Malpassfest promises to be a fun-filled weekend of incredible music, band meet-and-greets, camping, great food and shopping—all right on site. Three-day passes are only $100 through April 24. It’s a festival with something the whole family will enjoy! Don’t miss your chance to see the headliners,The Malpass Brothers, and catch other amazing performances from Riders In The Sky, The Grascals, The Kody Norris Show, Sister Sadie, and many more stellar acts. There will also be a jam session with The Malpass Brothers on Thursday and Friday nights beginning at 10:30 p.m. For tickets, camping information, and all the details, visit this link: https://dentonfarmpark.com/bluegrass-festival/
The countdown is officially underway as MerleFest, presented by Window World, makes final preparations for its 38th annual festival taking place April 23-26, 2026, on the campus of Wilkes Community College. This year’s event marks highly anticipated performances by 27-time GRAMMY winner Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Old Crow Medicine Show, Charles Wesley Godwin, and Blackberry Smoke, plus a very special edition of the beloved Late Night Jam with Grand Ole Opry, hosted by Old Crow Medicine Show.
Tickets for the MerleFest Late Night Jam with Grand Ole Opry are available now at the box officeand online until sold out. With Old Crow Medicine Show as the house band, the Late Night Jam is sure to turn into a full-fledged jubilee –– an Opry-inspired showcase built on collaboration,spontaneity, and deep musical roots. With a rotating cast of guests including Charlie Starr, Willie Watson, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Maggie Rose, and more, the night promises the kind of once-in- a-lifetime moments that define MerleFest.
Festival goers can also catch Old Crow Medicine Show across multiple special performances throughout the weekend, including a full-album set of O.C.M.S. and Big Iron World featuring special guest Willie Watson on the Watson Stage (Friday, 9:00-11:00 p.m.), as well as a special acoustic Hillside set (Saturday, 1:30-2:15 p.m.). The fan-favorite Album Hour returns to the Hillside Stage on Saturday (3:15-4:45 p.m.), hosted by The Waybacks.
Additional programming highlights include the Docabilly Blues Blowout at the Walker Center (Friday, 3:15-4:00 p.m.), featuring appearances by Amelia Day, Jim Lauderdale, Uwe Kruger, and more. Download the official MerleFest mobile app to start planning your weekend and ensure you never miss a beat. 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. For more information or to bid now visit merlefest.org/silent-auction.
MerleFest 2026tickets are available now. For general admission passes, Late Night Jam tickets, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase. Save by purchasing advance tickets before April 22.
The annual concert series is held in a spacious outdoor amphitheater at the base of Fisher Peak just off The Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 213) between Galax, Virginia, and Mount Airy, North Carolina.
* Dori Freeman (July 26) * Donna The Buffalo (Aug. 2) * Sister Sadie (Aug. 16) * Paul Thorn (Aug. 23) * Del McCoury Band (Aug 30)
In addition to the Saturday concerts the Music Center also offers:
Midday Mountain Music: Free local and regional music from 12-3 p.m. every day the Music Center is open on the breezeway. Milepost Music: Free concerts from 2-4 p.m. Sundays from June through September at iconic destinations on the Parkway. On the Road: Throughout the year, the Music Center presents events at partner locations off the Parkway or virtually.
Visit the FAQ page for more information about concerts.
IBMA has announced performances by four of this year IBMA’s Entertainer of Year Nominees for this year’s Bluegrass Music Awards show on Sept. 29: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Sister Sadie and Del McCoury Band.
Also, a star-studded list of performances by Dan Tyminski Band, Ronnie Bowman and Bela Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart will be included in the show, with special Hall of Fame tributes and performances to honor Norman Blake, Peter Rowan and Paul “Moon” Mullins.
The awards will be held at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh.
After Molly Tuttle’s impressive win at the 2017 International Bluegrass Music (IBMA) Awards as the first female IBMA guitarist, Becky Buller leads the field for the 2018 International Bluegrass Music Awards with eight nominations followed by Tuttle’s six. Close behind with five nominations each are Special Consensus, and The Del McCoury Band/The Travelin’ McCourys, with strong showings by Rhonda Vincent, The Earls of Leicester, Balsam Range, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Results of the balloting will be revealed at the International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In between is a business conference featuring Greensboro’s own Rhiannon Giddens as the keynote speaker and exhibits at the Raleigh Convention Center, as well as the 28th Annual IBMA Awards Show hosted by Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn — acclaimed artists in their respective careers and GRAMMY winners in their duo work — Thursday night at the Duke Performing Arts Center.
No self-respecting North Carolina event is complete without barbecue. The North Carolina Pork Council will once again host the 2017 Whole Hog Barbecue Championship as part of Wide Open Bluegrass. The best whole hog barbecue chefs in North Carolina square off to become state champion. After the judges have had their say, the mouth-watering barbecue will be chopped and sold in sandwiches Saturday to festival attendees.
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