Thousands of music fans will turn out this weekend for the annual MerleFest event in Wilkesboro.MerleFest DatesThursday, April 24 - Sunday, April 27MerleFest TicketsCheck out multi-day ticket and one-day ticket options here.2025 LineupCheck out the music artists and groups taking the stage here.Music Festival Lineup ScheduleCheck out the music festival lineup schedule for this year here.Get a printable schedule here.Festival LocationWilkes Community College1328 S Collegiate Dr, Wilkesboro, NC 28697Festival MapCheck out the festival map here.DirectionsFrom WilkesboroTake Exit 286B (Wilkes Community College exit) off US 421. Take right off exit and follow festival signs for parking.From Boone & Blowing RockDrive Time: ~ 40 minutes. Take U.S. 421 South for 31 miles. Take Exit 286B (Wilkes Community College exit). Take right off exit and follow signs for festival parking.From LenoirDrive Time: ~ 45 minutes. Take NC 18 North until it intersects with NC Hwy 16. Turn left at intersection. Go approximately 5 miles and get on U.S. 421 North towards Boone. Take Exit 286B (Wilkes Community College exit). Take left off exit and follow signs for festival parking.From Winston-SalemDrive Time: ~ 1 hour. Take Hwy 421 North toward Wilkesboro. Go approximately 50 miles and take Exit 286B (Wilkes Community College exit) off U.S. 421. Take left off exit and follow festival signs for parking.From CharlotteDrive Time: ~ 2 hours. Take Interstate 77 North for 72 miles, take Exit 73B onto U.S. 421 North for 23 miles, take Exit 286B (Wilkes Community College exit) off U.S. 421. Take left off exit and follow festival signs for parking.From Asheville & TennesseeTake I-40 East until you get to Morganton. Take the Hwy. 64 exit. Take a Left on to 64 and follow the Hwy. 64 East truck route signs around Morganton. Highway 64 turns into 18 North. Follow 18 North through Lenoir. Take NC 18 North until it intersects with NC Hwy 16. Turn left at intersection. Go approximately 5 miles and get on U.S. 421 North toward Boone. Take Exit 286B (Wilkes Community College exit). Take left off exit and follow signs for festival parking.From Central VirginiaTake U.S. 77 South to US Hwy 421 North toward Wilkesboro. Go approximately 23 miles and take Exit 286B (Wilkes Community College exit) off U.S. 421, take left off exit and follow festival signs for parking.From Eastern VirginiaDrive Time: ~ 4 hours. Take I-85 South. Take the I-40 West towards Greensboro. Take Hwy 421 North toward Wilkesboro. Go approximately 50 miles and take Exit 286B (Wilkes Community College exit) off U.S. 421. Take left off exit and follow festival signs for parking.When do gates open each day? Gates open on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Gates open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 a.m.Festival ParkingParking is free and plentiful. You will see signs when you arrive that say Festival Parking. Follow the signs. A volunteer will help you find a parking space. They will also point you to a shuttle stop where you can ride directly to the front entrance gates. Don’t forget to note the lot you parked in.Handicapped parking is available at the shuttle stop ‘H’. Read the MerleFest ADA Guest Information flyer for additional details.When do shuttle buses run?Shuttle buses start running at the same time the gates open (Thursday at 1:30 p.m. and Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 9:30 a.m.) and will continue throughout the day.Ready to leave?When you are ready to return to your vehicle, you will need to get in the correct shuttle bus exit line.Can you use credit and debit cards at the festival?Credit and debit cards can be used at certain locations during the festival. ATMs are also located throughout the festival grounds for your convenience. Festival Weather Make sure to check out the WXII 12 forecast for each day of the festival and beyond here.Can you bring your own cooler?Yes. You can bring your cooler onto festival grounds. All coolers are checked at the main gate as a safety precaution. MerleFest is alcohol-free, and no beverage or food should be brought in glass containers.Festival InformationFor more information about the festival, visit here.