Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson was an 8-time Grammy award winning musician from Deep Gap, North Carolina. He was considered a “national treasure” by President Jimmy Carter and was awarded with the National Medal of the Arts by President Bill Clinton. To the residents of Watauga County and many others, he was an “American Hero,” but if you were to ever ask Doc himself, he would say that he was “just one of the people.” 

Doc Watson started playing on the streets of Boone, NC when he was young but quickly rose to fame as a musician playing nationally and internationally. He became a master of flatpicking guitar and was steeped in folk, traditional, and bluegrass music. Despite his ongoing fame and recognition, Doc was a humble man who always made fellow musicians he played with and audiences he played for, feel as if they were sitting in his living room. 

In 1998, the first Doc Watson Appreciation Day was held at the grounds of the Historic Cove Creek School in Sugar Grove, NC. Doc would often play benefits and concerts in and around Watauga County in order to raise money for local families and organizations. The intent of the Doc Watson Appreciation Day was to honor Doc and his many contributions to our community, but the festival was also used to raise money to help restore the Historic Cove Creek School, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Doc Watson was instrumental in helping to preserve Western Watauga County history and the facility is now used for continued community programs. 

The festival has continued for many years and is now titled, Doc and Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest. The festival is still held on the grounds of the historic Cove Creek School in Sugar Grove, which is also home to the Doc and Merle Watson Folk Art Museum. The music festival has hosted multiple World-renown and Grammy nominated and award-winning performers, including Sam Bush, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and of course, Deep Gap-native Doc Watson. The music festival has also been the starting point for many local and regional Grammy Award winning artists including, Old Crow Medicine Show, the Steep Canyon Rangers, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops. 

Although Doc passed away on May 29, 2012 at age 89, the Cove Creek Preservation and Development Board continues to promote the legacy of Doc Watson and his impact on our community and the music world.

Schedule:

Friday, July 19, 2024:

Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper

The Kody Norris Show

East Nash Orass

Liam Purcell and Care Mile Road

Surefire Bluegrass Dand

Saturday, July 20, 2024:

Blue Highway

The Kruger Brothers

Sister Sadie

Appalachian Road Show

The David Mayfield Parade

Charles Welch

Jack Lawrence

Rebecca Frazier

Nick Chandler and Delivered

David Chiuders and The Serpents

Loose Roosters

Lost Ridge Band

The Asheville Mountain Boys

Musigfest Emgee

Cindy Baucom

Dates:

Friday, July 19, 2024 - Saturday, July 20, 2024

Time:

Friday: 4:00pm

Saturday: 9:00am

Location:

Sugar Grove Developmental Day School

207 Dale Adams Rd, Sugar Grove, NC 28679.

Tickets:

Single Day GA:

Friday:

Early Bird: $25

Regular:  $35

A general admission Friday ticket gives you admittance to FRIDAY only of MusicFest to enjoy 5 live musical performances.

Also included in the ticket:

-Access to a variety of food and local craft vendors

-Access to complimentary shuttles to and from the festival

-Access to the Doc and Merle Watson Folk Art Museum

Bring your own chair or blanket!

Friday gates open at 4 pm

Saturday:

Early Bird: $40

Regular: $50

A general admission Saturday ticket gives you admittance to SATURDAY only of MusicFest to enjoy 13 live musical performances.

Also included in the ticket:

-Access to a variety of food and local craft vendors

-Access to complimentary shuttles to and from the festival

-Access to the Doc and Merle Watson Folk Art Museum

Bring your own chair or blanket!

Saturday gates open at 9 am

Two Day GA:

Early Bird: $65

Regular:  $65

A general admission Two Day ticket gives you admittance to both Friday and Saturday of MusicFest to enjoy 18 live musical performances.

Also included in the ticket:

-Access to a variety of food and local craft vendors

-Access to complimentary shuttles to and from the festival

-Access to the Doc and Merle Watson Folk Art Museum

Bring your own chair or blanket!

Reserved Two Day Shade:

Early Bird: $65

Regular:  $65

A reserved Two Day Shade ticket gives you admittance to both Friday and Saturday of MusicFest to enjoy 18 live musical performances and includes reserved seating under tent coverage. 

Also included in the ticket:

-Access to a variety of food and local craft vendors

-Access to complimentary shuttles to and from the festival

-Access to the Doc and Merle Watson Folk Art Museum

-A shade seat comes with a provided chair underneath a tent / canopy. The shade seat area is directly facing the stage, with general admission on the grassy area in between. Any shade seat ticket holder is welcome to bring an additional chair / blanket that could be placed in the general admission area for another seating option during the festival.

Reserved Two Day Shade tickets are limited in quantity. 

-Children 12 years and younger are admitted free to the general admission seating area when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Tickets are required for all seats in the Reserved seating area. Ticket prices exclude processing fee.

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