Walnut Valley Festival

View on map
MusicWinfield
DatesDates TBA · Usually SeptemberCheck locally before booking
DurationAutumnEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsUnlike large commercial music festivals
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield

The Walnut Valley Festival is an acoustic and bluegrass music festival held annually in Winfield, Kansas, running Wednesday through Sunday around the third Saturday of September and centered on nationally recognized flatpicking guitar competitions. Established in the early 1970s, the festival draws top acoustic guitarists to compete for the National Flatpicking Championship title while thousands more camp on-site for round-the-clock jam sessions.

Winfield, Kansas is a small city that would not obviously suggest itself as a national hub for acoustic music, yet the Walnut Valley Festival has built exactly that reputation since its founding in the early 1970s.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Unlike large commercial music festivals, Walnut Valley is built around instrumental competition as much as performance, with its National Flatpicking Championship guitar contest, established in the early 1970s, serving as the event's centerpiece and drawing top acoustic guitarists from across the country to compete for a title widely respected within the bluegrass and folk music community

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival takes place in the small city of Winfield, giving it an intimate, campground-centered atmosphere distinct from larger urban festivals, with attendees often camping on-site for the full run and participating in informal jam sessions throughout the fairgrounds well beyond the scheduled stage performances

03

The city starts moving

Its focus extends past bluegrass into a broader range of acoustic styles, including folk, old-time, and singer-songwriter traditions, reflecting a genre-inclusive approach uncommon among competition-centered music festivals

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The National Flatpicking Championship remains the festival's defining tradition

Water and renewal

Living ritual

a competitive format that has helped standardize and elevate flatpicking guitar technique within American acoustic music since the contest's founding

The sacred route

Living ritual

Round-the-clock informal jamming throughout the campgrounds

The local code

Living ritual

rather than performance confined strictly to scheduled stage sets

Tradition 5

Living ritual

reflects a folk-music culture of shared

Tradition 6

Living ritual

participatory musicianship that festival veterans consider as central to the event as the official programming

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually September

Getting around

For Walnut Valley Festival, plan transport around the exact Winfield venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual, practical outdoor clothing suited to camping and variable September weather in Kansas, including layers for cool evenings; sturdy shoes are useful given the amount of walking across...

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For Walnut Valley Festival, stay near the part of Winfield you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map37.24 N, 97.00 WOpen in Google Maps

Winfield, KS

Nearest airportIAB — McConnell Air Force Base
TransportFor Walnut Valley Festival, plan transport around the exact Winfield venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Walnut Valley Festival, stay near the part of Winfield you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Winfield via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Winfield, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for September.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, practical outdoor clothing suited to camping and variable September weather in Kansas, including layers for cool evenings; sturdy shoes are useful given the amount of walking across festival and camping grounds.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Walnut Valley Festival?

Walnut Valley Festival is listed for September · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Walnut Valley Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Winfield, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Winfield, KS

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

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.

Official URLwvfest.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually September
Source statusOfficial source linked
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