GTCC students build skills behind the scenes at the North Carolina Folk Festival

The NC Folks Festival is a huge production, and over the years, it all falls into place with the help of GTCC students who help support lighting, audio, stage setup, and power distribution.

Sacia Smith has spent two summers learning that no festival day goes exactly as planned.

“It can be frustrating, confusing, but it’s also on yourself to learn how to adapt to your situation so you can finish effectively,” said Smith, an entertainment technology student at Guilford Technical Community College.

Smith is one of dozens of GTCC students who help bring the North Carolina Folk Festival to life each year.

Every September, over 135,000 people flock to downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, for the North Carolina Folk Festival. The festival runs for three days, bringing together artists and the community through music, performances, food, art, and shared experiences.

It's a huge production, and over the years, it all falls into place with the help of GTCC students from entertainment technology, mechatronics engineering, and electrical systems technology, who supported lighting, audio, stage setup, and power distribution.

Mark Dillon, a music instructor at GTCC, who has helped with the festival since its beginnings in Greensboro, said students and alumni have long been part of its production crews.

"Our students are on most of the stages," said Dillon. "Not because they're volunteering but because they are hired as professional employees, and that has been happening since the very beginning."

Sarah Roffman, director of operations for the North Carolina Folk Festival, shared that about 20 current and former GTCC students were on the stage and operations crew this year.

"GTCC students are making meaningful contributions and fortifying the labor force the festival activates during festival month," Roffman shared.

This year, electrical systems technology students joined the crews for the first time. Working with three experienced electricians, they helped meet the growing demand for power across the festival site, from stages to food trucks and vendor tents.

"We wanted electrical students so they already knew the basics of the science and safety of the trade, but could benefit from the new experience of working on a large-scale event,” Roffman said.

This year's expansion was also supported by a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, which aimed to bring more GTCC students into workforce development opportunities through the festival.

Sharon Egeonu is a GTCC alum who graduated from the mechatronics engineering technology program in May 2026. Egeonu helped coil cables on the street, make sure the stages were level, assemble and install equipment, string lights, and more.

"I didn't know I could use my engineering degree for something so fun," shared Egeonu. "This is the first time I've been involved with a community event, and I didn't know I could help bring a community together with my degree."

Edwin Gonzalez, a current electrical systems technology student, shared that sentiment.

"This experience was really fun," Gonzalez said. "I came here thinking it would be one thing, but we ended up doing more."

Gonzalez helped with cable work, connecting generators and spider boxes, running electricity to food trucks, and other electrical tasks. His experience at the festival has taught him valuable insight for his future career.

"I didn't know how to connect generators before this," said Gonzalez. "The electrician we are working under gave us some tips to learn and keep us safe."

For Smith, her days at the festival start as early as 8 a.m. and can run until 6 p.m., unloading equipment, wiring power and audio, and building stages.

The Folk Festival doesn't just give GTCC students hands-on experience; it helps them land jobs.

Smith shared that many of the people she's worked with at the festival have either graduated from GTCC or were affiliated with it at some point.

The festival also gives students opportunities to build professional relationships. Roffman, who recruits and hires crew members, has seen those connections help people take their next steps in the industry.

"Working the festival helps students gain experience and opens doors for them to connect with seasoned professionals," said Roffman. "We have seen many of our crew take advantage of the learning and networking available in just a few short days of the festival to leverage their next move personally and professionally."

“The festival is a fertile ground for collaborations both creatively and functionally,” Roffman said. “You never know who you’ll meet or what you will learn that can change the trajectory of your life.”

Some GTCC alumni have built lasting roles at the festival. Emma Galusha began on the stage crew in 2018 and has since grown into a role on the operations crew, gaining a broad command of what it takes to build the festival each year. Skye Boston has worked on the stage and audio load-in crew since 2019 and is requested by the audio team every year.

For Smith, it's more than just a job opportunity; it's a chance to sharpen her skills and gain confidence in her field.

"The skill I have picked up on the job that I'm most proud of is being more confident in knowing what I do, and being able to guide others into doing a good job and working efficiently," Smith said. "While I might not know everything in my field, I know how to work with people and how to communicate to get things done."