Whoop & Hollar Folk Festival is an award-winning, non-profit organization and annual festival in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba that creates and celebrates community through music, art, and nature.

By means of its year-round programming, Whoop & Hollar is focused on promoting, supporting, and expanding the unique identity of its local arts and culture scene. The grassroots organization is 100% volunteer-driven.

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The festival was recently named the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie's signature event for 2019, and aims to revive the spirit of the music and dance scene that existed in the historic Hoop & Holler District (hence the name), nearly a century ago.

Our story began in 2015 when Linda Omichinski, who has hosted local house concerts both independently and through Home Routes, co-founded the first-ever Whoop & Hollar Folk Festival with Mitchell Omichinski and Josh Wright. The earlier era of house and yard concerts (2009-2014) rapidly transformed into an era of music festivals as the need to showcase more of the diverse, local talent in Portage la Prairie and Manitoba had really begun to grow. We are now comprised of a small executive committee and a larger team of several local volunteers. Hot Blizzard Folk Festival merged with Whoop & Hollar in 2017 to become one big event, with activities happening throughout the year.

Why "FOLK"? We put an emphasis on the word "folk" because it signifies the music, art, food, stories, and cultures of "the people." "Folk" speaks volumes about acceptance and diversity—it's a broad term that embodies the festival's core values: music, art, nature and community. The music and other artistic media showcased at the festival are not limited to one or two genres - you'll find a little bit of everything. 

Supporting local and regional performers that are both emerging and established is what we do best. Come and discover Manitoba's best-kept secrets and be a part of an unforgettable experience at Whoop & Hollar!