Musicians are tuning up their instruments and moonshiners are loading up pickup trucks in preparation for the fifth annual Hillbilly Woodstock in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. As many as 10,000 people are expected to attend the family-friendly festival, which will take place in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, on August 1st and 2nd.
The musical lineup features several popular Bluegrass, Country and Americana artists from throughout Appalachia, including Andy Bucker, SmokeRise, the Ryan Perry Band, Neon Truckers, Pioneer Chicken Stand, Joe Lasher Jr. and Kaitlyn Baker, who recently released her debut single “Burn” from an upcoming album on the Silvercreek Records label.
Other celebrity guests will include Big Juicy from the truTV series “Lizard Lick Towing” and Greg Shook from the History Channel’s “Appalachian Outlaws.” There will also be several cast members of the Discovery Channel reality series “Moonshiners,” including Mike “Mud Dog” Mitchell, Jim Tom Hedrick, Mark Rogers and Roy Grooms.
“These are real moonshiners who have spent time in jail,” said festival co-founder Becky Ramey, laughing. “They’ll be selling merchandise and signing autographs. They were among our most popular guests last year, and I’m sure this year will be no different.”
Other special guests will also include Shane McCoy and James Hatfield, descendants of the infamous, feuding Hatfields and McCoys, who will perform a lumberjack-themed program. There will also be a car and motorcycle show called “Hillbilly Show ‘n Shine.” Each of the first 25 “Show ‘n Shine” participants will receive a hand-crafted, copper model of a moonshine still.
Hillbilly Woodstock draws fans from around the country, and last year was named “Event of the Year” by the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce. Sponsors include Howling Moon Distillery, Sugarlands Distilling Company, Budweiser, Jarden Home Brands (makers of Ball® brand canning jars), Smoky Mountain Steel Horses (Harley-Davidson), and the Maggie Valley Inn & Conference Center. Some proceeds from the festival will benefit the Francis Fund, a nonprofit organization that cares for sick and wounded animals in Haywood County, North Carolina.
“There’s something for everyone at Hillbilly Woodstock,” Ramey said. “It’s just hillbillies and rednecks sitting around, having fun. If you’re not one when you get here, you will be, by the time you leave!”
Hillbilly Woodstock will take place Friday, August 1, and Saturday, August 2, from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, 3374 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, NC 28751. Tickets are $6 per day or $10 for both days. All ages admitted. For more information, visit www.HillbillyWoodstock.com or www.Facebook.com/hillbillywoodstockfestival.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday, August 1
12:00-12:45 Paul Constantine
1:00-1:45 Jake Cox
2:00-2:45 Steven Phillips
3:00-3:45 Pioneer Chicken Band
4:00-4:45 Andy Buckner
5:00-5:45 Morgan Stepp & Eric Shelton
6:00-6:45 Soco Creek Band
7:00-7:45 Chad Walker Band
8:00-9:15 Tailgate Mafia Band
9:30-11:00 Ryan Perry Band & SmokeRise Band
Saturday, August 2
11:00-11:45 Ryan Perry Band
12:00-12:45 Croon ‘n Cadence Band
1:00-1:45 Road Runnerz Band
2:00-2:45 Neon Truckers Band
3:00-4:15 Kendra Welch
4:00-4:45 Show & Shine Awards
4:45-5:45 The Real Hatfields & McCoys Show
6:00-7:30 Kaitlyn Baker
7:45-9:15 Joe Lasher Jr. Band
9:30-10:45 Andy Buckner Band
Really is it a non alcohol event?
‘Family friendly’ means alcohol free, (Baptist) God Squad, Republican hypocrisy and white trash TV guest stars, for the record. But show up for yourself if I’m full of it. But you can always role play like a Ren Fair for pretending a beer exists for sale.
If family friendly means “Baptists galore” and no alcohol allowed, it’s going to be a bit weird celebrating the booze culture with Diet Coke. No thanks.
agreed. sounds like hell on earth.
oh boy, hahahaha, will make sure to steer clear of Maggie Valley that week
No doubt. Might lose a few IQ points just getting near the place.