The 47th Annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival is set for Aug. 26-27 and it’s going to be hot both literally and figuratively! For nearly half a century, the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival has welcomed guests from around the country and beyond to the heart of Downtown Cary, North Carolina, for two days filled with art, live music and other entertainment and lots of food and beverages. Dating back to the event’s conception in 1977, this juried craft show celebrates the “Lazy Daze” of summer, taking place the last weekend of August and bringing together nearly 300 artists from 16 states across the U.S. Featuring a beer garden, numerous interactive art activities, a kid’s world area and demonstrations from professional craftsmen, Lazy Daze remains a top-rated contemporary crafts festival among the nation. For more information, visit carync.gov/lazydaze
I had the pleasure of being invited to this festival several years ago by the incomparable Kruger Brothers, who are MerleFest fan favorites for the uninitiated, and I fell in love with this festival. It’s mostly free, it’s intimate (I sat on the stage steps as Ricky Skaggs performed just a few feet away), it always has a great lineup (and this year is no exception) and it’s in a fantastic location (downtown Wilkesboro has a very Mayberry vibe). Trust me, you are going to want to add this festival to your fall music calendar!
From the good folks at Carolina in the Fall: Carolina in the Fall returns for our seventh festival in the Carolina West Community Commons in Downtown Wilkesboro, North Carolina, with our host band, The Kruger Brothers, for two days of great music, food, drink and community.
This year’s festival will be Sept. 22 and 23. Our lineup is headlined by Balsam Range, The Kruger Brothers, Woody Platt and Shannon Whitworth and John Cowan’s NewGrass Allstars. The lineup also includes Hank, Pattie & the Current, Alex Key, His & Hers, Presley Barker, Shay Martin Lovette, and returning international guests, Thurler-Mosimann Project.
We have made some significant changes to last years festival in an effort to simplify the festival experience and want to highlight those again. Here are the biggest changes to be aware of:
Carolina in the Fall is a mostly free festival. VIP tickets will be sold for reserved seating at the main stage. All seating behind the reserved and sponsor seating areas will be open and free to the public.
There will only be one stage this year. Managing four stages spread out across the downtown had become an overwhelming task and we wanted to bring the focus back to those artists who perform on our main stage each year. The Carolina Stage in the community commons is our one featured stage.
Music begins at 5 p.m. on Friday. After five years of watching our attendance, we’ve realized that most festival goers arrive after work on Friday. So, we’ve condensed our Friday lineup to begin when most folks can attend.
2023 Stage Schedule
Friday
5:00 – 5:45 – Presley Barker
6:00 – 6:45 – Alex Key
7:00 – 8:15 – Balsam Range
8:45 – 10:00 – The Kruger Brothers
Saturday
12:00 – 12:45 – Shay Martin Lovette
1:00 – 1:45 – His & Hers
2:00- 3:00 – Thurler-Mosimann Project
3:15 – 4:15 – Hank, Pattie & the Current
4:30 – 5:30 – John Cowan’s NewGrass AllStars
6:00 – 7:15 – Woody Platt & Shannon Whitworth
7:45 – 9:15 – The Kruger Brothers
Registration is also open for the 8th Annual Chad Lovette Memorial Trail Run at Cub Creek Park in Wilkesboro on Saturday, Sept. 23! Link to register below. Of course we will have our virtual option available for our friends and family who aren’t able to make it in person! We can’t wait to gather again with everyone to celebrate Chad and then head to Carolina In The Fall (Chad played at the inaugural festival). As always, all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society to contribute to the fight against cancer!
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival is an electrifying music experience that features the very best roots music. Held annually in September in historic downtown Bristol TN/VA, the three-day music is amped to the beat of Appalachia’s past, present, and future. The Festival digs down deep into the roots of the traditional Appalachian sound and lifts its branches to new heights. It all happens in the heart of the Birthplace of Country Music.
From the good folks at the Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival: Music lovers from all over the world flock to the Outer Banks for this tradition that adds a roster of acclaimed bands with one of the most beautiful venues anywhere. The Bluegrass Island Music Festival is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year, and this year’s event is no exception, with a number of regionally and internationally famous bands set to take the stage.
The festival is held in Manteo at the stunning Roanoke Island Festival Park, which overlooks miles of pristine sound waters. This unique 22-acre island becomes Bluegrass Island each year to host the event. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets and lodging well in advance as this event tends to fill up fast each year. If your dream vacation involves laying back in your most comfortable beach chair and listening to great music, then you’ll definitely want to set this long weekend aside for the Outer Banks most popular festival!
The North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival is set to return May 12 & 13, 2023, with headliners Steep Canyon Rangers, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway and 49 Winchesters.
The festival combines a number of N.C. breweries and an exciting music lineup in the idyllic setting of Historic Rural Hill. Kick back for two days, with or without camping, and join the fun on the farm.
WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA — MerleFest, presented by Window World, has just added another huge list of performers to its star-studded 2023 lineup, which includes headliners The Avett Brothers and Maren Morris.
Set for April 27-30, 2023, on the campus of Wilkes Community College, MerleFest attendees will have the chance to see boogie-rock masters Little Feat, next-generation guitar slinger Marcus King, living country music legend Tanya Tucker, Miko Marks’ blend of country, blues, southern rock and gospel and many more take to the festival’s multiple weekend stages.
In addition, the following bands and artists have ALSO been added to the MerleFest 2023 lineup: AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Alison Brown, Andy Cohen, Anna Lynch, Bee Taylor, Brothers Comatose, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, Cole Chaney, Compton & Newberry, Dom Flemons, I Draw Slow, Lightnin’ Wells, The Local Honeys, Nigel Wearne, Stillhouse Junkies, Taylor Rae, Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive, Todd Albright, Tommy Prine, Yasmin Williams and The Youngers.
These newly-added artists will join MerleFest’s previously announced lineup: The Avett Brothers, Maren Morris, Black Opry Revue, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan, Andy May, Banknotes, Carol Rifkin, Charles Welch, Donna the Buffalo, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, Jim Lauderdale, Joe Smothers, Kruger Brothers, Laura Boosinger, The Local Boys, Mark Bumgarner, Mitch Greenhill & Mitch’s Kitchen, Pete & Joan Wernick, Presley Barker, Roy Book Binder, Scythian, T. Michael Coleman, The InterACTive Theater of Jef, The Waybacks, Tony Williamson and Wayne Henderson.
2023 marks MerleFest’s 35th festival and will honor Doc Watson’s 100th birthday year. To celebrate the historic milestone event, organizers intend to feature MerleFest’s unique history and present unique collaborations to honor the festival’s founding folk icon. From the flatbed trailer stage at the 1988 Eddy Merle Watson Memorial Festival to today, and looking into the future, MerleFest will continue to draw fans from all over the world to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains each spring to make music, moments and memories together.
Want to be a vendor or volunteer? Sign up at MerleFest.org, which is where you can also buy tickets. Just a friendly reminder: The last day ticket orders will be mailed before the holiday break will be Dec. 20. Shipping tickets will resume on Jan. 3, 2023.
Tickets on sale and volunteer opportunities are available
WILKESBORO, N.C. — It’s the most wonderful time of the year … and I’m not talking about the upcoming holidays. Instead, this is the season for finding out who will be performing at next year’s live music festivals and this week’s initial 35th edition of MerleFest‘s lineup announcement for April 27-30, 2023, did not disappoint.
Country music sensation Maren Morris is set to make her MerleFest debut on the campus of Wilkes Community College on Saturday along with the Black Opry Revue who will hit the stage on Friday. And the wildly popular North Carolina natives The Avett Brothers, who first performed at MerleFest in 2004 and are one of the most requested performers in the festival’s history, are set to return on Friday at the festival, which will also honor Doc Watson’s 100th birthday year.
To celebrate the historic milestone event, organizers intend to feature MerleFest’s unique history and present unique collaborations to honor the festival’s founding folk icon. From the flatbed trailer stage at the 1988 Eddy Merle Watson Memorial Festival to today, and looking into the future, MerleFest, which has served as the unofficial kickoff of the annual outdoor festival season, is an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans. Since its inception, the festival has drawn fans from all over the world to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains each spring to make music, moments and memories together.
Also joining the lineup, will be award-winning MerleFest veterans Sam Bush,Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan, Jim Lauderdale and Scythian, in addition to many, many more including:
WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA — MerleFest, presented by Window World, is planning a 35th celebration on April 27-30, 2023, and a 100th heavenly birthday celebration for Doc Watson.
MerleFest started in 1988 as a fundraiser for the Garden of the Senses on Wilkes Community College to memorialize world-renowned flat picker Eddy Merle Watson, Doc Watson’s son. In keeping with the MerleFest traditions, 2023 will offer jams honoring MerleFest’s past, present and future.
The celebration also aligns with the late Doc Watson’s 100th heavenly birthday. The festival plans to celebrate the life of Doc Watson and the history of MerleFest both visually and musically through vintage videos and artist collaborations.
MerleFest, an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans, occurs on the campus of Wilkes Community College.
Volunteers may choose to work a specific number of days or the entire four-day festival. In exchange for working a four-hour shift, volunteers will receive free entry into the festival for that day, free volunteer parking and shuttle, and a 10% discount on camping at the River’s Edge Campground.
We will begin accepting online applications for its popular volunteer program on Oct. 1. Those who are interested in volunteering can apply online at www.merlefest.org/volunteer.
Additional information about MerleFest 2023 can be found at www.merlefest.org.
Enjoy a fun night out in Downtown Cary with your significant other, a group of friends, or flying solo. Each Park After Dark features unique food from local vendors and entertainment! The concert runs from 7 to 9 p.m. and is free. It will be held on the site of the former library across the street from The Cotton House Craft Brewery.
Nik Parr’s original music is a high-energy piano-driven rock n’ roll endeavor with strong soul, funk and blues influences. Parr’s band is built around his piano playing and singing, with an ear for catchy, danceable and widely appealing new songs. The show is made even more unique, as Nik switches seamlessly from the saxophone to the piano in between singing, working the crowd, and directing his band.
Food Vendors
Items Allowed
Outside food and beverages are allowed. Outside alcohol is not allowed.
A limited selection of free, low-level lawn chairs will be available. Personal lawn chairs are allowed.
Parking
Multiple parking areas are available, including the Cary Arts Center (101 Dry Ave.), the downtown parking deck (113 Walnut St.) and parallel parking along S. Academy St. Please mind all parking signs if parking in private lots.
We couldn’t be more pleased to have world renowned bluegrass artists Lonesome River Band join us this year! They perfectly round out the Front Porch Fest 13 musical lineup, alongside many other amazing artists. You can find out more about the full lineup here!This may the final lineup announcement, but stay tuned to your inbox and FPF social media outlets for additional information and updates!
The 13th annual Front Porch Fest will be held at Spirithaven Farm on Labor Day weekend, September 1- 4, 2022. We are proud to offer a wide range of talented local, regional, and national music acts; children’s activities; vendors, merchandise, and more. Front Porch Fest provides fun for the entire family while raising money and awareness for local community organizations and charities. It is produced by One Family Productions and presented by Patrick County, Virginia.
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
4-Day General Admission (Tier 3): $140 Ticket includes access to the event for one person, Thursday-Sunday. Tent camping is included with ticket. Parking must be purchased separately online or at the gate.
4 Day VIP: $300 [GOING FAST!] VIP ticketholders receive homemade meals, continental breakfasts, beer tickets (must be 21), and a swag bag to include: Front Porch Fest branded merchandise, FPF merch shack discounts, vendor coupons, and sponsor provided swag. The VIP lounge features special performances, free pour hours and free specialty food events.
A VIP ticket includes premium VIP only camping (first come first serve) & standard parking. If you are interested in car camping or bringing an RV, those tickets must be purchased separately.
Car Camping: $60 [SOLD OUT] Car Camping tickets include access to a 20×20 space for 1 car, 1 tent, and 1 10×10 canopy. Limited quantities available.RV Pass: $120 [LOW TICKET WARNING] RV Tickets include access for one RV/Pull Behind Camper up to 30 feet. Each RV space will accommodate room for one vehicle.
Parking: $10 All General Admission and Single Day ticket holders must purchase a parking pass (one pass per vehicle – carpooling is encouraged!). This pass grants parking on-site, just a short walk to the festival grounds.
The festival is a family friendly event and children 12 and under are free! Please add (1) 4 Day GA (Child 12 and under) ticket to your order per little one!
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