We are very lucky that we are able to go ahead with Waimate Folk Festival in Orange settings. However, we must ask you to wear a mask when inside, unless you are medically exempt. We understand it is a little inconvenient, but it makes the festival possible.
Bookings are now open, and we look forward to seeing you all there!

​-Miguel

​Saturday:
10 – 11 Choir Workshop with Rachel Bayliss
11 – 12 All-Comers Jam with Phil Corfield
12 – 1 Lunch/Dinner Ticket Sales
1 – 3 First Blackboard Concert
3 – 4 Kay Duncan set/Blind Date draw
4 – 5:45 South of the Waitaki concert
6 pm Dinner
8 pm Barn Dance

Sunday:
10 – 11 Choir Practice
11 – 12 Whitestone Wordsmiths Poetry session
12 – 1 Lunch/Dinner ticket sales
1 – 2 Second Blackboard Concert
2 – 2:30 Blind Date Practice
2:30 – 4 North of the Waitaki Concert
4 – 5 Blind Date concert
5-5:45 Choir Practice
6 pm Glitz and Glam/Masquerade Dinner
8 pm Final Concert

The theme for Waimate Folk Festival 2018 is 'Outer Space'.
For many years now the Glitz and Glam final concert has sported all kinds of creative costumes and wonderful creations. We at Waimate Folk Festival HQ are very excited to see what everyone comes up with this year :)
There's plenty of time to think about what to wear. In the meantime, Cardrona Folk Festival and Whare Flat Folk Festival are coming up, so be sure to check out their pages (and back in with us) for the latest on your favourite Folk Festivals

With a new venue and  a new format, the time has come to give a new name to our beloved festival.
2016 sees Whitestone Winter Folk Festival become:

Waimate Folk Festival

Though we love everything that Whitestone was and continues to be, it is sadly time to hang up the old title and embrace the new. While there will be a transitional period where we still use the same website and keep calling ourselves Whitestone from force of habit, ultimately the new name will help new visitors find us, and will reflect the surroundings of our new home in Gunns Bush.

Six powered camper sites are one of the fantastic features available at our new home at Gunns Bush. These are available on a first in-first served, and have just sold out for 2015.
Sorry for those that have missed out. Be sure to book early next year!

Hi. My name is Judy McDowall.
I was the one who had the migraine headache at the folk festival on Queens Birthday weekend. I would like to publicly thank the kind people who looked after me while I was unwell. Their care and concern for my well-being was very much appreciated. I was unable to communicate coherently and with being diabetic I'm sure their diligence prevented a more serious situation. 
I'm not even sure who they all were. Jane, Christine, Bridgette? 
Thankfully, I got home ok. It did, however, take over ten hours and a number of "sleep stops" to get to Riverton. 
I am looking forward to returning to your wonderful folk festival next year. I have certainly made a point of telling people what a great festival it is; even though I only saw one day of it! 
Thanks again

- Judy

Spirits were high at the conclusion of the 2013 Whitestone festival. Changing venue to Gunns Bush has been warmly received and many people have enjoyed exploring the new walks and bush surrounding the site.
One of the fantastic things I noted was the accessibility for campers and caravans. Especially with so many people having taken mobile homes in the last few years. The sheer size of Gunns Bush means there is plenty of space for campers, and the freedom to bring your own space has been optimised by many. I'm looking forward to seeing how many come in 2014.

Photos to come.

Welcome to the new website for the Whitestone Winter Folk Festival!
This is currently still under development and is not yet the "official" Whitestone website. A few details still need to be finalised. Preparations have begun for the 2013 "Steampunk/Victorian" themed Whitestone festival. As details emerge, they will be posted on this website. If you're reading this and have photos or stories you'd like to share with us from previous years, please feel free to email them to Miguel or to post them to our Facebook page.

In the meantime, fellow festival, Cardrona is approaching as is Whare Flat at the end of the year. Both of which are fantastic. If you can't wait for a festival, there's still plenty happening in Dunedin at the New Edinburgh Folk Club and in Christchurch at the Christchurch Folk Club. If you these centres are a bit out of the way for you, there's also a list of music clubs you can look through to find what's happening in your area.