Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

The Philadelphia Folk Festival is about more than just the music. Even with a lineup that included everyone from legends like Patty Griffin and David Bromberg to newer names like Valerie June to Philly locals like Kuf Knotz and Matt Santry — and a long list of others — the essence of the festival cannot be summed up by the artists that were there or the songs that were sung, but rather by the sense of community and excitement that has been filling the rural setting of Upper Salford Township, Pennsylvania each August for 57 years.

Thankfully, photographer Lisa Schaffer was there to capture it all. In her photos below, you’ll see how all ages of music lovers came together once again to celebrate, one generation passing their love of music to the next, and the next, and the next. Musicians took the stage with their guitars, saxophones, accordions, and every other imaginable instrument while folks lounged in hammocks, children danced, and music and laughter filled the air. See the sights below.

Alexis P. Suter Band at Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Arts and crafts at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Wynonna & The Big Noise at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Register now for XPN’s 5k Run! | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

XPN volunteers at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Vanessa Collier Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Vanessa Collier Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Kids Corner favorite Trout Fishing in America at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Toronza Cannon at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Tin Bird Choir at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Tempest at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Tempest at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Talisk at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Talisk at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Skerryvore at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Riders in the Sky at Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Christine Elise at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Riders in the Sky at Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Porter & Sayles at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Porter & Sayles with XPN’s Helen Leicht at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Ministers of Sound at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Midwestern Exposure at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Matt Santry at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Matt Santry and Helen Leicht at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Kuf Knotz at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Kuf Knotz at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise with Helen Leicht at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Michael Doucet at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Kicking Down Doors at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Johnny Shortcake at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

John Byrne at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

John Beacher at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Jason Reed Band at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Helen Leicht with Jason Reed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Tin Bird Choir’s Heather Hurlock at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Andy Braunfeld and Christine Lavin at the Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival | photo by Lisa Schaffer | SkylerBug.com