MerleFest 2026 Was One For The Books — Here’s What Old Crow Medicine Show, The Wilder Blue, & Valley Flower Had To Say

PHOTO GALLERY: Jamming around Wilkesboro

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…

MerleFest 2026 Was One For The Books — Here’s What Old Crow Medicine Show, The Wilder Blue, & Valley Flower Had To Say

The 38th annual MerleFest this past weekend was one for the books. For decades, music fans have descended upon the town of Wilkesboro, NC – situated in the foothills beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains – at the end of April for a renowned bluegrass-centric music festival. Founded in 1988 by legendary bluegrass artist Doc Watson – who resided in nearby Deep Gap – MerleFest was started as a tribute for Watson’s late son Merle. A spectacular musician …