Blab Music
42nd Folk Music Festival Returns to Sharlot Hall Museum on Oct. 3
The 42nd Folk Music Festival will be held at the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, Arizona, on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, marking the event’s first appearance in seven years. The day‑long celebration begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m., with the museum’s historic grounds serving as the venue for more than 50 musicians performing across four stages.
The festival’s return follows a hiatus that began after the 41st edition in 2019. According to the museum’s announcement, the 42nd edition will feature a mix of traditional folk songs, contemporary folk‑revival pieces, and regional Arizona folk styles. The event is open to the public, with admission set at $15. Children nine years old and younger enter free, and museum members receive complimentary admission.
Ticketing for the main festival will be available at the gate on the day of the event. The museum’s website lists the $15 price and the free admission policy for children and members. The limited‑seating concert with the Folk Legacy Trio, a national group composed of former members of the Kingston Trio and other historic folk ensembles, will take place Friday, Oct. 2, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets for that concert are sold exclusively through the Sharlot Hall website.
The Folk Legacy Trio, which includes George Grove, Rick Dougherty, and Jerry Siggins, has been described as a “living library” of the folk era. Their repertoire spans the Great American Folksong Book, featuring songs from the 1950s to the mid‑1970s, and includes material from the Weavers, the Kingston Trio, the Limeliters, and Peter, Paul & Mary. The trio’s appearance at the museum is the first time the group has performed in the Southwest since their 2024 tour of the West Coast.
Sharlot Hall Museum, founded in 1928 as the Gubernatorial Mansion Museum, has long served as a cultural hub for Prescott and the Central Highlands of Arizona. The museum’s open‑air campus includes historic buildings such as the John C. Frémont House and the former Prescott Schoolhouse. The Folk Music Festival aligns with the museum’s mission to preserve and promote regional heritage, and the museum’s education coordinator, Jody Drake, has highlighted the festival’s role in engaging younger audiences through live music and interactive exhibits.
The festival’s program will feature four stages: the Main Stage, the Heritage Stage, the Acoustic Stage, and the Youth Stage. Each stage will host a different mix of performers, from solo folk singers to full bands. The festival’s schedule, released by the museum, indicates that the main stage will host the largest acts, while the youth stage will focus on family‑friendly performances and workshops.
The event’s pricing structure reflects the museum’s commitment to accessibility. The $15 admission fee is consistent with the museum’s standard ticket price for day‑use admission to its historic grounds. The free admission for children and members is part of a broader initiative to encourage family attendance at cultural events.
Tickets for the Folk Legacy Trio concert are limited and will sell out quickly. The museum’s website lists the concert as a “special limited‑seating” event, with tickets priced at $30. The concert’s schedule, posted on the museum’s event calendar, indicates that the trio will perform a set of 12 songs, including classic folk standards and lesser‑known regional pieces.
The 42nd Folk Music Festival is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, with music beginning at 10 a.m. The festival’s day‑long format allows visitors to experience a full range of folk traditions without the need for overnight accommodations. The museum’s open‑air setting provides a historic backdrop that complements the acoustic nature of the performances.
In summary, the 42nd Folk Music Festival will bring more than 50 musicians to the Sharlot Hall Museum on Oct. 3, 2026, after a seven‑year break. The event will feature four stages, a free admission policy for children and members, and a limited‑seating Folk Legacy Trio concert on Oct. 2. Tickets for the main festival will be sold at the gate, while the concert tickets are available online. The festival’s return underscores the museum’s role as a cultural center and its ongoing commitment to preserving folk music traditions in the Southwest.
The festival’s return follows a hiatus that began after the 41st edition in 2019. According to the museum’s announcement, the 42nd edition will feature a mix of traditional folk songs, contemporary folk‑revival pieces, and regional Arizona folk styles. The event is open to the public, with admission set at $15. Children nine years old and younger enter free, and museum members receive complimentary admission.
Ticketing for the main festival will be available at the gate on the day of the event. The museum’s website lists the $15 price and the free admission policy for children and members. The limited‑seating concert with the Folk Legacy Trio, a national group composed of former members of the Kingston Trio and other historic folk ensembles, will take place Friday, Oct. 2, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets for that concert are sold exclusively through the Sharlot Hall website.
The Folk Legacy Trio, which includes George Grove, Rick Dougherty, and Jerry Siggins, has been described as a “living library” of the folk era. Their repertoire spans the Great American Folksong Book, featuring songs from the 1950s to the mid‑1970s, and includes material from the Weavers, the Kingston Trio, the Limeliters, and Peter, Paul & Mary. The trio’s appearance at the museum is the first time the group has performed in the Southwest since their 2024 tour of the West Coast.
Sharlot Hall Museum, founded in 1928 as the Gubernatorial Mansion Museum, has long served as a cultural hub for Prescott and the Central Highlands of Arizona. The museum’s open‑air campus includes historic buildings such as the John C. Frémont House and the former Prescott Schoolhouse. The Folk Music Festival aligns with the museum’s mission to preserve and promote regional heritage, and the museum’s education coordinator, Jody Drake, has highlighted the festival’s role in engaging younger audiences through live music and interactive exhibits.
The festival’s program will feature four stages: the Main Stage, the Heritage Stage, the Acoustic Stage, and the Youth Stage. Each stage will host a different mix of performers, from solo folk singers to full bands. The festival’s schedule, released by the museum, indicates that the main stage will host the largest acts, while the youth stage will focus on family‑friendly performances and workshops.
The event’s pricing structure reflects the museum’s commitment to accessibility. The $15 admission fee is consistent with the museum’s standard ticket price for day‑use admission to its historic grounds. The free admission for children and members is part of a broader initiative to encourage family attendance at cultural events.
Tickets for the Folk Legacy Trio concert are limited and will sell out quickly. The museum’s website lists the concert as a “special limited‑seating” event, with tickets priced at $30. The concert’s schedule, posted on the museum’s event calendar, indicates that the trio will perform a set of 12 songs, including classic folk standards and lesser‑known regional pieces.
The 42nd Folk Music Festival is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, with music beginning at 10 a.m. The festival’s day‑long format allows visitors to experience a full range of folk traditions without the need for overnight accommodations. The museum’s open‑air setting provides a historic backdrop that complements the acoustic nature of the performances.
In summary, the 42nd Folk Music Festival will bring more than 50 musicians to the Sharlot Hall Museum on Oct. 3, 2026, after a seven‑year break. The event will feature four stages, a free admission policy for children and members, and a limited‑seating Folk Legacy Trio concert on Oct. 2. Tickets for the main festival will be sold at the gate, while the concert tickets are available online. The festival’s return underscores the museum’s role as a cultural center and its ongoing commitment to preserving folk music traditions in the Southwest.
