After running the legendary Cardrona Folk Festival for 46 years, Martin & Kay left their beloved Cardrona Valley and settled in nearby Earnscleugh, Central Otago.

In 2024 they hosted the inaugural Earnscleugh Folk Festival. Despite some inclement weather, the festival was very successful and everyone who came was very complimentary about the facilities at the 100 year old Earnscleugh Hall, just outside of Alexandra in Central Otago.

In 2025 we will be running another wee gathering, and have moved the date forward by three weeks so the famous Central Otago blossoms should be in their full Spring glory at this time!

The festival will take place at the Earnscleugh Hall, Earnscleugh Road from Friday 3rd October to Sunday 5th October inclusive. The final concert will be on the Sunday night starting at 7.30 p.m. Pack-up day is Monday 6th October, with the site to be tidied up and vacated by midday. The hall has a well equipped kitchen, interior toilets, a great stage and spacious dance floor for the ceilidh dance on the Saturday night. 

The format of the festival will be much the same as last year, with everyone attending able to participate in whiteboard concerts, themed concerts and the Saturday night dance. There is also a possibility that we may organise for a caterer to provide a meal for the Sunday evening, similar to what happens at the popular Waimate festival. This will be confirmed shortly.

Out the back of the hall is a large grassed area for campervans, mobile homes and tents. Participants can arrive on site after midday on Friday. We regret that there are no showers available at the hall. There is also no accommodation available on site but there are plenty of motels in Clyde and Alexandra, both of which are just 5kms from the hall. The Alexandra campground also has cabins for hire.

Registrations will open at the end of July, so check on the website for updated details.