The 49th annual Folk Festival is in the books, and one of the headline acts from this year is hoping that the festival can return for its 50th.

People flocked to Bannerman Park over the weekend for the event, but many did so with a sense that this could be the festival’s swan song given some significant financial challenges for the Folk Arts Society.

Headliner Serena Ryder says it is “impossible” to think that the festival won’t continue, and she is choosing not to believe it.

“I think it would be just the saddest thing in the world to not have this festival around.” Ryder says she has played folk festivals all over the world and always had a great time in St. John’s. She wants to see the festival keep going.