North Carolina is gearing up for the 31st annual MerleFest music festival taking place this spring in the tiny town of Wilkesboro, approximately 20 miles east of Boone. Considered one of the best run and organized music festivals in the country, MerleFest has had three decades to perfect the art of hosting more than 75,000 people who flock to Wilkesboro Community College each year for four days and nights of music, fellowship, and family fun.
Oddly enough, the festival swells the town to more than 25-times the the normal size, which is a mere 3,000 residents.
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And this is not your ordinary music festival. Sure, there are people from every age group and there is some standing and cheering…
Facebook/MerleFest
But this outdoor festival has the option to purchase organized seats — a nice alternative if you don’t want to bring your own, or sit on a blanket in the general seating section.
Facebook/MerleFest
Thirteen different stages feature a variety of music genres from which to choose.
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The lineup for 2019 includes 105 music acts taking the stages over a four day period. They include: The Avett Brotheres, Brandie Carlile, Amos Lee, Wynonna & The Big Noise, Keb’ Mo’, Carol Rifkin, and more! See the entire 2019 lineup at this link.
Facebook/MerleFest
While music is the driving entertainment behind this colossal festival, MerleFest is so much more and offers engaging activities for the entire family.
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The Little Pickers Family Area offers fun activities for kids, including special events and crafts. The Little Pickers Stage has special entertainment the kiddos will love, including….
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…the annual Acoustic Kids Showcase. So cute! (Kids must preregister to perform.)
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The event takes place on the Wilkesboro Community College campus, where you’ll also find the Shoppes at MerleFest.
Facebook/MerleFest
Centrally located, and easy to access, the Shoppes at MerleFest provide a variety of hand-crafted merchandise as well as MerleFest memorabilia.
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Wear comfy shoes and prepare to do a lot of walking getting from one stage to another and while enjoying all of the festivities.
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Want to take a backstage tour? Yep. Those are available too!
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Another fun break from the crowds is to take a guided nature hike. Explore the gardens and the forests around the Wilkes Community College Campus on this special walk with departure times on Friday and Saturday.
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If you’re wondering just how crazy things can get with 75,000 people milling about, just remember: this is considered to be one of the best run music festivals in the country. Don’t worry, be happy.
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MerleFest 2019 takes place April 25-28 on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Tickets are already on sale with options that afford 4-day reserved seating, 4-day general admission, 3-day general admision, and single-day general admission passes. A limited number of tickets is available for the late night jam session; and a back stage tour is a mere $50 in addition to your ticket price. Learn more, and purchase tickets in advance on the official website of MerleFest 2019!
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MerleFest
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