Wilkesboro, NC – September 1, 2016 ––Carolina In The Fall™ Music and Food Festival presented by Wilkes Communications, Inc. received one of five nominations from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) for 2015 Event of the Year Momentum Award. “We certainly never expected to receive a nomination and are honored to be considered alongside some of the nation’s best festivals”, said Dale Isom, Festival Organizer. “This will inspire us to work even harder to make Carolina in the Fall Music and Food Festival an event that all of Wilkes can be very proud of.”
The IBMA is the trade association that connects and educates bluegrass professionals, empowers the bluegrass community, and encourages worldwide appreciation of bluegrass music of yesterday, today and tomorrow. The IBMA Awards Ceremony Show will take place on September 29, 2016 in Raleigh, NC.
The IBMA Event of the Year Award recognizes events (festivals, concerts, other live performance productions) for their outstanding accomplishment and service to bluegrass music in the field of event production. The event must have taken place during the current IBMA Award eligibility period. The recipients will be judged by the committee for their overall contributions to the field of event production, professionalism and quality of presentation, work furthering bluegrass in their area of service and demonstrated ability to foster bluegrass music's image.
In its’ second year, Carolina in the Fall continues its’ tradition of celebrating the heritage of western North Carolina through music, food and beverage. This year’s festival will be held on September 23rd and 24th in downtown Wilkesboro. Over 100 musicians, chefs, vintners and craft beer brewers from the region will gather on Main Street to engage audiences with the best of their craft.
Wilkes County’s own The Kruger Brothers will be the Festival hosts again and welcome some of North Carolina’s best Folk/ Roots music bands. They will be joined by bands from across the nation that tip their hats to the rich musical history of Wilkes, the Heart of American Folk Music™. This year’s line-up includes The Kruger Brothers, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Steel Wheels, The Symphony of the Mountains, Flatt Lonesome, Nora Jane Struthers and the Party Line, The Snyder Family Band, Front Country and many others.
This year’s festival includes many new additions to its’ events line-up. The festival grounds (with exception of the music venues) will be open to the public with no ticket required to enjoy the food trucks and craft vendors. Wristbands are required to enter the three music venues located in the Open Air Market, the Heritage Museum and the Great State Auction House. Additionally, the North Carolina Banjo Championship presented by Deering Banjos will be held in the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame on Saturday morning. The champion will receive a Deering Eagle ll banjo values at nearly $3000.00.
The charitable vision of the festival will be featured in two events. Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the 12 Note MAP music program for Wilkes County schools. Last year all the funds raised from the auction were used to begin the program and purchase musical instruments. This year’s silent auction will feature a Bob Kogut Fiddle, handmade rocker, Gardner Glass products, Brushy Mountain Pottery, framed keepsake Festival posters and much more.
Secondly, the first annual Chad Lovette Memorial Trail Run will take place at Cub Creek Park on the new Mountain Bike Trails. All proceeds from the run will go to the American Cancer Society in memory of Chad Lovette, a local musician who died from brain cancer this year. Chad joined his brother’s band and performed at the first Carolina in the Fall last year.
Each evening during the festival, the Kruger Brothers will host the Carolina Jam™ at the Yadkin Valley Event Center at the Wilkesboro Holiday Inn Express. Artists from each day will come together to present once in a lifetime, unforgettable jam sessions. Last year’s Jams were the talk of the festival and beyond. These sessions are available to those that purchase a VIP ticket.
In addition to great music, those that attend the festival will enjoy some of North Carolina’s best food as food trucks from across the state will bring their amazing recipes to feed the masses and vie for the coveted Carolina in the Fall™ Food Truck Championship Award. If you have a grown-up thirst, local vineyards and regional craft beer breweries will be onsite to provide a taste of the region’s best adult beverages.
In its’ second year, Carolina in the Fall has already become an annual pilgrimage for music and food lovers from around the nation, Carolina in the Fall™ presented by Wilkes Communications, Inc. will be held the last weekend of September each year. Save the date and make the annual pilgrimage to Wilkes, the Heart of American Folk Music.
Local accommodations consist of campgrounds and area hotels. The Town of Wilkesboro is opening up the Sewerfest Campground for the Carolina in the Fall™ festival. Contact them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve your campsite or click the link on the festival website.
Make plans now to be in Wilkesboro on September 23rd and 24th to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season of Carolina in the Fall™. Festival tickets are available at www.carolinainthefall.org. Single Day passes are $35.00, Two Day pass $60.00. The VIP package that includes both days and the evening jam sessions is $100.00. Passes will be available at the festival if not sold out.
Carolina in the Fall Music and Food Festival™ is made possible through the partnership of Heart of Folk, LLC, Wilkes Communications, Inc., the Kruger Brothers and Town of Wilkesboro.