Folk and housing facility approach festival weekend with a plan

As Folk on the Rocks returns this weekend, festivalgoers will notice some changes in the parking lot. 

The temporary transitional housing facility beside the festival grounds is home to 24 residents, meaning part of the area traditionally used for festival parking will be unavailable.

In recent weeks, some festival attendees have voiced frustrations online about the loss of parking spaces and informal tailgating room. Housing NWT told Cabin Radio it has been preparing for this situation since the modular housing project was announced last year and has worked with festival organizers to balance the needs of both residents and attendees.

“We were always aware that they were going to be there during the Folk on the Rocks festival,” said James Tolley, Housing NWT’s director of homelessness.

The facility opened earlier this year and reached full occupancy in March. It provides transitional housing for people working toward a permanent home after experiencing homelessness. 

According to Tolley, communication with Folk on the Rocks organizers began as soon as the project was announced in May 2025. When the Yellowknife Women’s Society was selected to operate the site, Housing NWT connected the organization with the festival so planning could begin well ahead of this year’s event. 

What will be different?

The biggest change for festivalgoers will be a reduction in the amount of parking available around the housing site. 

Temporary fencing has been installed to create a buffer between the housing facility and the festival parking area, while maintaining vehicle access for residents, staff and maintenance crews. Housing NWT says residents will still be able to come and go freely throughout the weekend for appointments, work or other daily activities. 

Tolley said other parking areas will remain available for festival use.

“We were realistic,” Tolley said. “We are aware that there will be people outside of the festival grounds, primarily in the parking lots.”

Housing NWT said additional signs have been installed around the site to explain the purpose of the housing facility and encourage respectful behaviour toward residents.

“We’re all part of one big community,” Tolley said.

“Just because Folk on the Rocks is happening next door for a long weekend, doesn’t mean that we can’t all get along.”

Residents will remain on site

Officials considered whether residents should be temporarily relocated during the festival weekend but ultimately decided against it. Tolley said discussions with the Yellowknife Women’s Society and residents led officials to conclude that remaining in place would provide greater stability.

“We really have come to the conclusion that stability in their lives, as in their housing, is key and it’s vital,” he said.

The facility will continue operating 24 hours a day throughout the festival weekend. Housing NWT said it has also been in contact with RCMP and the Yellowknife Women’s Society to ensure supports are available if needed. 

Tolley added some residents may choose to attend Folk on the Rocks themselves, while others simply enjoy hearing the music from their homes. 

Cabin Radio contacted the Yellowknife Women’s Society, which operates the transitional housing facility, and Folk on the Rocks organizers for comment on preparations for the festival weekend. Neither could be reached before publication. 

Addressing public concerns

While acknowledging some festivalgoers might have concerns, Tolley told Cabin Radio he hopes people will remember the site is home to 24 people who have chosen to participate in transitional housing as they work toward permanent housing. 

“These are 24 individuals that are making positive decisions,” he said. “This is their home.”

The temporary housing site is expected to remain in place through next year’s festival. Housing NWT has already announced plans for a permanent 34-unit transitional housing development on 54 Avenue in downtown Yellowknife. Tolley said that project is expected to be completed before the 2028 Folk on the Rocks festival. 

The current location was selected because the GNWT already owned the land, allowing the modular units to be installed within about six months – significantly faster than a conventional housing development elsewhere in the city.