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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
27 May 2025
Reply rate
90.5 %
Usually responds within 4 days
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3
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Details
Description
Hello!
We are a group of friends based in Ghent (Belgium), passionate about organising folk dance events on a non-profit basis. Folk is a warm, welcoming community where people of all ages come together to enjoy beautiful live music and dance — both in couples and in groups.
Each month, we host a folk dance evening in Ghent, and in February 2026, we’re excited to present the second edition of our Winter Folk Festival, following the great success of our first edition. This time, we’re expecting around 450 attendees, and we’d love your help to make it all happen!
Whether you’ve been part of the folk world for years or you’re just discovering it — you’ll be warmly welcomed. Volunteers will have opportunities to take part in dance workshops and initiations, but of course, you’re always free to join in as much or as little as you’d like — dancing is never mandatory.
🛠 When and how can you help?
We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help before, during, and after the festival.
- Accommodation: We can offer free group accommodation in Ghent from Tuesday, February 24th until Wednesday, March 4th, 2026.
- Build-up: Our setup period runs from Wednesday, February 25th to Friday, February 27th.
- Festival guests: Most attendees arrive on Friday evening (February 27th) and leave on Sunday evening (March 1st).
- Festival support: During the weekend, we’ll need help with logistics, welcoming guests, serving food, and general support.
- Break-down: We’ll spend Monday and Tuesday (March 2nd–3rd) cleaning up and packing down, and we’ll end with a cozy volunteer winter BBQ on the evening of Tuesday, March 3rd.
- Departure: Volunteers are welcome to leave on Wednesday, March 4th.
🕺 Monthly folk dance evenings
During our monthly dance evenings, we mostly rely on local volunteers, as we unfortunately cannot offer full accommodation for these smaller events. However, accommodation for one night can sometimes be arranged, so feel free to contact us if you’re nearby and want to come help!
You can always check our website to see when these monthly events are happening — and don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to lend a hand or join the dancing.
🌍 A vibrant, international experience
For our first festival, we had about 60 volunteers from Belgium and beyond, creating a fantastic mix of people and cultures. This year, we hope to build a similar team — and there’s still room for you!
You’ll have plenty of chances to meet local dancers and musicians, connect with other international guests, and truly dive into the heart of the folk culture.
There are also many other balfolk festivals in the region — in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Germany. If you're eager to discover more, one of them — in Leuven (March) — is even listed on Workaway.
❤️ Who are we looking for?
If you’re curious, open-minded, and enjoy lively, creative communities, you’ll feel right at home with us. Whether you're handy with tools, good at cooking, enjoy welcoming guests, or just want to contribute in your own way — we’d love to hear from you.
We can’t wait to meet you!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
DIY and building projects
Interests
Self development
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
LGBTQ
Events & social
Culture
Charity work
Cooking & food
Music
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Performing arts
Dancing
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will get to know the world of European BalFolk in its most intimate sense, 3 days of fun and true connection.
Help
We'll need all sorts of help, at the registry, taking care of artists, helping building up & taking down decorations.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
French: Intermediate
German: Beginner
Accommodation
We will or provide a sleeping space on field beds in a heated building relativly close to the festival or bedding in a hostel. More details will be available as 2026 comes closer.
What else ...
The festival is in the city of Ghent itself, so it is very reachable by public transport. In your free time you can enjoy the festival or the city itself.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (2)
I loved to stay over the weekend. I had my shifts but also enough free time. When something is happening you try to help each other. The ballhala festival where I volunteered was their first edition and I'm glad to saw that. In the beginning it was all a little bit chaotic but in the end I understood why.… read more
She helped us with our potluck ball in the month of May.
She was there early in the day to help us with the buildup & from the moment she arrived she was an absolute pleasure to have around.
Helping us with a large variety of tasks she was very quick with managing all the things given to… read more
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I loved to stay over the weekend. I had my shifts but also enough free time. When something is happening you try to help each other. The ballhala festival where I volunteered was their first edition and I'm glad to saw that. In the beginning it was all a little bit chaotic but in the end I understood why.… read more
She helped us with our potluck ball in the month of May.
She was there early in the day to help us with the buildup & from the moment she arrived she was an absolute pleasure to have around.
Helping us with a large variety of tasks she was very quick with managing all the things given to… read more
