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Dates & Times
October 3, 2026
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location
120 Cascade St.
Mars Hill, NC 28754
Cost
Free
Contact
Leila Weinstein
lweinstein@mhu.edu
(828) 689-1115
View Event Website
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The event is the second-oldest folk festival in Western North Carolina and was named after Bascom Lamar Lunsford, a musician and folklorist who dedicated his life to collecting and promoting the music of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The festival, which is in its 59th year, brings out the region’s finest musicians, dancers and ballad singers for a day of fall fun celebrating the rich cultural traditions of Southern Appalachia.
The Madison Heritage Arts Festival occurs on the same day as the Lunsford Festival, so there will be lots of local arts to explore, as well as music. This year, in addition to the music on the main stage, we’ll be hosting our annual ballad swap, a Songs of Lunsford sing-a-long, a guided open jam session, and a celebration of banjo-player Carroll Best.
The Madison Heritage Arts Festival occurs on the same day as the Lunsford Festival, so there will be lots of local arts to explore, as well as music. This year, in addition to the music on the main stage, we’ll be hosting our annual ballad swap, a Songs of Lunsford sing-a-long, a guided open jam session, and a celebration of banjo-player Carroll Best.
