It’s time once again to feature a festival I WILL be attending VERY soon, or sending a representative to cover an extensive series of articles from and that is the almighty DelFest. DelFest is a four day four night extravaganza up in Cumberland Maryland, now in it’s eleventh year. Now folks this is a short piece from their website here:
DelFest is held at the beautiful Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD (2.5 hrs from Baltimore and DC). The festival originated from the desire to create a family-friendly music festival celebrating the rich legacy of McCoury Music while creating a forum for world-class musical collaborations and to showcase fresh new talent with a down-home feeling. Produced in association with High Sierra Music, the 11th Annual DelFest will again offer a quality festival experience stamped with the unique McCoury touch. Personally chosen by Del, the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD served as the perfect location for DelFest–nestled along the Potomac River in the scenic Appalachian Mountains, the Fairgrounds are convenient to four major airports and easily reached by rail or road. The city of Cumberland is also a great host offering multiple hotel options, a charming downtown and great amenities including biking, a steam train engine and museum, and some top notch dining.
In addition to traditional stage sets by these world-class artists, attendees can again expect to see one-of-a-kind collaborations, special guest sit-ins, various tributes to Del McCoury and his musical legacy, intimate appearances, both at unique “playshops”—informal workshops where the emphasis will be on performance rather than instruction—and in late night indoor performances and picking sessions. Delfest will be immediately preceded by a 3-day Music Academy hosted by The Travelin’ McCourys and other all star players.
There are MANY ticket packages available by clicking HERE and I have camping information as well.
On-Site Camping
All multi-day passes include on-site walk-in camping. Parking NOT included, see below. On-site camping at DelFest surrounds the perimeter of the fairgrounds among ballfields, in the woods and beyond in Green Acres. On-site camping is walk-in tent camping only. Expect to be parked tightly and efficiently, and to use the wooded areas for walk-in camping. You won’t be too far from your vehicle, but do not expect to camp right next to your car as we need to maximize parking space, and park efficiently. Wagons and hand carts are encouraged. Shuttles will be available to assist in load-in.
Tent Camping at DelFest
The fairgrounds have permanent restrooms and showers, and we supplement the facilities with ample portable toilets. Please be courteous and take only the space you need. Roping off areas and saving space for latecomers is not acceptable festival etiquette. Camping overnight on Sunday is permitted. All patrons must leave the fairgrounds by noon on Monday.
DelFest is accessible to all guests with disabilities. View Accessibility Information and Registration details here.
Family Camp
There will be a family camping area designated for those who would like a more kid-friendly environment that is quieter late at night (and a bit louder early in the morning). If you’ve got little ones in tow and you are interested in camping in Family Camp, let your parking attendant know and you’ll be pointed in the right direction. Must have a Family Camp RV Pass or On-Site Parking Pass to be placed in Family Camp. As always space is designated on a first come, first served basis.
Show Sherpa
Are you searching for a hassle-free Delfest camping experience? The Show Sherpa is here to help! Leave the camping gear behind and let The Show Sherpa do the heavy lifting. We have your tent set up when you arrive and we take it down after you leave. Stand up and stretch! No tiny dome tents here. The Sherpa Village is outfitted with large Eureka! cabin style tents with almost seven feet of headroom and 100 square feet of space, not to mention the sturdy comfortable camping cots. The Show Sherpa’s pre-pitched tent rentals also include camping chairs, a lantern, and all Sherpa Village amenities featuring FREE COFFEE in the morning, a complimentary bag of ice daily, large shade tents filled with comfy chairs for relaxing in between the music. We have a full camp kitchen including a large gas grill, an expedition stove as well as all the pots, pans & utensils you need to make a great meal to refuel for more dancin’. More details here.
DELuxe DELivered RV Packages – New This Year!
Want an RV experience without the hassle of renting and driving an RV? DELuxe DELivered is for you!
Our friends at Ace RV Rentals will provide the rental unit, you just show up! These packages will include:
- 2 DELuxe Experience passes
- Waived on-site parking fee for one regular sized vehicle
- RV or Travel trailer (located at the Pavilion) hooked up to power and water
- Amenities including bedding (bed linens, pillows, towels), basic kitchen sets, coffee pot, disposable cups, plates, utensils, and camp chairs.
All units are late model RV’s. Two options include RV (31 – 32 foot Class C Motor Home) sleeps 6 for $4,399 and Trailer (25 – 26 foot travel trailer) sleeps 4 for $3,499. These packages will go on sale with the general on-sale tomorrow, January 9th, at 10am EST.
Prefer to make your own RV arrangements? Ace RV Rentals is the preferred RV rental company for DelFest. Contact them directly to arrange an RV rental with either pickup (they’re just 5 minutes from Dulles with complimentary pickup between 9am and 5pm) or have it delivered to DelFest! Use promo code DELFEST for a 5% discount! They have a lot of festival experience and will take good care of you.
Greensky Bluegrass
The Dawg Trio with David Grisman, Danny Barnes, Sam Grisman
Richard Thompson – RT
The Infamous Stringdusters
Rhiannon Giddens
Mandolin Orange
The Gibson Brothers
The California Honeydrops
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
New Orleans Suspects
The Broomestix
The Grass Is Dead
Justin Moses & Cody Kilby
The Del McCoury Band
The Travelin’ McCourys
Old Crow Medicine Show
Ricky Skaggs And Kentucky Thunder
Sam Bush
Richard Thompson
The Jerry Douglass Band
The Wood Brothers
Fruition
Sierra Hull
Billy Strings
Bryan Sutton Band
Rising Appalachia
The Gibson Brothers
The California Honeydrops
the Kruger Brothers
Joe Craven And The Sometimers
The Lil Smokies
Cris Jacobs
The Dustbowl Revival
The Brothers Comatose
The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
New Orleans Suspects
Birds Of Chicago
Jon Stickley Trio
The
This is a multiple stage outdoor festival event, that is conveniently located by airports and many hotels. The fairgrounds have permanent restrooms and showers, and we supplement the facilities with ample portable toilets. Please be courteous and take only the space you need. Roping off areas and saving space for latecomers is not acceptable festival etiquette. Camping overnight on Sunday is permitted. All patrons must leave the fairgrounds by noon on Monday. There WILL BE a family type camping area that is quieter at night, and camping IS INCLUDED in your ticket price, however you may not be camped near your vehicle due to attendance. You also have to purchase a separate parking pass to park your vehicle on the adjoining property. As always because I am a patron that requires hotels at my festivals that my website covers here are some that I found on their website and my own research.
Late Night Shows Announced!
Grand Ole’ Ditch and Mountain Ride at DelFest and Artists at Large Announced!
Hotels and Motels
Fairfield Inn & Suites
21 N. Wineow St.
Cumberland, MD 21502
301.722.0340
Holiday Inn Express & Suites La Vale/Cumberland
1076 National Hwy
La Vale, MD 21502
301.729.4800
Ramada Cumberland
100 S. George Street
Cumberland, MD 21502
301.724.8800
Red Roof Inn LaVale/Cumberland
I-68 at exit #40
12310 Winchester Rd SW, LaVale, MD 21502
301.729.6700
Super 8 Motel La Vale/Cumberland Area
I-68 at Rt 53
1301 National Hwy
La Vale, MD 21502
301.729.6265
Rocky Gap Casino & Resort
16701 Lakeview Rd. NE
Flintstone (Cumberland), MD 21530
800.724.0828
301.784.8400
Frostburg Days Inn
11100 New George Creek Road
Frostburg, MD USA 21532
301.689.2050
Best Western Braddock Motor Inn
1268 National Highway
La Vale, Maryland 21502
301.729.3300
Comfort Inn & Suites
1216 National Highway
LaVale, MD 21502
301.729.6400
Hampton Inn
11200 New George’s Creek Road
Frostburg, MD 21532
301.689.1998
Microtel Inn
70 N Tornado Way
Keyser, WV 26726
304.597.1400
toll free: 1.800.771.7171
Bed and Breakfasts/Historic Inns
The Inn On Decatur
108 Decatur Street
Cumberland, MD 21502
301.722.4887 or 240.727.7039
Town Hill Hotel Bed & Breakfast
31101 National Pike
Little Orleans, MD 21766
301.478.2794
Local Campgrounds
Rocky Gap State Park
12500 Pleasant Valley Road
Flintstone MD 21530
Want to learn how to play your favorite stringed instrument with the pros?
DelFest Academy takes place the Sunday through Wednesday prior to the festival (May 20 – 23, 2018), and offers a friendly, encouraging, and intensive four-day learning experience with some of the finest musicians in bluegrass serving as instructors for students of all levels. The Academy currently offers instruction for guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bass, and dobro. The all-star instructors provide lessons to students which target their individual needs and leave ample time for plenty of one-on-one interaction. Joining the Travelin’ McCourys [Rob McCoury (banjo), Ron McCoury (mandolin), Jason Carter (fiddle), Cody Kilby (guitar), Alan Bartram (bass)], who host The Academy each year, this year’s instructors include Frank Solivan (mandolin), Mike Munford (banjo), Chris Luquette (guitar), Ronnie Bowman, and Jay Starling (dobro) and more.
More info on The Academy her
