The Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival is the longest running folk festival in the United Kingdom. It differs from most other festivals in two respects: it moves location every year, and it is hosted and organised by student folk societies. However it attracts ex-students and folk music enthusiasts, who descend on the hostuniversity for a weekend of music, dance, song and sleep deprivation. The festival is always run in either the last weekend in February or the first weekend in March; the festival at Exeter University in 2009 was attended by around 1169 different ticket holders — one of the most of any IVFDF up to that time. The festival is scheduled to be held in Nottingham in 2020. It was announced at Edinburgh 2019 that Bristol would host the 2021 festival, though unusually the festival will be held in Glastonbury rather than Bristol.
2019 Edinburgh was held at Edinburgh University. The line-up included Hoik, The Night Before, Monkey Box, No&Mi, An Conasg, Hekety, Science Ceilidh, Matthew Maclennan Dance Band, Naragonia, Point Five
2018Sheffield. . was held at Sheffield University and was the first year the festival went completely gender free for all its calling and workshops. The line-up included Melrose Quintet, Buddy System, Steamchicken, Emily and the Simons, Scottish Measure.
2010 was held at Durham University from 5 to 7 March 2010. The line-up included Eliza Carthy and Aidan Curran, Whapweasel and Martyn Harvey, Vertical Expression, Fidola, alongside many workshops and a Morris Tour.
2009 happened in Exeter, between 27 February and 1 March. The line-up included Kate Rusby, The Demon Barbers. Jackie Oates also appeared with Jim Causley. Main ceilidhs were provided by The Committee Band and Stomp with over 40 workshops taking place over the weekend, as well as the infamous Survivor's Ceilidh! All events were back on one site, including sleeping, food and all the late night sessions. . The festival was attended by in excess of 1150 visitors, the most ever at any IVFDF.
2008 Sheffield. Bands and artists appearing were Glory Strokes, Vertical Expression, The Gloworms, Janiver, Triple Scotch. There was also a concert with Crucible, Spiers & Boden. There were over 1000 visitors to the festival.
In 2007 the venue moved up north to Edinburgh University from 2–4 March. Bands included Peeping Tom and John Dipper, Various demonstration dances including Scottish and a dance to the soundtrack of "The Sound of Music" and diverse workshops.
In 2006 it was held on 24 – 26 February by Cambridge University with a committee made up of students and ex-students belonging to the universities' three folk orientated societies. Because Cambridge does not have a single large students union building they hired a local school to accommodate the 1000+ attendees. Workshops held in various rooms, including the gym and sports hall, sessions in the library and common room, and sleeping in the maths classrooms. Lots of dance teams turned up, including Stone the Crows, Black Swan Rapper, and Pig Dyke Molly as well as the usual complement of university-based teams from all over the country.
1951, Leeds. This was the first festival, and at that time was not known as IVFDF
Mascots
Society mascots are considered by some to be a large part of the festival, and those which can be seen being carried around include Cuthbert, Hamish, Nessie, Floyd, Rustle, Don and Charlie. Mascot ransoming is now banned at IVFDF after several people sustained injuries at one festival.
ICBINI
I can't believe it's not IVFDF is a smaller annual spin-off festival held in November. The first ICBINI was held at Exeter in 2002. ICBINI is like the main festival in many respects in that it is held at a different location each year and hosted by student folk societies, however if a suitible host cannot be found then a festival is not held that year. The activities are similar to those at IVFDF. The 2019 festival is scheduled to take place in York.
