About This Festival

The Winding Creek Music Festival is a four-day bluegrass, old-time, and folk music festival held August 14–17, 2025, at 9912 West 100 South in Russiaville, Howard County, Indiana. It features some of America’s best bluegrass and folk bands performing in a scenic, wooded setting with lots of shade and free primitive camping for attendees. The festival is family friendly, handicap accessible, and encourages bringing lawn chairs[2][3][5].

Surrounding Area and Vibe

The festival takes place in a rural, wooded area of Russiaville, Indiana, providing a relaxed, natural outdoor ambiance ideal for both music lovers and campers. The setting is rustic with a sense of community and fellowship, enhanced by campfires, a log cabin jam area, a blacksmith shop, and a new large fire pit where informal jams and pick sessions occur. The vibe is welcoming, educational, and interactive, geared toward preserving and celebrating bluegrass, old-time, and folk music traditions[2][4][6].

History and Founding

While explicit founding details are not provided in the current information, the festival is described as family friendly and built around core values of education and community, aiming to keep traditional American music genres alive through workshops and performances. It has grown over the years into a noteworthy event with an emphasis on youth and adult music workshops as a key part of its mission[5][6].

Activities at the Festival

  • Live musical performances: Featuring a rotating lineup of bands each day, including renowned groups such as The Grascals, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, Larry Efaw and The Bluegrass Mountaineers, Brad & Lori Lambert, The Wayfarers, Booze Hounds Bluegrass, Medicinal Bluegrass Band, Stones Crossing, Bahler’s “Golden Age” Band, and Keyton Romero.
  • Music workshops: Educational sessions for both youth and adults focused on bluegrass and folk music instruments and skills.
  • Slow jams: Informal music jam sessions open to all skill levels at the log cabin, blacksmith shop porch, and around the fire pit.
  • Food and craft vendors: Variety of food options and unique crafts for purchase.
  • Primitive camping: Free primitive camping available onsite for attendees.
  • Family and children's programming: Programs such as Mrs. Kate’s Children Sing Along and youth workshop performances at the Fire Pit.
  • Additional features: Enchanted Tree Maze, Creek/Woods Music Walkabout involving several bands playing throughout the area.
  • Sunday church service: Winding Creek Friends & Church Service held Sunday morning[1][2][4][6].

Rough Schedule and Locations

Thursday, August 14 (Gates Open 2:00 PM)

  • 3:00 PM: Medicinal Bluegrass
  • 4:00 PM: Larry Efaw & the Mountaineers
  • 5:00 PM: Brad & Lori Mini Opry Show
  • 6:00 PM: Medicinal Bluegrass
  • 7:00 PM: Larry Efaw & the Mountaineers
  • 8:00 PM: Brad & Lori Mini Opry Show
  • 9:00 PM: Log Cabin Jam (open to all)

Friday, August 15

  • 12:30 PM: Keyton Romero
  • 1:00 PM: Mrs. Kate “Children Sing Along Program” (Log Cabin area)
  • 1:30 PM: Lunch break
  • 2:00 PM: Bahler Golden Age Band
  • 3:00 PM: Stones Crossing
  • 4:00 PM: Keyton Romero
  • 5:00 PM: Closing announcements and jam sessions at Log Cabin porch, Blacksmith Shop, and fire pit[2][4].

Saturday, August 16

  • 12:00 PM: Food available
  • 1:00 PM: Brad & Lori Lambert (Mini Opry Show)
  • 2:00 PM: The Wayfarers
  • 3:00 PM: The Grascals
  • 4:00 PM: Branded Bluegrass
  • 5:00 PM: Dinner break, youth workshop performance at fire pit
  • 6:00 PM: Alec Hurtubise (Tribute show)
  • 7:00 PM: Brad & Lori Lambert (Mini Opry Show)
  • 8:00 PM: The Wayfarers
  • 9:00 PM: The Grascals
  • 10:00 PM: Branded Bluegrass
  • 11:00 PM: Closing announcements[4].

Sunday, August 17 (Gospel Sunday)

  • 9:00 AM: Winding Creek Friends & Church Service
  • 10:30 AM: Bahler Golden Age Band
  • 11:30 AM: Stones Crossing
  • 12:30 PM: Keyton Romero
  • 1:00 PM: Mrs. Kate “Children Sing Along Program” (Log Cabin area)
  • 1:30 PM: Lunch break
  • All day: Enchanted Tree Maze open
  • 2:00 PM: Woods/Creek Music Walkabout (several bands playing)
  • 2:00 PM: Bahler Golden Age Band
  • 3:00 PM: Stones Crossing
  • 4:00 PM: Keyton Romero
  • 5:00 PM: Closing announcements and jam/pick sessions[4].

This schedule includes stages or locations such as the main stage area, log cabin area, blacksmith shop porch, and fire pits, creating a variety of intimate and open settings for performances and communal music playing. The festival runs rain or shine.

Overall, Winding Creek Music Festival is an immersive celebration of traditional American roots music in a communal, shaded woodland setting with music, workshops, camping, and family-oriented activities. It offers a rich blend of scheduled shows, interactive sessions, and informal jams in a friendly and educational environment.