. “The energy this weekend has been electric – big crowds, nonstop music from around the globe, mouthwatering food from dozens of cultures, and activities for all ages. It’s such a special celebration of community, culture, and connection.”

Neither Saturday’s 90-degree heat, nor Sunday’s on-and-off rain kept the crowds away, who lined up for food, music, arts and crafts and family fun during the 3-day downtown festival – the premier event of Lowell’s busy festival calendar.

“Saturday probably was the biggest day, not only for the festival, but for the city of Lowell,” City Councilor Corey Belanger said on Sunday. He was sporting a poncho he made out of a garbage bag to stay dry during a morning rain.

Belanger said he had attended Friday’s Parade of Nations opening ceremonies and walked the “entire footprint” Saturday, but Sunday was his day to sample the global food from the 18 different booths set up throughout the festival grounds.

READ MORE: lowellsun.com/2025/07/27/lowell-folk-festival-ends-on-high-note