What Performers Had to Say
Brad Keeler
​The Spokane Fall Folk Festival is the best place to see live, local music of all kinds in Eastern Washington. There is nothing else like it in the Inland Northwest.
Peter Ali​
So, as most of you know, I've been playing every year at the wonderful annual Spokane Fall Folk Festival in Spokane, Washington. They have a lot of great vendors, and it's all indoors as they use the Spokane Community College facilities for the weekend event. This [festival] is a free event for the public, but donations are always welcome. Yes, and it is pretty diverse, I have to say. There is even a table representing the Finnish folks for which I joined their organization a couple of years ago because of my slight connection, and the very nice lady who works [at] the table both days always made sure I had plenty of coffee.
Mary Hartman (Trillium 239​)
Fall Folk Festival is the most diverse festival I have ever attended. I love the rich range of cultures represented in music and dance.
 Jacqueline Babol (Filipina American Association Northwest)
[I] just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to perform at the Folk Festival. Spokane Storytellers, now known as Spokane River Tellers, has been with you 27 of the 28 [years] you have served our community with outstanding performers and brought joy to Spokane and surrounding towns. We love the Fall Folk Festival Here's to many more years.
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Congratulations on your successful again event. You deserve to stay in bed the rest of the week for all your hard work! Hats off to you guys!
Zeke Vasquez​
Thanks to you, Sylvia, [for] all your hard work and all of the volunteers for allowing Dave and [me] the chance to play at the Fall festival. It's always a hoot.
Sowmya (Indian Youth Club)
Well organized, as usual. Thank you so much for serving the community.
Amanda Darr (Woodside Swing)
It was great! We loved being part of the festival. [It was] such a great, family-friendly, community-building event! We'll be back next year for sure.
Jeffery Parker and String Cosmology​
​Hello Sylvia, and once again, even though you were stretched on volunteers, the Falls Folk Festival did not disappoint. Big kudos go out to the sound engineer for the Sasquatch Stage on Saturday. He worked his fanny off and really helped with my performance and my band's performance. [He is] very professional and knowledgeable.
Alyse Read (Homebrew Stringband)
On behalf of Homebrew Stringband and me personally, I want to thank every volunteer who made this festival the great success it was. We performed in the Sasquatch Room on Saturday morning. Pat Cantlon is probably the best sound tech we have ever had. He was meticulous when it came to balancing our different instruments and voices.
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From the minute we walked in until the end of the day, volunteers made us feel welcome. We really enjoyed the jamming, the markets[,] everything. Thank you for your hard work making this something special. After posting things on Facebook, I've actually had Seattle friends asking us about your event.
Izumi J Pierce, Instructor (Spokane BT Bon Odori Dancers)
​Thanks to you and your team for doing such a great job. We had a great time!
Joy Jelsing (Aloha Hula)
​Congratulations to you and all the volunteers for a successful event! We enjoyed performing for an incredible audience! We appreciated the two portable changing areas set up in the cafeteria. Thank you for this opportunity, and hopefully, we will be able to perform again next year.
Mari Haworth (Spokane Taiko)
​Thanks, Sylvia and the many volunteers! I was acutely aware of the grey-haired staff and grey hair on many of the players, and [I] hope you can continue and get younger ones. This is happening at so many local non-profits.

All the sound crew [was] very good, especially in the Sasquatch Room, cafeteria, and Lair. One benefit for me is seeing friends who I see only once a year at the festival. It's a reunion of people I have played with for over 45 years.
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As for Spokane Taiko, we were in the small gym and really appreciated the long workshop. We were able to introduce Taiko to a lot of folks and give them a chance to try the drums folks from 4 years to 85 years [old]. It was a lot of fun, and we appreciate the exposure.
Deborah Fredericks and Lucy D. Ford
​I really enjoyed the weekend and the opportunity to present my stories. [My] favorite groups were the Raging Grannies, Desiree from Sagle, and Casinato from Tekoa. I hope they will return next year. I sure plan to come back.
Frankie Ghee
​Thank you! My experience at the festival was excellent. Special thanks to Mark for his easy-going professionalism.
Sherilyn Jones posting for Ahmed al-Fatlawi
​Thank you for your tireless work in all the details that make the festival such a success!
Thank you so much for including Ahmed Al-Fatlawi, newly arrived from Jordan at the last minute. It was a wonderful experience, with the audience giving him a standing ovation at the end. Following is his feedback about the festival:

The festival was well-organized, and the timing was well-managed. The sound engineering was good. The audience was attentive and had great taste. Everyone was kind and spontaneous. There were no negative remarks.
Jay Krumbholz (Lilac City Voices)
The venue was great, and the staff was super helpful! We look forward to being a part of it next year!
Blue Ribbon Tea Company
Big thank you to all who came to the Fall Folk Festival last weekend to see the many fine acts! We had a great time playing for friends and newcomers. We truly appreciate the great listening audience. We sold some CDs, and we even heard someone say encore as we were leaving the stage. What fun! We're sorry we couldn't stay longer this time to hear more acts ourselves. It's always a treat to hang out at the festival, and it wouldn't be possible without the many hardworking volunteers [who] make it all happen!

We also want to give a great big thank you to Sylvia Gobel and all the hardworking volunteers! It would be hard to imagine fall without the festival which has brought so much joy and brought so many people together from various backgrounds and talents. See you there.
Gefilte Fish
​[I] just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed playing in the Lair Auditorium on Sunday. [It is] always a pleasure. Thanks much for all the organizational work you do to make the festival such a big success. Hope to see you next year!
Gabe Soileau
Thanks so much for everything you've done over the years. I'm so happy that the Fall Folk Festival is still going strong for new generations to enjoy.
Hubbardston Nonesuch
The Sasquatch Room was uncustomarily dark. [For] the audience from where I stood, that was no trouble, but several of the ladies in Hubbardston Nonesuch said they couldn't read their music. (I should have replied they need to know the music so well that a glance would be all that is necessary, but I have practiced more than any of them and longer.)
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Microphone placement and use [were] the best ever. Good turnout, you are to be commended. Thank you for your tireless work in all the details that make the festival such a success!
Desiree
I had so much fun at the festival last weekend. I was able to participate in the jams, dancing, performing, and meeting new and old friends. My one suggestion would be more food trucks for more of a variety and selection. [I'm] looking forward to next year!
Doug Roberts (Two Grey Cats)
I think the festival was great this year. The performers I saw were [of] good quality and well-received by the audiences. Some of the performers in the smaller rooms may [not] have been as good, but your selections for the big stages were excellent. And the inclusion of little kids and youth groups was crowd-pleasing.
 
Special mention [goes] to the fellow running sound and lights in the Bistro venue. Everyone we heard on that stage sounded great. I received compliments after our show, and he did it all. We just showed up with our instruments; he took it from there. All your efforts were worth it. [You] did a great job this year.
Tina and Coeurimba
​Big thanks to the volunteers who take all the pictures at the Spokane Fall Folk Festival! That's how many miles of walking?
 
This is a beautiful treat to review Fall Folk Festival 2024 again with the awesome photographers. It's a gift we can enjoy over and over, seeing the performers giving us a weekend to remember. This is the best ever!
What Attendees Said on Their Surveys
My favorite event. Thank you all.
I like the diversity of music, but it seems like [there are] fewer groups this year.
Thanks to a lot of teamwork, this event is a great example of a great community event that brings joy to tons of people. It’s my joy to play a bit part in this event, and the weekend is always great fun.
I come every year. I volunteered this year. Volunteering is fun.
Seems more organized. I like the greeters at each entrance; [they are] very helpful.
First of all, [it is a] great Festival once again. Lots of variety, quality crafts, [and the] stages were set up nicely, and crowd control was great. I liked the T-shirts and button design this year. Lots of happy folks, both visitors and volunteers. Ran like a well-oiled machine! Even the baked goods were a bit better and not so stale!
I really appreciate this festival. It is one of the highlights of my year. Whatever it takes, please make it happen next year.
[A] wide variety [of] shows and people.
People [and families] having fun.
Always been one of my favorite festivals.
Nationally known musicians.
Able to introduce my kids to all sorts of music and a low-key setting.
Really appreciate the daily posting highlighting the performers.
Variety of the types of music. The positive atmosphere.
Jamming opportunities and bagpipes.
Seeing new acts and vendors.
Jamming and performing.
I had an absolutely fabulous time.
Music, dance, friends.
Thanks for the food trucks.
Love the Festival every year.
Education.
Everything.
Musical performances.
Music.
Community.
Who Were Your Favorite Performer?
The oud player was amazing! Ahmed Al-Fatlawi. A rare opportunity to see this kind of music.
 
Chinese dancers in the Lair had a good variety of dances and their leader explained the meaning of the dances, which I appreciated.
 
Kevin Brown’s group had new music, and [they] were exceptional.

Contra dancing.

Dulcimer group and learning about the history.
 
The bongo tubes at the entrance.
 
Musha Marimba should have had 45 minutes.
 
Scottish bagpipers and children's dance.
 
Hawaiian Dancers and cloggers.
 
Haran dancers and Floating Crowbar

Scottish program.

Crooked Kilt.

Valley Mountain Boys.
 
2 Bit Jug Band.
 
Casinato.
 
Dan Maher.
 
Desiree.
 
Floating Crowbar.
 
Marimbas.
 
Silver Spurs.
 
Woodside Swing.