Walnut Valley Festival
- Dates
- Expected September 2027
- Status
- Expected
- Venue
- Cowley County Fairgrounds
- Price
- $80 to $150
- Camping
- Available
- Last checked
- Oct 16, 2026
The last Walnut Valley Festival was September 17 to 20, 2026, in Winfield, KS. Its 2027 dates haven't been announced yet. Froligo tracks ticket prices, camping, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Walnut Valley Festival is an acoustic music institution held every third weekend of September since 1972 at the Cowley County Fairgrounds in Winfield, Kansas. Four stages deliver more than 150 hours of bluegrass, folk and acoustic music over four days, and the festival is famous for its national instrument championships (flatpicking, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, fiddle and more). Just as celebrated is its round-the-clock campground picking culture and the pre-festival 'Land Rush' to claim campsites.
What people love
Attendees rave about the nonstop campground jamming and the laid-back, friendly crowd, with many describing days full of people carrying instruments for impromptu sessions well into the night. Regulars call it an underrated gem, praising the great music, facilities and fellowship at family-friendly prices, and the musician-heavy camping community that makes it, for some, the best week of the year.
Last time around (2025)
The 2025 Walnut Valley Festival ran its usual third-weekend-of-September dates at the Winfield fairgrounds, with press describing it as a 'wild cacophony of music, people, food, and good times unlike anywhere else in Kansas,' anchored by the instrument championships and the festival's signature all-hours campground jams.
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Listen
No official playlist linked yet. Find Walnut Valley Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Getting there
How do I get to Walnut Valley Festival?
By car
Most people drive to Walnut Valley Festival. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Taxis 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 $10/day vehicle permit for campground parking (2026 official rate); free for grounds-only day/long-term parking outside the campground. Official camping-info page notes free long-term and day parking on the grounds as an alternative to driving into the campground itself; once a ticket is redeemed, attendees can use the ReEntry gate rather than the main ticket line.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire
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
Map shows the center of Winfield. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
Cowley County Fairgrounds
Camping & Accommodation
Is there camping at Walnut Valley Festival?
Yes, on site camping is available.
Facilities
Camping site types 3
Rough/tent camping $15/day plus a separate $10/day vehicle permit to bring a car into the campground; first-come-first-served, no reserved spots, across the West and Pecan Grove campgrounds.
Electric hookups $12/day, water hookups also available, both scattered throughout the campground and first-come-first-served (not reserved sites), becoming hard to find by the Monday before the festival per official guidance. RV/electric hookups are additive detail the enum doesn't carry, not a contradiction. RV pumping service available for a fee via the Ticket Trailer.
IMPORTANT caveat for the 2026 edition specifically: official camping-info page notes bridge construction over the Walnut River at US Highway 160 makes it likely that camping north of the highway (which includes this rough-camping area) will NOT be available in 2026, flag this prominently, it's a real change from the historical pattern.
Where can I stay near Walnut Valley Festival?
Airport hotels 2
7230 West Harry Street, Wichita, KS 67209
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates6815 West Kellogg Drive, Wichita, KS 67209
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesSearch all hotels near Cowley County Fairgrounds
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Entry rules
Accessibility & comfort
What the organizer or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
The festival FAQ answers mobility questions directly, though there is no standalone accessibility page. Handicapped parking is between the two entrances, the Ticket Trailer and Reentry, and a shuttle service runs from that lot to the north interior gate.
Read the full notes
The FAQ does not say whether that shuttle itself is wheelchair accessible. There is a designated handicapped camping area on blacktop, just south of the Ticket Trailer and north of Barn 4 (Stage IV), described elsewhere as part of the West Campground.
It is still first come first served and open to anyone with a handicapped license plate or placard. Campers who need electricity for medical equipment do not have to take part in preregistration, lineup or land rush. The site publishes nothing about accessible viewing platforms, accessible toilets, companion or carer tickets, ASL interpretation or a quiet space.
Access questions can go to [email protected] or 620-221-3250.
Confirm your specific needs with the organizer's access team before you travel.
Checked 2026-09-03 · source
Pricing
Price history and tiers
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Quick answers
When is Walnut Valley Festival 2027?
Not announced yet. The last festival was September 17 to 20, 2026. The next one is expected in September.
How much are Walnut Valley Festival tickets?
$80 to $150 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 Walnut Valley Festival held?
Cowley County Fairgrounds, Winfield, KS.