A Culture 53 Years in the Making
The Kerrville Folk Festival, the Foundation’s flagship event, was founded by Rod Kennedy in 1972. The 50th Kerrville Folk Festival was celebrated in 2022 and continues to be a Mecca for the songwriting community. For 18 straight days and nights, the Festival offers concerts and activities for all ages that are focused on nurturing and developing artistic expression, especially the art of songwriting.
The Festival is held at Quiet Valley Ranch in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, just 9 miles south of Kerrville, TX. (It’s about an hour drive from San Antonio and a two-hour drive from Austin.)
The Festival is celebrated by a community who considers itself family and are always delighted to welcome new folks! When gathered, it becomes the second largest community in Kerr county. During the 18-day Festival, attendance is approximately 30,000, with guests coming from all over the world to experience the magic many simply call “Kerrville”.
The Oldest Music Festival In Texas
With over 1500 outstanding singer-songwriters have been presented on the Festival’s stages. Through the years, the Kerrville stage has welcomed many nationally known artists, as New Folk Finalists, performers, and instructors in our schools and workshops.
While many folks come out just to see the evening shows, many say the heart and soul of the Festival is in the Campground. This is where folks can truly experience and appreciate the abundance of talent the community is blessed to have in their midst each year. Impromptu jam sessions pop up at any time around campfires, or anywhere folks are willing to listen; it is a 24-hour-a-day treat for musicians and music enthusiasts alike.
The two words that seem to come up most when people describe the festivals is “magic” and “transformational.” We invite you to join us and create your own magically transformational experience, and learn why so many come back year after year.
