Rickmansworth gears up for the return of its annual free folk festival on Saturday 18 July 2026, with a packed programme running from 10:30am until 11pm. Organised by Rickmansworth Town Team and supported by Batchworth Community Council, the event spans three venues and celebrates live music, workshops, and a traditional singaround.
The day kicks off with an inclusive singing workshop at 10:30am before main stage performances take over the Bury Gardens from noon until 7pm. A second stage at the Batchworth Lock Education Centre runs from 2pm to 5pm, showcasing local folk talent. Headline act Man The Lifeboats, a sea-folk band, takes to the main stage at 6pm, and the festival wraps up with an evening folk singaround at the Fox and Hounds on High Street from 8pm until 11pm.
Last year saw the introduction of the second stage at the Batchworth Lock Education Centre, offering an afternoon of live music from 2:30pm to 5:30pm. Performers in 2025 included a U3A Ukulele band, local folk artists, professional folk bands, and Phoenix Morris dancers. Michael Stimpson, a Town Team member and former Squire of Phoenix Morris, coordinates Morris side participation, while Catherine Imrie handles enquiries from folk singers wishing to perform.
The Bury Gardens becomes pedestrian-only during the festival, though several car parks are available around the town centre. The Rickmansworth Town Team, a community interest company, also organises the Winter Fair, French Markets, and commemorative events throughout the year.
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