MerleFest is an annual Americana music festival held in Wilkesboro, North Carolina on the Campus of Wilkes Community College. The Festival is held the last weekend in April, and is hosted by guitar player Doc Watson and is named in memory and honor of his son, Eddy Merle Watson, who died in a farming accident in 1985. The festival, founded in 1988, now attracts crowds exceeding 85,000 in number, making it the largest folk music festival in the US.
The music is spread across 15 different stages and four days. Its economic impact on Northwest North Carolina Mountains exceeds $14 million and the festival has contributed nearly $7,300,000 to Wilkes Community College.
The attractions at MerleFest include the following: Arts, Children's Area, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Walks. The estimated attendance at MerleFest is 85,000.
It's only a short drive from Wilkesboro up the mountain to beautiful Ashe County. Many people may even stay here in Ashe County NC. After visiting our county you may decide you would like to relocate, buy a second home, retirement home, or maybe just a mountain getaway. Come by A1 Mountain Realty and let the excellent Ashe County Realtors on staff help you with any Ashe County NC Real Estate or for that matter any real estate in the North Carolina Mountains.
