The country’s longest continuously running folk festival will return for its 72nd year Nov. 6-10 in Eureka Springs. The Original Ozark Folk Festival will include the Barefoot Ball, Hedgehoppers performance, free music in the park, and this year’s headline show features Marty Stuart, according to a press release.
The festival will kick off with a locals-folk fair at 6 p.m. Nov. 7 at The Auditorium (36 S. Main St.). Upstairs in The Aud, the Hedgehoppers will take the stage with their traditional dance, followed by the Elite Dance show. The Ozark Folk Festival Queens contest begins at 7 p.m. with the singer-songwriter contest finalists to follow.
Touring folk musician Willi Carlisle will perform from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Gem while a cakewalk, games, and spin art happen nearby.
The traditional Barefoot Ball will be at 9 p.m. Thursday at The Basin Park Hotel Barefoot Ballroom at 12 Spring St. with Pierce Edens as the musical guest. Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 at the door ($5 if you ditch your shoes and go barefoot, according to a press release). Tickets can be purchased at The Aud website. The winners of the Queens Contest and Singer-Songwriter Contest will be announced as well.
On Friday, an afternoon of free music in Basin Spring Park starts at noon. Willi Carlisle returns to open the day, followed by Reverend Hylton at 3 p.m and Tyler Gregory at 5:30 p.m.
There will be a handcrafted folk fair Nov. 8-10 in Basin Spring Park, complete with workshops and demos from noon to 6 p.m.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils will perform at The Auditorium on Friday night. Formed in 1972, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils are best known for their hits “If You Want to Get to Heaven…” and “Jackie Blue,” but their music is steeped in Ozark Folk, according to a press release. After beginning their careers at the New Bijou Theater in Springfield, Missouri, the Daredevils went on to play around the world with acts like The Beach Boys, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, and The Doobie Brothers. Tickets are $23, $35 or $40 and can be purchased at The Aud website.
Music continues in Basin Spring Park on at 11 a.m. Saturday with Love Holler. A surprise guest will take the stage at 2 p.m., and Whispering Willows finishes the day at 5 p.m., according to a press release.
The Auditorium will welcome country-music torchbearer Marty Stuart as the headline act of the 72nd Annual Ozark Folk Festival at 7 p.m. Nov. 9. Stuart is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his iconic album The Pilgrim. Tickets can be purchased at The Aud website and are $24, $45 or $55.
Even more folk music is in store. Me & Him will play at 12:30 p.m. Sunday in the Basin Park Bandshell until the start of the parade at 2 p.m. (along the regular parade route from the library to the courthouse).
For updates and the full schedule, visit eurekasprings.org/folk/