Earl Scruggs Music Festival
- Dates
- Sep 3 to 5, 2027
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Tryon International Equestrian Center
- Price
- $103 to $208
- Camping
- Available
- Last checked
- Nov 3, 2026
Earl Scruggs Music Festival returns to Mill Spring, NC, Sep 3 to 5, 2027. Froligo tracks current ticket prices, camping, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Earl Scruggs Music Festival is a Labor Day weekend celebration of bluegrass, Americana and roots music held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina, honoring the legacy of banjo pioneer Earl Scruggs. Presented in partnership with the Earl Scruggs Center and public radio station WNCW, it pairs a deep lineup of legends and rising artists with on-site lodging, cabins and camping across a sprawling resort site, and was named the IBMA's 2025 Event of the Year.
How it works
The festival runs Friday to Sunday on Labor Day weekend, September 3 to 5, 2027, at Tryon International Equestrian Center. In 2026 gates opened at 8 a.m., music ran from late morning until between 11 p.m. and midnight, and a free Thursday evening show was open to the public; check the 2027 schedule once it is posted. Seating is general admission, covered grandstand seating on a separate ticket, or the Scruggs Club section, and Earl's Pickin' Pavilion is open to anyone who brings an instrument to jam.
Who it suits
It suits bluegrass, Americana and roots fans who want legends alongside newcomers, pickers who want to jam, and families, with a supervised Kid Zone for ages 12 and under. It is an outdoor event that runs rain or shine, with covered viewing only in the grandstand, so anyone who wants shelter from the weather should look at grandstand seating.
What people love
Attendees are effusive, repeatedly awarding 'five stars' for stellar performances and strong, well-curated lineups that mix legends with younger acts, and many say they'd happily return. The equestrian-center venue draws praise for comfortable, air-conditioned grandstand seating, cabins and ample camping, though some find the show-arena setting less suited to traditional campground picking. On-site food options are plentiful, and getting around is mostly smooth thanks to shuttle trolleys, but parking traffic can be a sticking point at peak times.
Last time around (2025)
The 2025 edition, held over Labor Day weekend, earned strong reviews from press and attendees who praised a lineup mixing legends with younger artists and featuring guest collaborations such as Jerry Douglas sitting in across sets. It capped a year in which the festival was honored with the IBMA Event of the Year award.
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Listen
Tap an artist to play them right here.
No official playlist linked yet. Find Earl Scruggs Music Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Here's who played in 2026:
Getting there
How do I get to Earl Scruggs Music Festival?
Tryon International Equestrian Center sits in Mill Spring, North Carolina, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Daily general admission parking comes with Earl Express shuttle service through the day, and preferred parking in the main lot is bought separately. Staying on site shortens the trip further, since a shuttle also runs from the tent camping field during festival hours. Check out each of the options below.
Nearest airport AVL.
By car
The nearest major airport is AVL, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No rail reaches Mill Spring itself. The Amtrak Crescent (New York-Atlanta-New Orleans) stops at Spartanburg, SC (SPB, unstaffed platform with parking, ~28 mi south of the venue) and Greenville, SC (GRV, ~45 mi), one train daily in each direction; check the timetable as upstate-SC stops run late in the evening. No onward public transit from either station to the venue: a rental car or pre-arranged taxi is required for the last leg.
Book / infoBy bus & public transit
Intercity coach reaches Asheville (FlixBus/Greyhound stop at 64 Ashland Avenue, Asheville NC, ~45 min drive from the venue) from 17 direct cities including Charlotte, Atlanta, Raleigh and New York. Greyhound also serves Spartanburg, SC (~28 mi south). No local transit continues to Mill Spring, rental car or taxi needed for the final leg.
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
Uber and Lyft both operate at AVL, pickup from the designated ground-transportation area (relocated to Shuttle Lot South, per the airport's own travel alert). The venue itself warns that 'Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have limited availability in our region' and recommends arranging transportation in advance, the outbound ride from AVL is straightforward, but return pickup from rural Mill Spring is the unreliable leg, especially at festival-close surge times.
Book / infoTaxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
Cost Daily GA parking is available with the Earl Express shuttle to the gates running throughout the day; preferred parking in the main lot is a separate paid add-on ('NOT included with any ticket type') purchased through Eventbrite. Multiple ADA spaces available with an ADA tag displayed. Venue-wide policy: 'General parking at TIEC is free. During special events, there may be a charge for parking as well as VIP parking opportunities.' One 3BR-cabin lodging package includes 'one VIP parking spot near the gates to the festival'.. Prepay via Eventbrite.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at AVL
If you are hiring a car, it is worth checking parking near the venue before you go.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Venue
Tryon International Equestrian Center
Camping & Accommodation
Where do most people stay?
Staying on the resort site is the main draw: tent camping in grass fields within walking distance of the stages, dry RV camping, full hook-up RV pads, one-bedroom log cabins and on-site hotel rooms. Lodging is sold as a three-night package from Friday to Sunday and is booked separately from tickets, with the night of September 2 available as an early arrival. Check out each of the options below.
Is there camping at Earl Scruggs Music Festival?
Yes, on site camping is available.
Facilities
Camping site types 3
One car allowed per 15'x20' tent site (parked on-site alongside the tent); daily GA parking with Earl Express shuttle for non-campers.
Full-hookup sites: 30/50-amp power, water and sewer at each pad, Recreation Center access (showers, washers/dryers); on JOIN WAITLIST as of 17 Aug 2026. Venue's 200-site RV park (non-festival) also advertises cable TV and Wi-Fi; a non-festival 2023 stay ran '$80/night plus tax' (Glamper Life), festival-package pricing is only shown inside the Eventbrite lodging flow, not on the public page. Max RV length reported as ~40 ft including tow (RV There Yet guide, unofficial).
No separate vandwelling category, vans fit under RV Dry Camping (20'x60' space plus one additional vehicle, no hookups; bathrooms in walking distance, showers a short drive away at the Welcome Center) or a tent site with its single-vehicle allowance.
Where can I stay near Earl Scruggs Music Festival?
Mid-range hotels 1
46 International Boulevard, NC 28756
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirport hotels 3
31 Airport Park Road, Fletcher, NC 28732
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates183 Underwood Road, Fletcher, NC 28732
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates196 Underwood Road, Fletcher, NC 28732
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesSearch all hotels near Tryon International Equestrian Center
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
What to bring
Three days on the rolling, walkable grounds of an equestrian resort at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, outdoors and rain or shine.
Full rule
Clear bags up to 14 x 17 x 6 inches are allowed. Backpacks that are not clear and single-pocket drawstring bags that are not clear are not.
Entry rules
Accessibility & comfort
What the organizer or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
Confirm your specific needs with the organizer's access team before you travel.
Pricing
Price history and tiers
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Quick answers
When is Earl Scruggs Music Festival 2027?
Sep 3 to 5, 2027
How much are Earl Scruggs Music Festival tickets?
$103 to $208 per person were the 2026 edition's prices. 2027 tickets are not on sale yet; prices will be confirmed when they go on sale.
Where is Earl Scruggs Music Festival held?
Tryon International Equestrian Center, Mill Spring, NC.