The first Winnipeg Folk Festival campers arrive weeks before the gates open to the public. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * The first Winnipeg Folk Festival campers arrive weeks before the gates open to the public. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? The first Winnipeg Folk Festival campers arrive weeks before the gates open to the public.
It takes a lot of work to turn the fields and forests of Birds Hill Park into a pop-up city with amenities to serve more than 70,000 temporary residents. Stages need to be built, tents raised, electricity connected, campgrounds furnished and porta potties placed. To make the most of the short timeline and lengthy to-do list, a small crew of production staff members and tradespeople set up camp backstage, where they live and work for several months each summer.
For site electrician Pat McGarry, the gig is a nice break from his usual routine. “I really like working outside. As a construction electrician, I’m usually in buildings or crawl spaces or attics most of the time,” he says.
McGarry has been on the production crew for a decade. In the lead-up to the festival, he’s busy checking connections and laying cables. He’s created a digital map of the grounds that shows a vast matrix of underground wiring used to power sound systems, video screens, lights and payment terminals.
During the event, McGarry remains on call for any electricity-related .
