Do you want to be a part of history?

Believe it or not the 2008 National Folk Festival will be the earliest it has ever, and possibly will ever, be in the year.

The way Australia works out Easter is based on the gregorian calendar. Easter Sunday must, of course, always fall on a Sunday. It also must fall between March 22 and April 25. If you want to really get into the calculations for Easter (Which includes discussion about Paschal Full Moons and how they have nothing to do with the full moon we see in the sky when the Festival happens! Do you see how confusing this is?) then you can check out this
Wikipedia Link

As I wrote above March 22 is the earliest possible date for Easter Sunday. In 2008 Easter Sunday will fall on March 23.

"Pfff" I hear you snort. "That's not March 22nd though, the Festival can be earlier! You just said so"!

Well yes, that is true. However, according to the Easter calculations Easter Sunday will fall on March 22 in the year 2285! And while I certainly hope that the National Folk Festival will be going strong in the 23rd century I doubt many of us will be attending. Additionally it won't be as early again as it is this year until the year 2160.

It's not all bad news though, as all of us do have a chance to attend the second latest possible National Folk Festival! This will happen in 2011 when Easter Sunday occurs on April 24. (FYI the latest won't be until 2038)

So why not be a little part of history and attend the earliest National Folk Festival in 2008 then back up by attending the latest National in 2011. C'mon, you know you want to!

Dates for the next 4 Nationals

2009 National Folk Festival
9 April - 13 April

2010 National Folk Festival
1 April - 5 April

2011 National Folk Festival
21 April - 25 April

2012 National Folk Festival
5 April - 9 April

Les Barker no longer attending 2008 National

It is with much heaviness in our hearts that we have to announce that Les Barker will no longer be performing at the 2008 National Folk Festival.

Les had a heart attack a couple of weeks ago followed by some surgery to remove a blood clot. He has since recovered and has been released back into the community with a large number of pills and is experimenting with deep-fried aspirin.

All of us at the National Folk Festival wish Les a speedy recovery and look forward to having him at a National in the future where he will perform the epic poem he has no doubt composed while recovering.