MerleFest Map PDF
Check out the MerleFest Map above to make your plans! Below is some helpful information about access, parking, and seating that may be helpful as you plan your MerleFest experience.
Access and Parking
FREE parking and FREE shuttle services are provided from the Blue Lot located off Highway 268 West across from the festival site at Wilkes Community College. Just look for the signs as you approach campus.
The parking lot adjacent to the Walker Center is designated for on-campus, fee-based, parking for our guests. Space in this lot is available to 3 and 4 day ticket buyers only. This parking is accessible only from the Meadowview Drive entrance to the college campus off Hwy 268 West. This lot is not accessible from Collegiate Drive. Signage on Hwy 268 West will direct you to this on-campus lot. Call 800-343-7857 for more information.
Handicapped Parking
All public parking for persons with a disability and appropriate state-issued handicap parking credentials will be located at Shuttle Stop H in the Blue Lot. MerleFest has designated the entire north paved area (turn right at the end of Stokes Street onto Industrial Drive) for handicapped parking only and has designated shuttles for this area that include wheelchair accessible vans to transport guests to the main festival entrance.
Volunteer Parking
MerleFest organizers have designated Shuttle Stop D which is ½ mile west from the entrance to the Blue Lot for all individual and group volunteers. Shuttle Stop D is located on the west side of Key City Furniture on NC Hwy. 268 West (continue past the Blue Lot entrance to Ithaca Drive and turn right). Designated shuttles for volunteers will begin their routes starting at 7:00 a.m. and will run continuously to the festival main entrance.
RV Camping
The RV Camping Lot will be located in the same location and access to the lot will be below the Beacon Building. RV campers will turn onto Meadowview Drive, then take the first left onto Stevens Lane and continue past the Beacon Building and turn right on American Drew Lea Lane. A dump station is located off Stevens Lane for RV campers' use. A shuttle service will run through the lot periodically during the day to transport RV campers to lower campus if they do not elect to walk.
Seating
ALL seating is designated non-smoking. Four-day reserved seats are located in front of the Watson Stage (chairs provided and set up in advance by the festival). For the convenience of all, festival policy is that unoccupied chairs (including "reserved seats") may be used by anyone before 5:00 PM or until the owner returns. Special wristbands are required for admission or re-admission into the reserved seating area after 5:00 PM.
General admission seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and is located immediately behind the reserved seating area at the Watson Stage. Children 12 years of age and younger are admitted free when accompanied by an adult except in the reserved seating area where a 4 day wristband is required regardless of age.
To protect the lovely grounds, all chairs and blankets must be removed daily except "reserved seats." Chairs are provided at most of the other stages, or you may bring your own. Convenient on-site, over-night storage is available at overnight storage free of charge. Children 12 and under will be allowed front of house seating at the Little Pickers Stage.