Set on 85 acres at Ferngrove in Highlands
Some music festivals are built for crowds. Bear Shadow is built for people. That distinction matters — and you feel it the moment you arrive.
Trombone Shorty
Set for May 29–31, and spread across 85 rolling acres at Ferngrove, just seven minutes from downtown Highlands, Bear Shadow offers something increasingly rare on the festival circuit: room to breathe. There’s space to stretch out on the lawn with a blanket or chair, room for kids to roam, and plenty of distance between you and the next group of listeners. No elbowing for position, no being pressed against barriers. Just great music and mountain air.
Kashus Culpepper
And the music? It’s exceptional. This year’s lineup is a masterclass in curation – artists chosen not simply for popularity but for the power of their live performances. The Infamous Stringdusters ignite Friday night with their signature high-octane bluegrass – tight, thrilling, and impossible to sit still for.
Margo Price
Saturday belongs to living legend Mavis Staples, whose voice at 86 carries more soul, more fire, and more joy than most artists half her age. She’s joined by Trombone Shorty, whose brass-powered funk brings a full-body surge of New Orleans energy to the mountain air, and Marc Broussard, whose bayou-inflected soul feels perfectly at home in the mountain air. Sunday wraps the weekend with Charley Crockett, Margo Price, Kashus Culpepper, and Pony Bradshaw – storytellers all, artists who make you feel every word.
Mavis Staples
Bear Shadow has always been a multigenerational event, and 2026 is no exception. Children are not just welcome – they’re celebrated. Two stages keep the music flowing all weekend, making it easy to move from one performance to the next, wander for a bite, and drift back to the lawn just as another set begins – no crush, no chaos. The open grounds give kids room to roam freely while parents relax and enjoy the music without the anxiety of managing little ones in a tight crowd. It’s genuinely multigenerational in the best sense.
J & the Causeways
The food and beverage experience reflects that same welcoming spirit. A wide variety of kid-friendly and family-friendly food options will be on hand throughout the weekend. And every ticket includes unlimited non-alcoholic beverages from a generous selection, so staying hydrated and refreshed is never a question. It’s a simple, thoughtful touch that makes the whole experience more comfortable for everyone.
Pony Bradshaw
Bear Shadow is proof that a world-class music festival can feel unhurried. It’s the kind of weekend where a young child dances barefoot in the grass while a grandparent nearby listens with quiet satisfaction. Both are exactly where they should be.
Charley Crockett
In the end, Bear Shadow manages to feel both expansive and intimate: great music, mountain air, and enough room for everyone to enjoy it. On the Plateau, that combination feels exactly right. Tickets and full lineup details are available at bearshadownc.com.
Marc Broussard
Bear Shadow Music Festival Lineup
Ferngrove, Highlands • May 29–31
Friday, May 29
Stage4Hope Benefit Concert
6:00 P.M.: The Infamous Stringdusters
Saturday, May 30
3:30 P.M.: J & the Causeways
4:45 P.M.: Marc Broussard
6:30 P.M.: Mavis Staples
8:30 P.M.: Trombone Shorty
Sunday, May 31
12:30 P.M.: Pony Bradshaw
1:45 P.M.: Kashus Culpepper
3:15 P.M.: Margo Price
5:30 P.M.: Charley Crockett
The Infamous Stringdusters
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