The 2019 National Folk Festival, which wrapped up Monday, came as close as possible to its signature motto, with hundreds of people "finding their folk" under brilliant Canberra autumn skies.

Festival director Pam Merrigan said the latest instalment of the 53-year-old institution had been the best yet, with 22 international acts performing alongside local favourites, 1980s stalwarts and fledgling musicians.

"International artists love the way we run it - it's a really inclusive, almost community-based event and they start to feel part of our 'perfect world'," she said.

"We like to say that we provide five days in a perfect world, and they come here to be part of that. We don't put them backstage, they're in among the crowds."

Internationally renowned singer Afro Moses, from Ghana, had spent three days at the event.

"It is one of the greatest festivals. I've been to many countries and festivals and this one, it's like a global village with different people," he said.

Others, like Canberra university students Dean Arvonen, Hannah van Boxsel and Emma Lormier, had spent parts of the past five days volunteering at different festival bars.

Ms van Boxsel said the 20 hours of work all up had earned them free entry and camping.

"Four hours of work a day was totally worth it," she said.

Ms Merrigan said while it was too early to confirm audience numbers, ticket sales had remained steady over the past few years, and the event - held in Canberra every Easter - had an equally steady future.

"My thing is, if I can get people here, I know they'll come back, because what we do is very diverse," she said.

"Folk is diverse, so don't be put off by the word. It's the name we started with back in 1967, and that's who we are, that's what we do, and we do it pretty well, I think.

"We do provide a wonderful alternative to mainstream or commercial music.

"I think our point of difference is that we are connecting our audience in really interesting ways with the artists who come on board."

She said one of her favourite sights was seeing people grow melancholy as the festival came to an end.

"People cry when they leave, particularly the regulars," she said.

"They might be coming from South Australia and they've got friends they've made who come from Queensland, and this is the only time of the year that they come together.

"We are very much a community of people who come together once a year."