Discover why the 54th Walnut Valley Festival has become one of America's most beloved acoustic music, bluegrass, Americana, folk, and Celtic music festivals. In this episode, Neighbor N8 sits down with Executive Director Bart Redford to explore the festival's rich history — from the unique "Land Rush" to the legendary National Flat-Picking Championships, world-class instrument contests, campground jam sessions, workshops, family programming, and the 2026 artist lineup.If you're looking for a world-class acoustic music festival experience, this conversation offers an inside look at what makes Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, a go-to destination for your next festival.👨🏻🦰 About the GuestBart Redford — Executive DirectorWalnut Valley Festivalhttp://facebook.com/bart.redford🎧 About the Festivalhttps://www.wvfest.com/entertainers/https://www.wvfest.com/camping-info/https://www.instagram.com/walnutvalleyfestivalhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064391181340https://www.youtube.com/@UCs9mAFDYm8zMn-cNlq1ZWPg 🎟️ SAVE 25% on Tickets at checkout with code: MFPSAVE 🎟️https://bit.ly/MFP-WVFest🏕️ About the Venuehttps://www.wvfest.com/fairgrounds-mapWinfield Fairgrounds1105 W. 9th Ave., Winfield, KS 67156🔔 Make sure to SUBSCRIBE @musicfestivalspodcast Music Festivals Podcast is touring the country in 2026, bringing you festival previews, recaps, documentaries, interviews, and live streams from music communities across America. Book us to visit your festival for a recap episode, festival documentary or Festival Live Streams 👉 https://musicfestivalspodcast.com🙏 Support more Seasons of MFP with Your Donationshttps://buymeacoffee.com/musicfestivalspodcast⏳ Key Moments00:00 – Welcome and introduction to the 54th Walnut Valley Festival00:58 – The history of Walnut Valley Festival and its founding in 197202:38 – Festival evolution to Americana, folk, Celtic, and acoustic music03:27 – The famous Land Rush, and longtime camping traditions04:18 – Exploring the festival's four performance stages06:33 – Workshops, educational programs, and family-friendly activities08:30 – Highlights from the 2026 Walnut Valley Festival lineup11:45 – Inside the National Flat-Picking Championships13:50 – Experiencing the campground jams and picks15:32 – Ticket discounts and how to save with promo code MFPSAVE16:14 – Festival dates, tickets, and planning your visit to Winfield, KS🤝 Music Festivals Podcast is supported by AMAZING partners like:DLaw Coffee Companyhttps://dlawcoffee.comFlorida Sand Music Ranchhttps://floridasandmusicranch.comThe Will McLean Foundationhttps://willmclean.comvidIQ - YouTube Software to grow your channel faster! 🚀https://vidiq.com/mfp-discountCamp fro Free with Harvest Hostshttps://www.harvesthosts.com/?refid=xsqi9zsxRent a Camper for Your Next Festival with Outdoorsyhttps://www.outdoorsy.com/invite/nater980046
