Of all the endless ways to spend leisure time and travel, an almost-universal crowd pleaser is listening to music. Indoor or outdoor, music festivals offer the public plenty of room to roam and discover new acts. Whereas the pop music of FM airwaves can be heard almost anywhere in the world, the countries and regions of Europe have sounds more uniquely their own. A festival with a lineup described as “folk” is a good bet for stumbling upon acts with sounds that give away their regional roots.

Dublin, Ireland: At the end of January each year, Dublin’s premier entertainment and nightlife district becomes a showcase for traditional Irish and folk music. Since its launch nearly two decades ago, TradFest Temple Bar has brought dozens of the Irish folk world’s biggest names to the stage during a traditionally slow travel time of the year. A loose interpretation as to just what constitutes folk music allows for outside influences from rock to rap to join the programming.

From Jan. 24-28, the streets and pubs of the Temple Bar district will once again spring to life as acclaimed and aspiring artists play for an always-enthusiastic public. Another feature of the festival is its use of venues outside the district from cathedrals to stadiums to City Hall. This year’s lineup features more than 50 concerts set in venues including Malehide Castle and the Collins Barracks of the National Museum of Ireland. Tickets to individual concerts can be booked online in advance at reasonable prices: entry to the opening concert at Dublin Castle with live performances and interviews headline acts including Stockton’s Wing, Yankari, Strange Boy, Indeceltic and others go for just 9.99 euros. Online: tradfest.com

Rudolstadt, Germany: On the first full weekend of July each year, the small town of Rudolstadt in the state of Thuringia welcomes tens of thousands of visitors who flock there to attend a folk, roots and world music festival of almost unfathomable dimension. For four days, acts from all corners of the globe play across stages set up in the city center, market square, parks and castle grounds. In a typical year, some 300 concerts take place across 30 stages. Performances are given by artists representing some 40 countries, including one nation chosen as that particular edition’s special guest. The artists from that country perform styles of music across the board. There’s also a featured style of dance put under the spotlight. Other unique features of the festival include workshops devoted to each year’s selected dance style, buskers performing on the city streets, the presence of instrument makers and a two-day children’s festival. Last year, the price for a combi-ticket to all days of the festival and a camping spot came in at 150 euros plus fees. The 2024 edition of the festival runs July 4-7. As festival tickets often sell out, it may be wise to book as soon as they become available on or around Feb. 1. Online: rudolstadt-festival.de

Brussels, Belgium: The Brosella Festival is a weekend-long celebration of not just folk music but also many jazz and ethno acts. Slated for July 6-7 in 2024, this annual cornucopia of sound is served up beneath the trees of the lush and spacious Osseghem Park found at the foot of the Atonium. A standing feature of the city’s longest-running festival is its booking of both famous acts and on-the-rise hopefuls. The children’s corner provides young attendees with age-appropriate concerts alongside dance, games and hands-on activities. The festival sets its prices in a democratic fashion, allowing would-be attendees to decide for themselves how much they can afford to pay for a ticket. Early-bird tickets purchased at the lowest possible price came in at 12 euros in 2023. Children under 12 enter the festival for free. Online: brosellafestival.be

Cambridge, England: First held in 1965, the Cambridge Folk Festival counts as one of the longest-running folk festivals in the world. Known and loved for its eclectic programming, the festival pairs folk artists from around the UK and Ireland with contemporary acts, American country legends, singer-songwriters, famous names and rising stars. Cherry Hinton Hall Park, the setting for the festival, feels a million miles from the city yet is only a 15-minute drive away from Cambridge’s bustling city center. A decade ago, a special stage referred to as The Den was created to give artists under the age of 30 a chance to present their music, opening up the festival to a new generation of performers. Festival-goers can also enjoy activities running the gamut from instrument making to willow sculpture, knitting, songwriting, drawing, storytelling and tai chi. The festival unfolds July 25-28, and tickets are already available. The cost of an adult festival pass in 2024 comes in at 230 UK pounds (about $294) plus fees. Online: cambridgelive.org.uk/folk-festival

Krakow, Poland: A stunningly beautiful medieval backdrop is the icing on the cake of the EtnoKrakow/Crossroads Festival, a showcase of stars and rising talents of the Polish and international ethno and world music scene. Festival organizers place an emphasis on fostering endangered traditions and supporting initiatives that create an atmosphere of tolerance, integration and intercultural dialogue through art and music. A range of workshops familiarizes attendees with the musical cultures of the world. Performances range from intimate chamber concerts to lively open-air parties. While exact dates for the 2024 edition have yet to be announced, the festival usually takes place over four days during the first week of July. Online: etnokrakow.pl