Shakori Hills Grassroots Music & Dance Festival - Fall 2025

Looking back on my photos from the Fall 2025 Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance has me super excited about the spring festival, which starts tomorrow on Thursday, May 7th and runs through Sunday, May 10th. Shakori Hills is located out in the rolling countryside of Chatham County, NC (roughly between Pittsboro & Silk Hope) on an 72+ acre farm 

My first time attending was the Fall 2009 and I've been going ever since, except for during the highlight of the pandemic, when the festival didn't happen. For the first couple of years, I volunteered pre-festival doing a variety of jobs from putting in a dance tent floor, cleaning the farmhouse, to sprucing up flowerbeds with my better half, Terry. 

Along about 2011, I started working as a staff photographer for them. It's so much fun documenting such a wonderful festival.  Shakori Hills is held twice a year - the first full 4 day weekend in May and the first full 4 day weekend in October. This spring, I'm working on a special project with their graphic designer, Tanya Henderson.  She designs all of the marketing materials including the printed program, which can also be found online HERE.  As for the project, it's a "secret" for now, but do stay tuned!

This is the 22nd Spring 2026 Shakori Hills and the lineup is looking pretty fabulous! From the Chatham Rabbits, Jim Lauderdale, Ryan Montbleau Band, Coyote Rodeo, Rising Appalachia, and of course hosts, Donna the Buffalo, there is something for everyone. Check out the lineup HERE and the schedule HERE. 

See you out there!

 all photos © Elizabeth Larson Photography