Thank you for considering volunteering for the 26th annual Yakima Folklife Festival, one of central Washington’s best summertime music festivals. As always, the festival will be the second weekend in July, this year the 11th-13th. There will be seven stages at Franklin Park and the Yakima Valley Museum and numerous evening venues. A weekend full of great music and fun!

You might have volunteered to help with the festival in the past. If so, you know volunteering is one of the best ways there is to get involved and get the most out of your festival experience. If you haven’t helped out before, now’s your chance!

As a Yakima Folklife Festival volunteer you: 

• Are invited to the Saturday Breakfast and Sunday Gourmet Brunch!
• Have free access to the volunteer and performer hospitality area!
• Receive a free Folklife button!
• Are invited to the post-festival volunteer potluck, at Franklin Park, July 24th!
• Have the satisfaction of knowing that you helped with Yakima’s premier free music festival -it’s really great to do something positive for your community!

Please read the festival volunteer information and complete the festival volunteer application form. Just indicate what jobs and times work best for you. Return your application early to get your favorite job at the most convenient time. The address is printed at the top of the application. Yakima Folklife schedules volunteers on a first-come, first-served basis. Confirmations will be sent out as quickly as possible.

You are also invited to the volunteer organizational meeting, Thursday, June 19th, at the Yakima Valley Museum. We will have food and socializing, starting at 6:30PM, and discussion of what needs to be done at the festival starting at 7:00 PM.

For 26 years the Yakima Folklife Festival has been organized and put together entirely by volunteers. The event is attended by thousands of people who look forward to a weekend full of great music, dancing, activities, crafts and food. By volunteering you will help will make this year’s festival the best ever! We look forward to seeing you and working with you this year at the festival!

If you have questions, please call me at (509) 457-6841 or email me at: mgsmith1949 @ charter.net.

Thank you,

Mike Smith
Yakima Folklife Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteer Job Descriptions:

Pre and Post festival:

Bring Food (Salads, cookies, deserts, etc)  to Green Room at the museum, Fri, Sat and Sun

Set Up/Take Down: Assemble awnings, setup stages, chairs, put up signs, etc. on the Friday before the festival, Sat. morning, and take down Sunday evening.

Poster Delivery to Yakima and surrounding areas: In the weeks prior to the festival, deliver posters to businesses and anywhere where they will be seen! State your preference for a delivery area.

During the Festival:

Museum Monitor: Monitor entrances to museum to make sure people don't bring in food/drink and leave with any museum exhibits. Monitor interior of museum to prevent damage to exhibits.

Parking Attendant/Welcome table: Monitor parking lot at East side of museum to maintain fire lane and parking for shuttle. Greet people and hand out Folklife information.

Information Booth/Site: Sales of performer CDs and Folklife merchandise, give information on the festival and Folklife to festival goers. Misc. chores such as providing ice run and empty trash, etc.

Folklife Water and Pop Booth: sales of water and pop

Food Vendor Ice: Deliver Ice to food vendors as required, also work at info booth when not needed for vendors.

Hospitality- Bakers, Cooks and Beggars: Baking and cooking of food for green room, and/or able to solicit donations

Hospitality- Green Room: Provide food and beverage to performers and other volunteers

Hospitality- Fri Night Preparation for Saturday Breakfast: cook and prepare food Friday night at the museum.

Hospitality- Saturday Breakfast: Cook food and serve.

Hospitality- Sunday Brunch: Cook food and serve.

Children's Waterslide: Setup and run waterslide, (water provided by the Yakima Fire Dept.), monitor safety, Sat. and Sun. afternoons.

General Helper/Wherever Needed: Fill in at the festival if a volunteer cancels or extra duties arise.

Sound Crew: Set up and run the sound equipment at the Garden and Museum Great Hall stages and smaller downtown venues. Must have experience with set up of microphones, speakers and associated equipment, Experience with running the mixer board is a plus.

Emcee/Stage Manager: Manage the stage and introduce performers at venues. Friday evening, Saturday day and evening and Sunday day. Script will be provided. You can contact Jane Newall at: therevjane@juno.com or phone (509) 457-6454