Listen up: The 22nd rendition of the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance held in the bucolic, rolling hills of Chatham County, North Carolina, just a short drive from Raleigh or Greensboro, is set for May 7-10, 2026.
Headliners for this year’s event, hosted by festival founders Donna the Buffalo, include returning acts Rising Appalachia, Chatham Rabbits and Jim Lauderdale, among many others.
Holiday Ticket Special through January 19 4-Day Admission = $139* 4-Day Youth (13-15) Admission = $72* *PLUS APPLICABLE FEES
The wait is over! The good folks at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival have announced the lineup for the 2026 rendition of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival set for June 18-21 and it doesn’t disappoint!
Still looking for a place to stay?
There may still be a couple of Town Park camping, Warner Field camping and even some vehicle passes at shop.bluegrass.com but don’t delay if you want one or more of these coveted spots because they are sure to go fast!
Plus, be sure to check out the lodging guide for insider tips and exclusive lodging discounts! And don’t forget about Titus Adventure Co., which is offering vehicle pass bundles that include the camper itself! Purchase of a Titus bundle guarantees a vehicle camping pass! It’s the perfect way to experience Telluride – no Sprinter van ownership required!
Official award announcement for Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine’s 16th annual “Best of the Blue Ridge” Awards
Wondering what the top trails are in the Blue Ridge region? Or which music festival is the best? Well, the readers of Blue Ridge Outdoors have spoken.
Last October, the publication’s readers nominated their favorite outdoor businesses, events, food/drinks, and destinations in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, and then voted to pick the top winners. This year the magazine received over 200,000 total votes in 51 categories.
“We are touched that so many businesses and attractions in Brevard and Transylvania County have been recognized with annual Best of the Blue Ridge awards by the readers of Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine,” ransylvania County Tourism Executive Director Clark Lovelace told the magazine. “From Sliding Rock to Pisgah Climbing School to Davidson River Outfitters to DD Bullwinkel’s Outdoors, and more, it is a testament to the incredible outdoor paradise and friendly faces that we have in our community. We invite and welcome all to experience the magic of our destination.”
The Best of the Blue Ridge awards are the most well-known outdoor awards in the Southeast. The winners each receive a winner seal to place in their windows and on digital and printed materials.
Blue Ridge Outdoors would like to thank everyone who participated in the nomination and voting processes for this year’s contest, and give congratulations to all winners, runners-up, and nominees.
Best Music Festival Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival, Martinsville, Va. Great line-ups and intimate, tight-knit vibes characterize this enduring jam-friendly fest held every t Memorial Day weekend at the scenic Pop’s Farm in Martinsville, Va. Organizers already announced this year’s roster of bands, so get ready for sets from Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Mountain Grass Unit, Eggy, and moe. – J.F.
Runners Up FloydFest – Festival Park, Va. DelFest – Cumberland, Md. (tie) Red Wing Roots Music Festival – Mt. Solon, Va. (tie)
Events & Races
Best Family Friendly Festival Front Porch Fest – Stuart, Va. Front Porch Fest started as a low-key gathering for family and friends, and it maintains that atmosphere when it takes place every year at the scenic Spirithaven Farm in the Blue Ridge foothills of Patrick County, Va. But while the event keep its downhome vibe, it attracts top regional artists in jam, roots, and bluegrass music like Larry Keel and Big Daddy Love. Look out for this year’s lineup in the coming months. – J.F.
Runners Up Go Outside Festival – Roanoke, Va. Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance – Pittsboro, N.C.
Best Unique Festival LEAF Global Arts Retreat – Black Mountain, N.C. LEAF Global Arts Retreat is an eclectic spring festival in the mountains of western North Carolina that blends a diverse roster of roots music acts from around the world with a variety of healing arts and cultural workshops, all taking place on the scenic grounds of Lake Eden. Acts at last year’s event ranged from Appalachian tunesmith Tyler Ramsey to New Orleans funk band Dumpstaphunk to the traditional Ugandan artist Chinobay. Look for this year’s dates and line-up to be announced soon. – J.F.
Runners Up Appalachian Trail Days Festival – Damascus, Va. Highland County Maple Festival – Monterey, Va.
About Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine
For 30 years, Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine has been the definitive guide to all things outdoors in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Distributed from Pennsylvania to Georgia, the publication’s award-winning writers cover the region’s best destinations for adventure, as well as the latest outdoor recreation trends, gear, and culture.
ROMP Festival 2026 is an annual bluegrass & roots music celebration set for June 24-27 in Owensboro, Kentucky. Hosted by the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the festival is renowned for its vibrant community atmosphere, exceptional music lineup, and dedication to preserving the rich legacy of bluegrass music.
And this year’s lineup is impressive! Headliners include I’m With Her, The Punch Brothers, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, the Del McCoury Band, the Infamous Stringdusters, Rhonda Vincent and more! I personally am super excited to see North Carolina natives Mason Via and Trey Hensley rounding out the lineup.
Ticket prices for ROMP Festival 2026 will increase at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2026! If you’ve been thinking about attending the festival next year, it’s the perfect time to secure your spot at the best price. Visit the website for more information at https://www.rompfest.com/
A pair of special performances are also set for the Saturday night: a performance led and curated by Kesha dubbed “Superjâm Esoteríca: The Alchemy of Pop” and a “Weird Al” Yankovic show titled Bigger & Weirder Roovue. Others on the bill include Geese, Turnstile, Four Tet, Modest Mouse, Clipse, Alabama Shakes, Teddy Swims, the Neighbourhood, Role Model, Vince Staples, and Blood Orange. The festival is held at the Bonnaroo Farm in Manchester, Tennessee.
Also on the bill are Griz, Japanese Breakfast, Wednesday, Wet Leg, Smino, Zack Fox, the Dare, Rachel Chinouriri, Passion Pit, Amyl and the Sniffers, Osees, Snow Strippers, Freddie Gibbs & the Alchemist, Major Lazer, Yungblud, Fcukers, Holly Humberstone, Boys Noize, Confidence Man, Lil Jon, Mt. Joy, and Yungblud, among others.
On Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m. head to the Red Wing website to secure your tickets and camping for Red Wing XIII.
Three-day General Admission Tickets Launch begins with Early Bird Tickets at $154. When they sell out, Tier 2 Tickets $164 will automatically open. As a family-friendly event,Teens ($104) + Kids/6-12yos ($39) +Kids 5 & under (free) will also be up for grabs!
Camping? You have options! From No Frills to Glamping and everything in between, Red Wing Camping is a favorite festival tradition! Some options sell fast — plan ahead, purchase early and have a backup ready so you don’t miss out!
Chimney Ridge Camping (2 options) — starting at $129 RW Glamping(3 options) — starting at $1,199 + add A/C or additional cots! Z-Lot Dry-RV(3 options) — starting at $279 SuperGroup Site — $3,200 Premium RV Site — $945 No Frills Tent Site— $89
Nestled in the rugged San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, set forJune 18-21, 2026, is not only an iconic representation of all kinds of music, but a place of awe inspiring beauty; somewhere you can dance under the sun (and rain) and embrace your truest self. The 2026 lineup is yet to be announced but Telluride Bluegrass tickets go on sale Dec. 11 at shop.bluegrass.com and they are sure to sell out quickly!
MerleFest, presented by Window World, has unveiled lineup details in a press release for its 2026 event, taking place over four unforgettable days from April 23–26 on the campus of Wilkes Community College.
Fourteen-time GRAMMY winners Alison Krauss & Union Station will mark their long-awaited return to the MerleFest stage since their Sunday night closing appearance at the festival’s 25th celebration.
Also making a comeback are Old Crow Medicine Show, a longtime festival favorite whose ties to its founding legend Doc Watson trace back to the turn of the millennium. The revelrous string ensemble will also play host to this year’s Late Night Jam –– a beloved MerleFest tradition that was revived last year after a brief hiatus. Also on the bill are golden-voiced West Virginia singer/songwriter Charles Wesley Godwin, hard-driving Southern rock stalwarts Blackberry Smoke, decorated flatpicker and vocalist Molly Tuttle, along with Old Crow Medicine Show frontman Ketch Secor, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Creekers, Trey Hensley, and many more. Additional acts will be announced in December, organizers say.
Each year, MerleFest honors the legacy of North Carolina music legend Doc Watson while celebrating and uplifting the next generation of talent. Its “traditional plus” framework invites curiosity and exploration among performers and attendees alike, creating a festival experience that is always fresh while preserving the soul of what makes MerleFest such a cherished annual tradition. One can’t-miss experience this year is the Saturday night Late Night Jam, hosted by Old Crow Medicine Show. This separately-ticketed, after-hours event is the ideal nightcap for those looking to witness a night of groundbreaking, “only at MerleFest” collaborations. Visit merlefest.org/purchase for details and to stay tuned for guest announcements.
MerleFest 2026 will also welcome Sam Bush, The Jerry Douglas Band, Peter Rowan & The Walls of Time Band, Sister Sadie, Jake Shimabukuro, Hogslop String Band, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Dom Flemons & The Traveling Wildfires, Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Melissa Carper, Leon Timbo & The Family Band, DUG, Scythian, Donna The Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Kruger Brothers, The Waybacks, Amelia Day, Andy May, Banknotes, Carol Rifkin, Charles Welch, The InterACTive Theatre of Jef, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, Joe Smothers, The Knackered Ramblers, Laura Boosinger, The Local Boys, Mark Bumgarner, Mitch Greenhill & Mitch’s Kitchen, Pete & Joan Wernick, Presley Barker, Roy Book Binder, T. Michael Coleman, Tony Williamson and Wayne Henderson, with additional artists to be announced in the coming weeks.
The WCC Foundation is thrilled to continue the Silent Auction this year, featuring the convenience of online bidding and the chance to view items in person throughout the festival. You can browse and place bids before and during the festival — all without missing a beat of the music. This year’s auction will showcase an even greater variety of distinctive, high-quality items, and the 50/50 Raffle is back for another exciting year! Proceeds support the SAGE (Supporting Academic Goals for Education) First Year Experience program, empowering students to start strong and achieve their goals. Stay tuned for more details at merlefest.org/silent-auction.
MerleFest 2026 tickets are available now. For general admission passes, as well as covered patio seating, reserved seating, camping, parking, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase.
MerleFest volunteer applications are now open. As a volunteer, participants will receive free entry to the festival for the entire day of their shift, free parking and shuttle, and 10% off camping at River’s Edge Campground. Most importantly, volunteers will be supporting a major fundraiser for Wilkes Community College. Please visit merlefest.org/volunteer to sign up before the April 15 deadline.
Apply to be a MerleFest vendor! Vendors are carefully selected to provide a variety of quality and unique goods for every MerleFest fan. Included in the vendor fee is the cost of your tent, tent setup, fire extinguisher, gutters, table, chairs, lightbulb for night time illumination, on-campus security, as well as general admission passes for the entire festival and one on-campus parking pass. Simply put, it’s a great deal! Please visit merlefest.org/vendors to apply now before the application window closes on Jan. 15.
Apply to be a MerleFest food vendor! MerleFest is looking for a few select non-profit organizations to fill availability in the main food tent! If your civic organization or local non-profit has food service experience and would like to participate, please visit merlefest.org/vendors to apply. The application window closes on Dec. 1.
Apply to be a food truck vendor! MerleFest is accepting applications for food trucks. A limited number of food trucks will be featured in the Shoppes at MerleFest. These vendors will be carefully selected in order to bring only the best offerings and service to our fans. Please visit merlefest.org/vendors to apply now before the application window closes on Dec. 1.
Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival has announced the artist lineup for the 16th annual rendition on May 21-24, 2026, of one of my favorite festivals!
Returning to bucolic Pop’s Farm just outside Martinsville, Virginia, festival organizers have expanded the previously announced lineup to more than 45 performers, including headliner St. Paul & The Broken Bones.
Other new arrivals among the many jam scene favorites scheduled to perform across Roaster Walk’s six stages include Kitchen Dwellers. Keller Williams, Maggie Rose, Dumpstaphunk, Shadowgrass, Clay Street Unit and Dizgo. This intergenerational group of artists will join the performers confirmed with the festival’s initial lineup announcement in October, including Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Mountain Grass Unit, Eggy, John Brown’s Body, Yarn, Holy Roller Music, Caitlin Krisko and the Broadcast, Tan & Sober Gentlemen and Isaac Hadden.
In keeping with its founding mission, proceeds from the 2026 Rooster Walk will go to a range of regional and local charities, including the Penn-Shank Memorial Scholarship Fund – a college scholarship fund that spurred the festival’s inaugural presentation and remains at its heart. Rooster Walk has raised more than $378,000 for its charitable partners since its founding.
Tickets for Rooster Walk 16 are available now. Learn more at roosterwalk.com
Organizers for the WinterWonderGrass Festival have unveiled the lineup for the festival’s return to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, from Feb. 27 to March 1, 2026.
The 13th annual festival will feature performances from 30 celebrated acts, including Americana fusion trio The Devil Makes Three, two-decade progressive bluegrass trailblazers The Infamous Stringdusters and Leftover Salmon, the Colorado-native jam legends and returning festival favorites.
WinterWonderGrass’ stacked bill highlights some of today’s most inventive folk, bluegrass, jamgrass, Americana and roots performers, including Colorado’s own “transcendental folk” troupe Elephant Revival, Nashville-based axeman and company Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, acclaimed singer-songwriter and mandolin master Sierra Hull, among many others. The 2026 artists in residence will be Andy Frasco, AJ Lee, Tyree Woods and Lindsay Lou, the latter of whom also held the role in 2025.
In keeping with its longtime custom, WinterWonderGrass will return with two core surprise-packed supergroup performances: WinterWonderWomen and Pickin’ On The Dead, led by Dark Star Orchestra’s Rob Eaton. Other standouts booked for the three-day celebration include Mountain Grass Unit, Moontricks, Clay Street Unit and Chaparelle.
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