The Kent State Folk Festival was started in the 1967/1968 by a group of Kent State University students. It was produced by student groups until the Kent State Student Senate voted to defund the activity and WKSU-FM assumed control of the event in 2000. Throughout its history, the make up of festival programming changed from local musicians and groups representing ethnic heritage to national touring acts. The theme was consistently tied to folk and roots music and the festival included workshops on folk music and dance along with concert performances.