John C. Campbell Folk School: Fall Festival

John C. Campbell Folk School

October 4-5, 2025, in Brasstown, North Carolina.  

The John C. Campbell Folk School will officially launch its yearlong 100th anniversary campaign and celebrations at its beloved Fall Festival. The milestone event will kick off a year of activities honoring a century of creativity, community and the preservation of Appalachian traditions. 

Fall Festival, a regional favorite for 49 years, will launch the centennial year, welcoming thousands of visitors to experience live music, craft demonstrations, artisan markets and cultural performances in the larger context of the school’s 100th anniversary.  

Each year, more than 13,000 visitors travel to the Folk School from across the Southern Appalachian region, including Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to celebrate the spirit of community and creativity. The event will feature two music and dance stages showcasing dozens of local and regional performers. In addition, the Demonstration Stage, along with three other demonstration locations, will highlight traditional skills and craft practices. The Community Room, in the historic Keith House on the Folk School campus, will be open for participatory activities, inviting all festivalgoers to get hands-on with Appalachian traditions.