Thursday, September 4 – Roots & Rhythm in the Historic Auditorium
6 p.m. – Hedgehoppers with Still on the Hill: Third graders perform traditional square dance, preserving a form of Ozark square dancing that’s been around since 1947, followed by theatrical storytelling with a heritage of unusual old-time instruments and their stories from Still on the Hill, “Ambassadors of the Ozarks.”
7:30 p.m. – Barefoot Ball (Auditorium Lower Level): A tradition since 1948, and always a good time – featuring Front Porch: Gaining national attention for their high‑energy bluegrass with banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and vocal harmonies – and the Patti Steel Band: Soul-blending performance, mixing roots, jazz, blues, country, and rock. Friday, September 5 – Folk Fair & Festival Stage in Basin Spring Park
11 a.m.–6 p.m.: – Ozark Folk Fair: The area’s finest artisans and craftspeople show you how it’s done and
display their handmade ware for show and sale, from home goods and art to musical instruments.
Emcee Patti Steel hosts the Festival Stage featuring:
- 11:30 a.m. – The Mountain Gypsies: Trio weaving mountain soul with pop polish.
- 1 p.m. – Songwriting Contest Finalists Daniel Elixir, Rick Lloyd, Robert Ray, Tommy Soutee, Jack Summers, and Natalie Wlodarczyk
- 2:30 p.m. – March to August: Americana‑Roots duo blending folk, bluegrass, Celtic influences
- 3:30 p.m. – Songwriting Contest Winner announced.
- 3:45 p.m. – The Korey McKelvy Duo: Soulful folk-blues with melodic bass.
- 5:00 p.m. – Matt Axton & Bad Moon: Americana storytelling rooted in musical heritage.
Main Stage – Historic Auditorium
- 7 p.m. – Songwriting Contest Winner performs
- 7:45 p.m. – Handmade Moments: Folk‑rock with beat boxing, rich instrumentation, commanding vocals.
- 9 p.m. – The HillBenders: A rollicking blend of bluegrass and rock energy.
Saturday, September 6 – Workshops & Grand Finale
Auditorium (Lower Level)
- 12:30 p.m. – Old Time Square Dance Workshop with Steve Green. Steve has taught jig dance and called square dances across the US as well as in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Learn the moves, no prior experience needed – ages 13 and up – get ready to show your stuff at the evening Community Barn Dance!
Basin Spring Park
11 a.m.–6 p.m.: – Ozark Folk Fair – The area’s finest artisans and craftspeople show you how it’s done and display their handmade ware for show and sale; from home goods and art to musical instruments
Emcee Patti Steel hosts the Festival Stage featuring:
- 11 a.m. – Jig dance & Traditional Percussion Workshop with Steve Green—learn jig steps, spoons, hambone, and Ozark dance rhythms. Steve is a percussionist, clogger, flatfoot & buck dancer, and Old Time Square Dance caller, as well as a National Buck (Jig) Dancing champion.
- 12:30 p.m. – Mountain Alice: Strong-voiced string-band fronted by Alice Jorris.
- 1:45 p.m. – Meadow Makers: Harmonious folk duo rooted in mountain tradition.
- 3 p.m. – The Bayard Blain Band: High‑energy Irish‑folk with fiddle, bouzouki, and local luthier’s tunes.
- 4:15 p.m. – The Creek Rocks: Ozarks folk group led by banjoist Cindy Woolf and guitarist Mark Bilyeu; recipients of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress 2024 Artist in Resonance Fellowship.
- 5:30 p.m. – Community Square Dance with The Old 78s and caller Steve Green: all are invited to waltz, square, and two-step. The Old 78s follow the tradition of the great fiddle bands of the 1920s and ‘30s and are known for their high-energy dance tunes and unique fiddle/banjo combinations. Featuring fiddle, banjo mandolin, bari sax, cello banjo, banjo ukulele, and a custom 6-string hybrid 1893 Stewart banjeaurine. Let’s do-si-GO!
Main Stage – Historic Auditorium
- 7:30 p.m. – The Steel Wheels: Dynamic blend of roots, folk, bluegrass, and soul.
- 9 p.m. – Ozark Mountain Daredevils: Get on the “Chicken Train” with legendary country-rockers known for “Jackie Blue” and other classics, including founding members John Dillon and Michael “Supe” Granda, now on the FINAL leg of their farewell tour. Don’t miss!