Drag out the tie-dye, camping gear, and theme-based costumes, it’s time to get your Hillberry on! This year, Hillberry Music Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary October 8–12, with five nights of music, camping, live art, workshops, plus craft and food vendors. Presented by Deadhead Productions and Railroad Earth, the event has been voted Best Music Festival three years in a row by Best of NWA.
Nestled in the picturesque Ozark Mountains, just a short drive from eclectic Eureka Springs, Hillberry is more than a music festival, it’s an escape from the ordinary. The moment you arrive, you leave the “real world” behind and immerse yourself in the Hillberry experience.
Hosted at The Farm, a 160-acre campground that offers amenities like a general store, showers, disc golf, hiking/biking trails, and RV/tent camping. During festival week, it’s homebase for the Hillberry community. Year after year, attendees, arts and crafts vendors showcasing, sound crews and nationally known and local musicians, all come together to form the Hillberry Family.
“I’m extremely grateful to those who have supported us for the past ten years,” says Jon Walker, owner of Deadhead Productions. “Their support and the love they give back is what keeps this event alive.”
This year’s lineup blends folk, country, bluegrass, Americana, and jam, a sound fans call jamgrass. To highlight regional singer-songwriters, Walker added a new stage featuring thirty-minute showcase slots. There’s also a single-mic band competition, with the winner earning a coveted main stage slot at next year’s festival.
For first timers it doesn’t take long to find your way around. Walker designed a series of roads connecting each area of the venue, and this year they’ve been chip-sealed to eliminate dust (cue the cheers!). Your first mission: scout the perfect campsite. There are no bad options. With the main stage nestled at the base of a mountain, music fills the valley. Even when you wander around to visit old and new friends, you won’t miss a note.
Once camp is set, take time to explore. Tie-dye is the pattern of choice, draped across campsites, lounge chairs, and festivalgoers. Stroll Vendor Alley for food-truck fare or morning coffee. Check the Activity Tent schedule for workshops, think tie-dye tees, yoga, juggling, and meditation, with plenty geared toward young festivalgoers. Browse handcrafted apparel, jewelry, and purses before heading to the open meadow in front of the main stage, where a natural amphitheater of Ozark forest frames the view.
Hillberry’s artist community is thriving. Watch featured artists create live works throughout the week. Then make your way to The Shrine Stage, a smaller, tree-framed venue perfect for late-night and morning sets. Hammocks strung between the trees offer the ultimate relaxation spot. Nearby, you’ll find a native stone memorial to Jerry Garcia, decorated with colorful tokens left by festivalgoers. A neighboring bulletin board invites you to add your own words of wisdom.
Festivalgoer Lily Sitero summed it up perfectly, “Been on my list for many years,” she shared. “The lineup is always stacked, and it’s a beautiful setting!” For many, Hillberry is more than a festival; it’s another groovy reason to call the Natural State home.
Visit hillberryfestival.com for tickets and the full lineup.
