The festival is held on the Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park each September as a 4- or 5-day general admission ticketed event.
[1] While its origins are in Canadian folk music, since 2011 the festival has also spotlighted other genres, including alt-country, hip-hop, roots, and blues.
Recent headliners include Robert Plant (2019), Hozier (2018), David Byrne, (2018), Jack Johnson (2017), Van Morrison (2015), Wilco (2015), Lorde (2014), Blue Rodeo (2014), Emmylou Harris (2013) and Kendrick Lamar (2013).
[2] CityFolk (2014 -) Robert Plant, Hozier, David Byrne, Jack Johnson, Vance Joy, James Bay, Van Morrison, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, Of Monsters and Men, UB40, Walk Off The Earth, Elle King, Lucinda Williams Ottawa Folk Festival (1994–2013) Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, Emmylou Harris, Joss Stone, Great Big Sea, Ben Harper, Bon Iver, Blue Rodeo, The Levon Helm Band, Jim Cuddy, Feist, Kris Kristofferson, Rufus Wainwright, Valdy, David Wiffen, Murray McLauchlan, Quartette, Bruce Cockburn, The Sadies, Roy Forbes, Connie Kaldor, Broken Social Scene, Martin Sexton, Jerry Douglas, Jane Siberry, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Jorane, Jesse Cook, Odetta, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, John Prine, Stephen Fearing, Richard Thompson, Buffy Sainte-Marie, La Bottine Souriante, Arlo Guthrie, Natalie MacMaster, Steve Earle, Sarah Harmer, and Ron Sexsmith.
The new management moved the festival to Hog's Back Park near Mooney's Bay along the Rideau River.
The volunteers collectively are the biggest sponsor in terms of how much their time contribution would cost the festival if these positions were paid.