St Neots Folk Festival – St Neots, England 2026
Overview
St Neots Folk Festival is a vibrant, community-rooted celebration of folk, roots, and acoustic music in the charming Cambridgeshire market town of St Neots, drawing over 500 enthusiasts for a weekend of intimate concerts, ceilidhs, and workshops that highlight the “highlight of the folk calendar” amid the town’s riverside paths and medieval priory echoes. Organized by the St Neots Folk Club since 1966, this annual event has become a beacon for the East of England scene, blending established artists with emerging talents in venues like the Priory Centre, fostering a “warm friendly club” vibe through its “high quality acts” and “friendly and accommodating” spirit; for 2026 (June 5-7, based on 2025’s June 6-8 pattern), building on the 41st edition’s success with acts like Bram Taylor, Moonrakers, and Karen & Tony, anticipate a return to its eclectic format with 10-15 performances, encouraging participation through open mics and highlighting the club’s “live acoustic music every week” ethos in a setting where the Ouse’s murmur harmonizes with every reel.
What sets St Neots Folk apart is its “warm friendly” communal pulse—volunteer-driven with a focus on “high quality acts” through the club’s 58-year legacy, it nurtures a space where strangers join tunes in the Priory Centre or sway to buskers amid the market square’s charm, honoring its “fantastic” history with a festival that champions accessibility through on-door pricing and family-friendly sessions; as a beacon of rural creativity, it’s a ritual that celebrates folk’s timeless power to connect in England’s woven heart.
Event Highlights
- Main activities or performances: A lineup of 10-15 folk, roots, and acoustic acts across the Priory Centre, featuring concerts, ceilidhs, and open mics; past editions highlighted Bram Taylor’s “highlight of the festival,” Moonrakers’ “tapestry of sounds,” and Karen & Tony’s “eclectic mix,” with 2026 announcements pending but expected to continue the blend of national touring artists and local gems in daily waves from Friday openers to Sunday’s closing session, program-guided for seamless town-center hopping.
- Special traditions or features: Annual “fantastic” festival highlighting the club’s “live acoustic music every week” since 1966; volunteer-driven with “high quality acts” through the committee’s curation; accessibility through “friendly and accommodating” on-door pricing and family zones; ties into St Neots’ market-town heritage with gigs amid the priory’s acoustics and riverside paths, blending music with the area’s Ouse charm and community spirit.
- Unique attractions for visitors: The Priory Centre’s intimate 200-seat acoustics for “up close” concerts; family-friendly with some acts in the market square’s open spaces; the festival’s compact riverside layout fosters serendipity, from pub busks to abbey picnics, in a setting as welcoming as its Civil War echoes.
Why attend
St Neots Folk Festival is a harmonious hug from Cambridgeshire’s market heart, where fiddles fret over priory stones and voices rise like the Ouse’s mist, offering a festival that’s less spectacle and more town-wide serenade—perfect for folk families craving “in the “warm friendly” intimacy over intensity, with its volunteer heart ensuring accessibility through on-door pricing and “high quality acts” in the Priory Centre’s glow, far from festival frenzy. Its 58-year “fantastic” legacy turns the Centre into a canvas where Taylor’s tunes meet Moonrakers’ tapestry in a whirl of sound and soul, fostering a space where locals and wanderers tune as one amid market charm and meadow brews.
Beyond the bands, it’s a catalyst for communal kinship: kids joining ceilidhs in the Hall, strangers circling for impromptu reels in the market, and the quiet thrill of a Sunday session that blurs stage and street; as a not-for-profit rite of resilience, attending sustains a St Neots legacy, leaving you recharged, with a program full of scribbled setlists, and humming harmonies on the homeward towpath—ideal for rediscovering music’s buoyant power to gather, groove, and glow in England’s woven wonder.
Date & Duration
Dates: June 5 – June 7, 2026, Duration: 3 days
Venue / Location
- Primary venue: Priory Centre (Priory Lane, PE19 2BH) for main concerts and ceilidhs
- Additional locations: Market square for open mics; all within St Neots town center; no additional off-site
- Main Google location address: Priory Centre, Priory Lane, St Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 2BH, United Kingdom
Ticket Information
- Tickets: Online via stneotsfolkclub.co.uk or at door (no fees); concessions £10 (~$13 USD), standard £15 (~$19.50 USD); under-18 freeAdmission: Paid for concerts; all-ages with some adult content; under-18 free with adultSpecial seating or VIP options: No formal VIP; accessibility via email for needs (e.g., wheelchair seating at Priory Centre); some venues are wheelchair-friendly
- Minimum and maximum ticket price range: Minimum free (under-18); Maximum £15 (~$19.50 USD, standard concert)
Booking with Euro Travelo
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Contact Information
- Email: info@stneotsfolkclub.co.uk (general inquiries, tickets)Phone: Not specified; use email or contact formWebsite: https://www.stneotsfolkclub.co.uk/festival.html (official site for lineup, tickets)Social media: @stneotsfolkclub (Facebook)Key team: Volunteer committee—contact via emailPress/Volunteers: Press via email; volunteer opportunities through the club
- Note: Response time ~24–48 hours. English support; newsletter for updates
Getting There
- Nearest airports: London Stansted Airport (STN, ~40 miles/1-hour drive); Luton Airport (LTN, ~50 miles/1-hour drive)Public transport: Trains to St Neots Station (0.5 miles/10-minute walk, ~45 mins from London King’s Cross); buses 1/905 from Cambridge (~30 mins)Parking: Free/discounted at Priory Centre during events (~£3/day, ~$3.90 USD); town center ~£1.50/hour (~$1.95 USD)
- Driving directions: From A428 (Cambridge to St Neots), follow Priory Lane to Centre; sat-nav PE19 2BH; ~1 hour from London
Accommodation Options
- On-site camping: Not available; town-based
- Glamping and VIP: No; some hotels offer packages
- Nearby hotels: The Eaton Oak (1 mile, market views, ~$130 USD/night) or Premier Inn St Neots (0.5 miles, budget WiFi, ~$91 USD); book via Booking.com
- Local B&Bs and rentals: The Dog and Partridge (0.3 miles, pub access, ~$110 USD) or Airbnb cottages in Eaton Socon (2 miles, ~$150 USD); 20+ options—book early for June
Reviews
- Priory Centre hummed—Taylor’s tunes a delight, ceilidhs a whirl, and St Neots’ welcome warm; market-town folk nirvana.
- Moonrakers’ tapestry soared—diverse lineup a joy, easy hops, and Ouse breeze magic; back for the reel.
- Workshops wove delight, set soulful; some free joys, and town’s priory gold—timeless Cambs tune.
Maps
Contact
FAQ's
What's the re-entry policy at St Neots Folk Festival?
Tickets scanned per event (no full re-entry; multi-day bundles allow multiple); no wristbands. Lost ticket? Email info@stneotsfolkclub.co.uk with ref for reissue (screenshot as backup); 95% smooth with volunteer aid at Priory Centre box office (open till 10pm). Name changes via support pre-event; security light with bag checks. On-site support (5-min fix) aids, with program for navigation.
How family-friendly is St Neots Folk Festival for young kids?
Very welcoming—all-ages with free entry for under-18s; family highlights include some concerts and workshops that encourage participation with adult supervision, wrapping by 10pm for quieter evenings and venues like the Priory Centre offering space for little ones. Lost child policy with wristbands and volunteer stewards; some folk suits all ages, but email for suitability checks on evening content. Some attend with families; town's safe riverside paths add exploration—ideal for introducing roots to young ears through local reels.
Are there dietary or accessibility accommodations at St Neots Folk Festival?
Venue cafes offer vegan/gluten-free options with clear menus (flag allergies at order), plus some like Priory Centre have sponsor-provided dishes focused on Cambs fare with alternatives. Accessibility includes ramps at the Centre, reserved seating with proof (e.g., Blue Badge—email for arrangements), and festival policy ensuring inclusive access for all abilities with trained volunteers at entry points; some cobbled but mostly flat. Strobe warnings for lights; some areas uneven. Case-by-case: Submit Access Card or GP letter for custom needs like quiet zones or shuttle aid for market hops.
Can I bring my dog or pet to St Neots Folk Festival?
Dogs welcomed on leads in outdoor areas like market square with immediate cleanup required to respect the town site, crowds, and priory paths; assistance dogs need prior email (info@stneotsfolkclub.co.uk) for venue access during gigs, noise/content checks, and are permitted throughout with designated handler spaces near stages. Ejection risk if uncontrolled near performers or families; nearby Ouse paths offer scenic walks with river views to explore. Strict rules align with community policies—fines for non-compliance. Some B&Bs like Eaton Oak (1 mile) are pet-friendly; prioritize the event's welcoming vibe while enjoying its pet-tolerant historic charm, perhaps tying in with guided abbey tours.
What's the parking and transport policy during St Neots Folk Festival?
Free/discounted at Priory Centre during events (~£3/day, ~$3.90 USD, 5-min walk to town); town center limited with enforcement (~£1.50/hour, ~$1.95 USD). Walking encouraged (~10 mins between venues); trains to St Neots Station (~£10 from London, 10-min walk). Lost spot? Email for shuttle info (5-min frequency). Security directs traffic; 95% smooth with volunteer marshals. Email for EV charging or accessibility transport.
