Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival

This family music festival features southern Appalachian old-time and bluegrass and related music styles. For kids, there is also a Children's Stage, and a Kids' Academy for young music enthusiasts.

This annual event was founded by Ralph and Bill Monroe during Labor Day Weekend 1972. That festival has become one of the nation's premier Bluegrass events and continues until this day. Originally held in Bear, Delaware, the festival remained there until its move to the Salem County Fairgrounds near Woodstown, New Jersey in 1990.

The festival site has plenty of room for camping for tenters as well as RVers, and unlike many other festivals, they do not charge extra for camping. Weekend ticket holders may camp on the grounds at no charge, but camping is available only to weekend ticket holders - daily ticket holders may not bring vehicles or camping gear into the campground.

A featured attraction at the family festival is the kids' academy. This program is designed to give young music enthusiasts an intensive but fun experience with other kids who share their interest in the music. The Kids' Academy will be open to all kids ages 6 to 18 for fiddle (or viola), mandolin, guitar, banjo, resonator guitar, and bass (or cello).

The program is led by their music director Ira Gitlin, winner of the 1992 National Bluegrass Banjo Championship. The Kids' Academy will consist of five sessions that are each two hours long. Look for the area marked Kids' Academy or ask at the Brandywine Friends booth for the location.

Cost: $30 – $140. Children 17 and under (accompanied by adult ticket holders) are admitted free.