Other Festivals & Events

The Dulcimer Players News Festival and Workshop Guide features music festivals focused on mountain and hammered dulcimers.

This list (ordered by start date) features upcoming festivals that might be of interest to dulcimer players, including folk, bluegrass, and old-time music and dance festivals. Keep scrolling to see more events coming this year!

This list was last updated on October 4, 2025.
If you would like to see a festival included, please email the details to staff@dpnews.com.

Ongoing

Blue Ridge Mountain Music Trails of North Carolina

North Carolina
Assorted music and old time events

The Folk Project: The Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series

Morristown, New Jersey
Usually 7:30 p.m. on Fridays - check website for details and performers

Upper Potomac Music Weekends

Shepherdsville, West Virginia
Throughout the year

2025

Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival

Oct. 10-12, 2025
New Orleans, Louisiana

Bluegrass Island Music Festival

Manteo, North Carolina
Oct. 16-18, 2025

Berea College Celebration of Traditional Music

Oct. 17-19, 2025
Berea, Kentucky

Smokey Mountains Bluegrass Festival

Waynesville, North Carolina
Oct. 25, 2025

Barberville Pioneer Settlement

Barberville, Florida
Assorted events including monthly “Playing on the Porches,” the Annual Spring Frolic (April 5-6, 2025), and the Annual Fall Country Jamboree (Nov. 1-2, 2025)

2026

Wheatland Winter Wheat (Music Festival)

Music and dance
Remus, MI
Jan. 10, 2026

Savannah Music Festival

Savannah, Georgia
TBD 2026 - was March 27-April 12, 2025

Big Muddy Folk Festival

Boonville, Missouri
TBD 2026 - was April 4-5, 2025

Baltimore Old Time Music Festival

Baltimore Museum of Industry, Baltimore, Maryland
April 17-18, 2026

California State Old Time Fiddle & Picking Championships

Lodi, CA
TBD 2026 - was April 18-19, 2025

Blue Ridge Uke Fest

Morganton, North Carolina
TBD 2026 - was May 2-4, 2025

Cheat River Festival

Albright, West Virginia
TBD 2026 - was May 2-3, 2025

Central Ohio Folk Festival

Lewis Center, Ohio [near Columbus]
TBD 2026 - was May 3-4, 2025

Wheatland Traditional Arts Weekend

Crafts, Dance, Music, and more
Remus, MI
May 22-24, 2026

Millvale Music Fest

Millvale PA
TBD 2026 - was May 16-17, 2025

The Ashokan Center
Music & Dance Camp Dates

Olivebridge, New York
Assorted events including the “Old Time Rollick”
May 29-31, 2026

Edinboro Art & Music Festival

Edinboro, Pennsylvania
TBD 2026 - was May 16-18, 2025

Florida Folk Festival

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
White Springs, FL
TBD 2026 - was May 23-25, 2025 (Memorial Day weekend)

Bluegrass in the Gorge

Menucha Retreat and Conference Center
Corbett, Oregon
TBD 2026 - was May 29-June 1, 2025
(Check out their other programs too!)

Bluegrass in the Gorge

Corbett, OR
TBD 2026 - was May 29-June 1, 2025

Fire in the Mountain

Aberystwyth, Wales
Festival - TBD 2026 - was May 29-June 13, 2025

Ocrafolk Festival

Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
TBD 2026 - was June 6-8, 2025

Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival

San Francisco, CA
TBD 2026 - was June 12-15, 2025

Bluff Mountain Music Festival

Hot Springs, NC
TBD 2026 - was June 14, 2025 - 10am - 6pm

Summer Wheat Music Camp

Remus, MI
TBD 2026 - was June 16-21, 2025

Old Songs Festival

Albany, New York
TBD 2026 - was June 27-29, 2025

Common Ground on the Hill (Maryland Folklife Center)

Westminster, Maryland
Deer Creek Fiddlers’ Convention: TBD 2026 - was May 31, 2025
Traditions Weeks: TBD 2026 - was June 23-27, 2025 (virtual); July 7-11 (in-person); July 14-18, 2025 (in person)

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Washington, D.C.
TBD 2026 - was July 2–7, 2025

Great Blue Heron Music Festival

Sherman, New York
TBD 2026 - was July 4-6, 2025

Appalachian Songwriters Workshop

Hindman, Kentucky
TBD 2026 - was July 19-20, 2025

Fire in the Mountain

Aberystwyth, Wales
Music Camp - TBD 2026 - was July 21-26, 2025

Appalachian String Band Music Festival

Clifftop, West Virginia
TBD 2026 - was July 30-Aug. 3, 2025

Pickathon

Happy Valley, OR
TBD 2026 - was July 31-Aug. 3, 2025

Cimbalom Celebration

Virtual or in person in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cimbalom lessons and performances
Sponsored by the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
TBD 2026 - was July 30-August 2, 2025

Musikfest

Bethlehem, PA
TB 2026 - was Aug. 1-3, 2025

Folk Heritage Committee: Shindig on the Green & Mountain Dance and Folk Festival

Asheville, North Carolina
Shindig on the Green: TBD 2026 - was Saturday evenings in July and August: July 5, 12, 19, 26; August 9, 16, 23
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival: TBD 2026 - was July 31-Aug. 2, 2025