Defying economic gloom, more than 50,000 people of all ages streamed through the gates of the National Folk Festival over Easter, matching last year's numbers.

Festival managing director Jared Wilkins said the numbers were ''right on the money''.

Mr Wilkins said, ''Our community has realised that the festival is great value and there's something for the entire family, it's not just limited to mum or dad or the teenage kids.''

Still, there were some ''teenage kids'' kids floating around.

Asha Forsyth, 16, comes to the festival each year with her friends, all from Sydney's northern beaches.

With her friends Asha volunteers as a ''mug juggler'', collecting and washing green mugs to be redistributed to the festival's food stalls.

As volunteers they get free festival entry and camping and meal vouchers.

A little bit of rain means camping can get uncomfortable at times although as veterans they now know to avoid areas where it tends to flood.

Asha says the festival is different from others she and her friends go to.

''You get to meet so many people of different ages, not just teenagers, and as a volunteer you also meet other volunteers,'' she said.

Her friend Helen Sinclair, 17, was impressed by the diversity of music.

''You come away really inspired, like, I really want to learn the guitar now.''

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