Stringband Music & Arts Festival Returns to Ozark Folk Center October 9–10

The Stringband Music & Arts Festival returns to the Ozark Folk Center State Park October 9–10 for 2 days of live music, dancing, handcrafted art and Ozark heritage.

The festival includes evening music shows Friday and Saturday at the park’s 1,000-seat Ozark Highlands Theater, along with craft demonstrations, daytime music performances and traditional activities in the Ozark Folk Center Craft Village.

This year’s musical lineup includes 19-year-old folk singer and old-time banjo player Murphy Campbell from the Blue Ridge Mountains, Kansas-based multi-instrumentalist John Depew, old-time duo Salem Plateau, the Ozark Folk Center Square Dancers and Mountain View stringband the Riggsville Ramblers.

Salem Plateau features husband-and-wife musicians Joseph McCarthy and Grace Stormont-McCarthy. Grace is the 2026 Arkansas Old Time Banjo Grand Champion and a 5-time Arkansas Country Music Awards winner.

The Craft Village will be open both days from 10 AM until 5 PM.

Festival admission includes access to the evening shows at Ozark Highlands Theater and admission to the Craft Village.

Artisans throughout the village will demonstrate traditional crafts, create items and sell handmade goods.

Craft Village shops include copper flame painting, knives, pottery, stained glass, leather, wood toys, fiber arts, wood carving, old-time printing, candles, quilting, herbs, jewelry, paper craft, dolls, brooms, blacksmithing and an apothecary.

Other attractions include old-time magic and medicine shows, Whiskey & Tango’s Old Time Picnic Swing and live music from local musicians throughout the day.

Daytime music performances are scheduled to begin at 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:45 PM, 2:45 PM and 3:45 PM.

The Skillet Restaurant will also be open Friday and Saturday from 8 AM until 9 PM, serving Southern-style meals to festival guests.