Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance - Spring 2026 & Upcoming Fall 2026

Looking back on my photos from the Spring 2026 Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance has me super excited about the fall festival, which will be here before we know it. Less than two months away, Shakori Hills will be held from Thursday, October 1st through Sunday, October 4th. The site is located out in the rolling countryside of Chatham County, NC (near Pittsboro & Silk Hope) on an 72+ acre farm. 

The festival is actually held twice a year, both in the spring and in the fall. The upcoming festival will be the 22nd fall festival and the lineup is looking outstanding! From host band, Donna the Buffalo, to Margo Price, The Steel Wheels, Chatham County Line, Driftwood, and another favorite, The Resonant Rogues, to so many more! The full lineup can be found HERE. There is something for everyone - many of the bands I've never heard of before, however I'm always willing to learn about  some new music (or new to me!).

In addition to music, they always offer music, dance, and craft workshops, wonderful yoga and movement classes, healing arts, incredible craft vendors, fabulous food vendors, and a great selection of adult beverages including craft beer from Foothills Brewery, Tito's Vodka, and craft kombucha from Panacea Brewing Company. 

This festival is a family friendly event and they have a large kids area, with activities for all ages. And for the teens, there's the Outpost, which is always popular for crafting, fellowship, or for a game of hoops together. 4 day or daily tickets are available and can be purchased HERE or upon arrival. Camping is also available for an additional fee or stay at a local AirBnB, or camp close by at Jordan Lake State Park, a short drive away.

 My first time attending  Shakori Hills was in the Fall 2009. A big thanks to my now life partner, Terry, for introducing me to this fabulous festival.  I've been going ever since, except for during the highlight of the pandemic, when the festival was put on hold. For the first couple of years I attended, I volunteered pre-festival doing a variety of jobs from building the wooden dance tent floor, sprucing up the farmhouse which houses the festival offices, to sprucing up flowerbeds and doing some landscaping with Terry. 

Sometime around 2011, I started working as a staff photographer for them and the rest is history. I will be back with camera in tow again this fall, however I will be missing most of Saturday, October 3rd, as I'm photographing a wedding pretty close-by. I will be there as early as Wednesday, all the way through Friday evening, and back Sunday morning! Hope to see you out there!

View ALL the photos from a gallery I created for spring 2026 HERE

View my blog post from fall 2025 HERE

all photos © Elizabeth Lrson Photography