Firetrucks!.
Inside the Firehouse: Skills, Stories, and Service — celebrating 100 years of Greensboro firefighters
In partnership with the Greensboro Fire Department and the Greensboro History Museum
Celebrate the Greensboro Fire Department's 100th anniversary through a special interactive experience presented by the Greensboro Fire Department, the North Carolina Folklife Institute, and the North Carolina Folk Festival. On Saturday and Sunday of the NC Folk Fest, festival-goers are invited to step inside the world of Greensboro firefighters through live demonstrations, conversations, stories, and hands-on activities that explore the skills, traditions, and experiences that shape life in the fire service. Watch firefighters demonstrate specialized rescue techniques and equipment, hear personal stories and reflections from firefighters, and explore fire and life safety activities designed for all ages. Together, these programs offer a unique look at the people behind the profession and the role firefighters have played in Greensboro for the past century.
Firetrucks!
Occupational folklife explores the traditions, skills, stories, and cultural practices tied to specific professions, highlighting how work shapes community identity and preserves specialized knowledge across generations. Visitors will gain insight into both the practical skills and the cultural traditions that make firefighting an enduring part of Greensboro's history.
Highlights
Skills in Action - Firefighter Demonstrations
See the training, teamwork, and technical expertise that firefighters rely on every day. Greensboro firefighters will present live demonstrations showcasing specialized equipment, rescue techniques, and the practical skills developed through years of training and experience. These interactive presentations offer a rare opportunity to see the craft of firefighting up close while learning how firefighters prepare for the challenges of protecting their community.
Firehouse Stories Stage
Go beyond the emergency call and discover the human side of the fire service. Through facilitated conversations with current and retired Greensboro firefighters, the Firehouse Stories Stage explores personal experiences, memorable moments, workplace traditions, mentorship, public service, and the evolving culture of the firehouse. These engaging discussions provide a unique opportunity to hear directly from the people who have shaped Greensboro Fire Department's first century. The Firehouse Stories Stage presentations are supported in part by North Carolina Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Fire & Life Safety Zone
Meet Greensboro firefighters, explore emergency vehicles and equipment, and learn practical fire and life safety skills for home and family. Designed for visitors of all ages, this interactive area offers hands-on activities, safety education, and opportunities to connect directly with the firefighters who serve Greensboro every day.
Saturday, September 19
A Shift · Area open 11:30am – 10pm
Skills in Action Demonstrations
- 1 – 1:45pm
- Vehicle Rescue Demonstration
- 3 – 3:45pm
- Hazardous Materials Response
- 5 – 5:45pm
- Firefighter Skills Relay
- 5:45 – 6:15pm
- Church Raise
- 6:15 – 6:45pm
- Forcible Entry Challenge
- 6:45 – 7:15pm
- Technical Rope Rescue
Firehouse Stories Stage
- 12 – 12:45pm
- Firehouse Foodways: Around the Kitchen Table
- 2 – 2:45pm
- Healthy Firefighters, Strong Communities
- 4 – 4:45pm
- “Best Job in the World”
Fire & Life Safety Zone
- 12pm – 7pm
- Fire & Life Safety Zone Continuous — drop in any time.
Sunday, September 20
B Shift · Area open 12:30pm – 8pm
Skills in Action Demonstrations
- 1:30 – 2:15pm
- Vehicle Rescue Demonstration
- 3:30 – 4pm
- Firefighter Skills Relay
- 4 – 4:30pm
- Church Raise
- 4:30 – 5pm
- Forcible Entry Challenge
Firehouse Stories Stage
- 12:30 – 1:15pm
- Women in the Greensboro Fire Department
- 2:30 – 3:15pm
- Life Between the Calls
Fire & Life Safety Zone
- 12:30pm – 5pm
- Fire & Life Safety Zone Continuous — drop in any time.