Old Settler's Music Festival is an annual bluegrass, Americana, and roots-music gathering held each spring at Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood, Texas, near the Hill Country hamlet of Tilmon. Founded in 1987 near Round Rock, the festival has moved several times over four decades and now draws thousands of fans for three days of camping, live sets, and songwriting workshops.
Its long-running music community gives it strong guidebook value.
The festival's staying power comes from its identity as a musician's festival as much as a fan's: past and present lineups blend nationally touring bluegrass and Americana acts with rising songwriters, and sets often spill into unplanned collaborations backstage and around the campground
Its 2018 move to 145 acres the organization purchased outside Tilmon gave the event a permanent home for the first time since 1987, after earlier stops in Round Rock, Dripping Springs, and Driftwood following a flood
For 2026 the festival returns to Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood for a scaled-back, community-focused weekend billed as Back to Ben, emphasizing the intimate atmosphere that first defined it before it grew into a larger touring-circuit stop
The festival preserves an old-time bluegrass tradition of informal campground picking circles that run late into the night alongside the scheduled main-stage sets
plus songwriter workshops that let attendees interact directly with touring musicians
16–18 April 2027
Rural venue access is by car.
Casual festival and camping wear: broad-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and closed-toe boots or sneakers for uneven pasture ground; light layers for warm April days that cool off after sunset.
At Old Settler's Music Festival, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.
Lockhart or Austin
Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.
USD
unknown
External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.
We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.
Old Settler's Music Festival is listed for 16–18 April 2027. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Tilmon, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
3 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Tilmon, TX
unknown
This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.
Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.
Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.
Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →
