Schedule
Wednesday
Gates open for arrival/check-in from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
You must have a Wednesday Early Arrival Ticket to enter the fairgrounds on 9/9/2026.
Chilly Hollow Brewing Company
Open to all—no ticket needed!
Road to Watermelon Pre-Party
Kick off the Watermelon Pickers’ Fest at Chilly Hollow Brewing Company. This off-site pre-party is open to the community.
What to expect:
• Start with an open jam
• Live Music by the Short Hill Mountain Boys
• Exclusive special-edition festival merch
• Delicious beer and food
5:00-9:00 PM
669 Chilly Hollow Rd, Berryville, VA 22611
Thursday
Watermelon Seeds Kids’ Academy
Learn to play and jam with other young musicians.
4:00 – 6:30 PM
Homegrown Stage
Friday
Showers are available at the Chet Hobart Park from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Watermelon Workshop Music Class
Learn new tunes, improve your jamming, and get ready for campfire sessions—or even the band contest!
The Watermelon Workshop requires a separate ticket.
9:00 AM –12:30 PM
Homegrown Stage
Yoga with Anna Billman
Start your morning with a relaxing yoga session, energized for a great day of music!
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Pick-Nick Shelter
Songs for the Young and Young at Heart
Sing and play together with music teacher Karyn.
12:00-12:30 PM
Kids Barn
Savage Hearts
1:00 – 1:30 PM
Homegrown Stage
Family Square Dance Workshop with Janine Smith and music by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer
You’ll be ready to kick up your heels and dance through the festival! Gather at the dance barn for a fun and easy square dance.
1:00 – 1:45 PM
Dance Barn
Flower Fest with Downtown Flower Company
Get creative and enjoy natural beauty while learning colour theory and floral design.
1:00 – 1:45 PM
Kids Barn
The Waychangers
1:45 – 2:15 PM
Homegrown Stage
Instrument Petting Zoo
Future musicians can come and explore! Try out fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, and more. Get an up-close look at the instruments you will see throughout the fest.
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Kids Barn
Murphy’s Bluegrass Bandits
2:00 – 2:30 PM
Homegrown Stage
Furnace Mountain and the City Stompers
Join host band Furnace Mountain and the City Stompers, with their lively beat and captivating flatfooting dance steps.
2:45 – 3:45 PM
Mainstage
The Algorhythms Bluegrass Unit
3:15 – 3:45 PM
Homegrown Stage
Watermelon Seeds Kids’ Academy
Learn to play and jam with other young musicians.
4:00 – 6:30 PM
Homegrown Stage
Tonewood
Bring your instrument or gather to watch the energy at this welcoming open jam.
8:30 PM and into the night!
Neurology
Saturday
Showers are available at the Chet Hobart Park from 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
The pool is open 12:00 – 3:00 PM.
Watermelon Seeds Kids’ Academy
Learn to play and jam with other young musicians.
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Homegrown Stage
Yoga with Anna Billman
Start your morning with a relaxing yoga session, energized for a great day of music!
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Pick-Nick Shelter
Watermelon Seeds Kids’ Academy
Join the first-annual Watermelon Seeds Academy students as they share what they learned!
10:45 – 11:15 AM
Dance Barn
Band and Banjo Picking Contests
- Band Contest is sponsored in loving memory of Puppysquirrelkitty Horan
- Banjo contest is sponsored by Gold Tone
Contest participants must sign up at 10:30 AM.
11:30-1:15 PM
Dance Barn
Watermelon T-Shirt Tie Dye
Limited T-shirts available for fest attendees aged 12 and younger.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Kids Barn
Waltz Workshop with The City Stompers and So Much & So Little
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Pick-Nick Shelter
Mike Mitchell
12:00 –12:30 PM
Homegrown Stage
Recycled Instrument Making
12:15 – 1:00 PM
Kids Barn
Creek Mill Grass Co.
12:45 –1:15 PM
Homegrown Stage
Parachutes & Piñatas
Have fun playing parachute games and celebrating the fest with a piñata full of musical surprises!
1:00 – 1:45 PM
Kids Barn
Rich & Nate (Split String Duo)
1:30 – 2:00 PM
Homegrown Stage
Festival Parade
Bring your masks and instruments for a fun parade around the festival grounds! Join the fun and celebrate with the Pay Rent Brass Band!
Gather for the parade at 1:45, and we’ll start marching at 2:00!
2:00-2:15 PM
Kids Barn
Karma Creak
2:15 – 2:45 PM
Homegrown Stage
Dogwalkers
3:00 – 3:15 PM
Homegrown Stage
Shade – Ungar Project (S.U.P.)
3:45 – 4:15 PM
Homegrown Stage
Band Contest Winners
Enjoy a performance from the 2026 band contest winners!
4:30 – 4:45 PM
Dance Barn
Anthony Gill
4:30 – 5:00 PM
Homegrown Stage
Plate Scrapers
Bring your instrument or gather to watch the energy at this welcoming open jam.
11:00 PM and into the night!
Neurology