The 2025 Jasper Folk Music Festival marched into town on Friday, September 5. The two day festival was a weekend of whimsy and well-deserved respite for a community rebuilding after the July 2024 wildfire. The Jasper Local has this photographic report:
Totally tubular: On Friday, September 5, the charismatic characters who make up The Brasstastics piloted a parade of passionate participants from Jasper’s downtown to the festival grounds. JFMF 2025 was officially kickstarted.
Jasper’s Jumpin’ Joe Urie (captured here with festival director Cristin Murphy) was the weekend’s Métis Emcee, using his megaphone to get mega-laughs en route to the festivities and helping Friday’s parade safely tiptoe through the tourists.
After arrival on the hallowed festival grounds, floral patterns bloomed while excited attendees stretched their legs on Commemoration Park’s carpet of cool grass.
Festival goers set up camp under hazy skies, but no amount of smoke in atmosphere could dampen the stoke in the air.
The festival attracted mostly locals, but these attendees from Calgary were enjoying the sounds of Warrior Women’s drums (while protecting sensitive ear drums).
Jasper/Valemount creative and owner of Mountain Stek̓lép Theresa Westhaver has always marched to the beat of her own drum. She joined Warrior Women Matricia Bauer and Mackenzie Brown during their opening set.
Saturday afternoon’s Gospel Jam was dedicated to past JFMF volunteer, the late Carol Vien. Vien’s widower Larry was embraced by the JFMF committee while Sonia Deleo and The New Dads harmonized.
Westmore, from Gibbons, AB, laid down a smoky set, captivating the crowd with a bluesy, rootsy style that belied his 21-years-young.
Jasperites got cozy in their camp chairs and settled into a serene Saturday night.
In between sets was a good time for locals to catch up after a busy summer.
Figuring out which food truck(s) to patronize was a running dilemma all weekend.
After a year of putting the pieces back together, the 2025 festival went a long way in helping Jasperites find a pinch of peace.
The hula hooping was off the hook!
Bow Valley songstress Amelie Patterson had soothing sounds for her Rockies brethren. The Canmore-based artist expressed her gratitude for the surrounding scenery and the welcoming vibe she felt from Jasper.
The family-friendly festival allows parents to give just the right amount of rope to let their kids run free-range.
Lauren and Randy with Fallen Mountain Soap, and representing Loose Moose Trading Co., out of Grande Cache, were the fuzzy favourite for some festies.
The vendor lane offered a pleasant portal in which to shop for artisan crafts and jewelry.
Jasper moms keeping watch near the food trucks and the bouncy castles.
The 2025 festival lived up to the hoopla.
Much-anticipated artist Frazy Ford got the crowd to their feet with her soulful set.
The long and short of the festival was that Jasperites of all ages enjoyed the chance to get together.
Despite the warm evening, there was a snowball effect taking place on the dancefloor.
Not everyone was staying up late, however.
September in Jasper is festival season, which happens to coincide with the annual elk rut.
Getting hydrated before the Strumbellas strolled onstage.
Some stayed hydrated, others, thanks to the impressive beverage volunteers, stayed lubricated.
Festival goers wanted to preserve the moment.
Former Freewheel friends fraternizing in the foreground; Frazy Ford further afield.
Frazy turning a hazy day into a crazy night.
The Stumbellas capped off an incredible evening.
And special mention “goes out to the sunshine and the full moon for setting the stage just right,” according to The Jasper Folk Music Festival’s social media channels 
The true heroes, however, were the festival organizers. Thank you to the JFMF committee for your tireless work (photo missing Peggy Munn)!
Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
