For 38 consecutive years, Wilkesboro Community College has been home to MerleFest, an annual four-day folk music festival created by Doc Watson in memory of his late son, Eddy Merle Watson.
At MerleFest, you can float from stage to stage seeing all your favorite folk artists, as well as performers who are just starting out. If you’re looking for more of a relaxing vibe, head over to the jam band lot, where anybody with a fiddle, guitar or other instrument can play with fellow musicians. If you’re looking to lean into the bluegrass environment, walk around the shopping vendors for a tie-dye skirt, a new top hat to add to your collection or even home decor hand-carved out of wood. In fact, if you have little ones, there’s a spot for them too, with face painting, sand art and instruments suitable for children.
Whether you want to stay all day or just for a few hours, there’s something fun for everyone at MerleFest.
