Tickets will go on sale on November 12, 2024, at 10 a.m. EST.
Patron Renewals will be from August 13-30, 2024.
Reserved Seat renewals will be from September 9-30, 2024.

Multi-Day Tickets

  • Price: $325.00 ($345.00 at gate) plus tax and fees
  • Limited number available
  • Reserved seat in front of the Watson Stage: Row 1-35
  • Entrance to the festival all 4 days
  • May purchase Parking Passes – not included in price.
  • Gate pricing starts Festival Thursday
  • A ticket must be purchased for kids 12 and under sitting in this area. Children 2 and under are exempt.
  • Wristbands cannot be shared.

  • Price: $300.00 ($320.00 at gate) plus tax and fees
  • Limited number available
  • Reserved seat in front of the Watson Stage: Row 36-53
  • Entrance to the festival all 4 days
  • May purchase Parking Passes – not included in price.
  • Gate pricing starts Festival Thursday
  • A ticket must be purchased for kids 12 and under sitting in this area. Children 2 and under are exempt.
  • Wristbands cannot be shared.

  • Price: $525.00 ($525.00 at gate) plus tax and fees
  • Limited number available
  • Comfortable seating in a covered area with a great view of the Watson and Cabin stages
  • Entrance to the festival all 4 days
  • Friends and Family access
  • Includes snacks and beverages
  • May purchase Parking Passes – not included in price.
  • Due to limited seating, fans of all ages must have Patio access credentials to enter this area. Children 2 and under are exempt.
  • Wristbands cannot be shared.

  • Price: $245.00 ($265.00 at gate) plus tax and fees
  • Entrance to the festival all 4 days
  • May purchase Parking Passes – not included in price.
  • Gate pricing starts Festival Thursday
  • Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult
  • Wristbands cannot be shared

  • Price: $220.00 ($240.00 at gate) plus tax and fees
  • Entrance to the festival on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
  • Gate pricing starts Festival Thursday
  • Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult
  • Wristbands cannot be shared

1-Day Tickets

  • Price: $90.00 ($105.00 at gate) plus tax and fees
  • Entrance to the festival on Thursday only
  • Gate pricing starts Festival Thursday
  • Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult

  • Price: $105.00 ($120.00 at gate) plus tax and fees
  • Entrance to the festival on Friday only
  • Gate pricing starts Festival Thursday
  • Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult

  • Price: $105.00 ($120.00 at gate) plus tax and fees
  • Entrance to the festival on Saturday only
  • Gate pricing starts Festival Thursday
  • Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult

  • Price: $90.00 ($105.00 at gate) plus tax and fees
  • Entrance to the festival on Sunday only
  • Gate pricing starts Festival Thursday
  • Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult

Add-ons

  • Price: $60.00 plus tax and fees
  • More details to follow at a later date

  • Price: $50.00 plus tax and fees
  • All tours take place at 2pm.
  • Backstage tour includes:
    • Merle Watson Garden of the Senses
    • MerleFest Museum
    • Doc Watson Dressing Room
    • Backstage Green Room
    • Artist Getaway
    • Official MerleFest Poster!
    • All proceeds go towards the Doc Watson Student Emergency Fund
  • Must have festival entry pass to purchase. You may purchase tickets prior to the festival or at the box office during the festival (if tickets are still available).

Rivers Edge Campground is located along the beautiful Yadkin River at the Rivers Edge sports complex. There are over 300 sites available for anything from a tent, to a pop up camper, to a tear drop camper, to a 40 foot RV. There is limited water access and no power, with the exception of power available to campers without a generator, in need of access for medical reasons. There are water hydrants throughout the complex for sharing of water, port a jons and a bath house.

For more information or to make reservations, please visit the YMCA’s MerleFest Camping website or call the Wilkes Family YMCA at 336-838-3991.

  • Price: $775.00 plus tax and fee
  • RV camping spaces must be purchased with a four-day pass. 
  • The RV campground is for self-contained RVs with hard-shell exteriors only. (Pop-ups are allowed.) Tents are prohibited.
  • RV camping spaces are 16′ x 40′. Campers must be able to fit the RV as well as any additional features in the reserved space.
  • The RV campground is open from 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday prior to the festival.
  • There are no electrical, sewer or water hookups. A dump station will be located on Stevens Lane and portable toilets will be available.
  • Campers must follow the rules for On-Campus RV Camping, which you can find in our FAQs.

  • Price: $775.00 plus tax and fee
  • RV camping spaces must be purchased with a four-day pass. 
  • The RV campground is for self-contained RVs with hard-shell exteriors only. (Pop-ups are allowed.) Tents are prohibited.
  • RV camping spaces are 16′ x 40′. Campers must be able to fit the RV as well as any additional features in the reserved space.
  • The RV campground is open from 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday prior to the festival.
  • There are no electrical, sewer or water hookups. A dump station will be located on Stevens Lane and portable toilets will be available.
  • Parking is across from the Beacon Ridge housing development in a well-maintained gravel lot.
  • Campers must follow the rules for On-Campus RV Camping, which you can find in our FAQs.

  • Price: $275.00 plus tax and fees
  • Must have a four day pass to purchase. 
  • Parking pass is good for one vehicle parking space for all four days of the festival.

  • Price: $130.00 plus tax and fees
  • Must have a four day pass to purchase. 
  • Parking pass is good for one vehicle parking space for all four days of the festival.

  • Price: $225.00 plus tax and fees
  • Must have a four day pass to purchase. 
  • Parking pass is good for one vehicle parking space for all four days of the festival.

Need Assistance?

Contact our box office at 800-343-7857. Our box office hours are Monday – Thursday: 12pm – 5pm EST & Friday: 11am – 3pm EST.

NO REFUNDS. PLEASE NOTE THAT MERLEFEST TICKETS ARE NON-TRANSFERRABLE AND WRISTBANDS CANNOT BE SHARED.

ALL SALES ARE FINAL. NO REFUNDS. TICKETS NOT FOR RESALE.

NOTE: CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER ARE ADMITTED FREE TO GENERAL ADMISSION SEATING AREAS (ACCOMPANIED BY A PAYING ADULT); HOWEVER, TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL SEATS IN THE RESERVED SEATING AREA.

PARKING: FOR PERSONS WTIH APPROPRIATE STATE/FEDERAL ISSUED HANICAP PARKING CREDENTIALS, SPECIAL PARKING IS AVAILABLE AT PARKING LOT H, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 127 EXECUTIVE DRIVE, WILKESBORO, N.C.  THIS IS A FLAT, PAVED PARKING LOT IWTH EASY ACCESS TO U.S. HIGHWAY 421/BRUSHY MOUNTAIN ROAD EXIT AND IS APPROXIMATLEY TWO MILES FROM THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE FESTIVAL.  THERE IS NO COST TO PARK IN THIS LOT.  ADA-EQUIPPED SHUTTLES WILL TRANSPORT GUEST TO AND FROM THIS LOT TO THE MAIN FESTIVAL ENTRANCE THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL.

FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THE CONSIDERATION OF ALL GUESTS AND OUR CAMPUS, THE FOLLOWING ARE RESTRICTED FROM MERLEFEST:

  • ALL TOBACCO PRODUCTS
  • ALL ELECTRONIC ORAL DEVICES (E-CIGARETTES, E-CIGARS, E-PIPE, ETC.)
  • ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND ILLEGAL DRUGS
  • WEAPONS
  • PETS
  • UNAUTHORIZED ATVS, GOLF CARTS, SEGWAYS® (OR SIMILAR VEHICLES) ON CAMPUS AND CAMPGROUNDS
  • GLASS CONTAINERS
  • TENTS, CANOPIES, CHAIRS OR HAMMOCKS THAT BLOCK THE VIEW FOR OTHER FANS
  • UNAUTHORIZED VIDEO RECORDING, AUDIO RECORDING OR FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY (PER ARTISTS’ REQUEST)
  • NO UNAUTHORIZED DRONES AT THE FESTIVAL

NO ONE IS PERMITTED BACKSTAGE WITHOUT PROPER CREDENTIALS.

MERLEFEST GATES OPEN ON THURSDAY AT 1:30 P.M.

FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY GATES OPEN AT 9:30 A.M.

PLEASE CHECK OUR STAGE SCHEDULES FOR PERFORMANCE START AND END TIMES EACH DAY. YOU CAN FIND THE STAGE SCHEDULES ON OUR WEBPAGE, THE MERLEFEST APP, AND THE OFFICIAL MERLEFEST PROGRAM BOOKLET.

FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THE CONSIDERATION OF ALL GUESTS AND OUR CAMPUS, ALL COOLERS, BACKPACKS, BAGS, ETC. ARE SUBJECT TO BEING CHECKED AT EACH FESTIVAL ENTRANCE. OUR FRIENDLY VOLUNTEERS WILL HELP YOU WITH THIS PROCESS.

RESERVED SEATS ARE LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE WATSON STAGE (GREEN CHAIRS ARE NUMBERED AND SET UP IN ADVANCE BY THE FESTIVAL). FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF ALL, ANY UNOCCUPIED CHAIR, INCLUDING ‘RESERVED SEATS’ MAY BE USED BY ANYONE BEFORE 5:OO P.M. OR UNTIL THE OWNER RETURNS. AFTER 5:00 P.M., VOLUNTEERS WILL BE CHECKING FOR THE PROPER CREDENTIALS TO ENTER THIS AREA.

GENERAL ADMISSION SEATING IS ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS AND IS LOCATED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE RESERVED SEATING AREA AT THE WATSON STAGE AND STRETCHING ALL THE WAY TO THE TREES BEHIND THE LITTLE PICKERS AREA. BRING YOUR BLANKET OR LAWN CHAIR AND ENJOY!

LIMITED SEATING IS PROVIDED AT CERTAIN STAGES OR YOU MAY BRING YOUR OWN. SEATING IS FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED.