Returning to Tryon International Equestrian Center for its fourth annual Labor Day Weekend celebration, Earl Scruggs Music Festival will play host to more than just music. In addition to performances by this year’s artist lineup –– 27-time GRAMMY winner Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush, Watchhouse, and The War And Treaty, to name a few –– the three-day gathering will feature a variety of add-on opportunities including horseback trail rides, a Bluegrass Over Easy Breakfast with music from Allison de Groot + Tatiana Hargreaves, a Book, Bourbon, & Bluegrass event with Travis Book & Drew Matulich, and more to come. While some events require a paid admission, a variety of activities are free to festival passholders. Set against the backdrop of Tryon’s top-tier facilities, Earl Scruggs Music Festival raises the bar for what a music festival can be.
New in 2025, Earl Scruggs Music Festival will launch its first-ever ‘Battle of the Banjos’ band competition –– an open call for rising bluegrass, Americana, and roots artists eager to make their mark. Solo acts and bands are invited to submit by June 27 for a chance to be voted into the final round by fans and perform live at the festival. The grand prize includes two performance slots during the festival weekend, a $500 honorarium, a featured interview on WNCW, full weekend passes, on-site camping, and promotional support across festival channels. Whether you're ready to take the stage or know someone who should, this is your shot to be part of Earl Scruggs Music Festival history. Enter for your chance to win here.
Earl Scruggs Music Festival officially kicks off on Friday morning, but festivities will start on Thursday evening with an open-to-the-public Welcome Home Celebration featuring music from Holler Choir, Finkelstein 3, and the ‘Battle of the Banjos’ Band Competition winner (TBA). The free event promises toe-tapping music and an opportunity to ring in the weekend with an energetic and communal atmosphere, setting a lively tone for the days ahead.
Thursday night will also see a separately ticketed Book, Bourbon, & Bluegrass tasting event with performances by festival favorite Travis Book & Drew Matulich. Mark your calendars for Thursday, August 28 from 4:30-9 p.m, and visit the Book, Bourbon, & Bluegrass ticket link for more information.
Earl Scruggs Music Festival will occur August 29-31, 2025 in Mill Spring, NC. Advance-price tickets are currently on sale, with a variety of both three-day and one-day general admission and upgraded packages available. For more details and to stay up-to-date on all things Earl Scruggs Music Festival, visit EarlScruggsMusicFest.com.
WHAT: Earl Scruggs Music Festival
WHEN: August 29-31, 2025
WHERE: Tryon International
25 International Blvd
Mill Spring, NC 28756
TICKETS: Purchase Here
WEBSITE: EarlScruggsMusicFest.com
Earl Scruggs Music Festival 2025 Lineup
Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas (Sat)
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (Sun)
Del McCoury Band (Sun)
Sam Bush (Sat)
Watchhouse (Sun)
The Wood Brothers (Fri)
The War And Treaty (Fri)
The Earls of Leicester (Sun)
Sierra Hull (Sat)
Tony Trischka's EarlJam – Featuring Michael Daves (Fri, Sun)
Sister Sadie (Fri)
Town Mountain (Sat)
Fireside Collective (Sat)
Darin & Brooke Aldridge (Sun)
Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley (Sun)
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (Sat)
Henhouse Prowlers (Fri)
Travis Book String Band (Fri)
Authentic Unlimited (Fri)
Darren Nicholson Band (Sun)
Shawn Camp and Verlon Thompson :: Songs and Stories of Guy Clark (Sat)
Holler Choir (Fri)
Healing the Hollers ft. Unspoken Tradition (Sat)
Songs From The Road Band (Sun)
Allison de Groot + Tatiana Hargreaves (Sat)
John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project (Sun)
Nicholas Edward Williams (Fri)
Reedy River String Band (Sun)
Finkelstein 3 (Fri)
