Join us at the longest-running folklife festival in western Virginia! Since 1973, the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival has presented authentic regional folk music, craftspeople, draft horse and dog handlers, car builders, tractor restorers, country cooks, moonshine tale tellers, and much more!
Always the fourth Saturday in October, this legendary festival is coordinated by the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum (BRIM), the official State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore and a major venue on The Crooked Road Music Trail.
October 24, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is FREE this year.
Parking: $20 per family vehicle (1-9 people), $50 per van or shuttle (10 or more people), $100 for school bus, charter bus, or motor coach
Click here to purchase advance parking tickets in the BRIM online store.
Celebrating the rich heritage and traditions of the Blue Ridge region, this year’s festival will offer a full day of live entertainment, traditional demonstrations, handcrafted arts, and family-friendly activities, while introducing new artisans, interactive experiences, and expanded attractions. In a new arts and crafts show, more than 100 artisans will offer handmade jewelry, folk art, woodworking, pottery, textiles, and other unique creations.
Traditional foods such as country ham biscuits and fried apple pies are always popular at the festival.
For Ferrum College alumni, this year’s festival will include an alumni breakfast and a lounge area inside Franklin Hall off the patio, instead of a tent outside. The Office of Alumni and Family Relations will provide details in upcoming publicity and the college website Alumni pages. Click here for alumni breakfast registration.
WDBJ7 video about 2026 festival with Orchestra Appalachia members
Southern Living article about Ferrum, folklife festival, Franklin County moonshine heritage
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