The Kids Academy on Sunday at the 2026 Joe Val Bluegrass Festival – photo © Tara Linhardt
I had to drive home to Virginia on Sunday, so unfortunately I missed so much great music on all the stages and the hallways at the final day of the 2026 Joe Val Bluegrass Festival. But before I left I did take in some of the morning bands and I could not leave without seeing the Kids Academy take the main stage. Those kids work so hard all weekend to learn those songs and I believe watching the Kids Academy is often one of my favorite parts of any festival.
So I have included some photos and videos from the early part of that Sunday, February 15, before I had to start my “Long Journey Home” to ole Virginny.
Here is Rocky Top done by some of the Kids at the Kids Academy. After this song, the rest of the many young’uns joined on the stage and did some other songs as well. So great to see the next generation of bluegrass pickers getting so excited about playing and performing these tunes!
Here are some photos from the first part of the day on Sunday.
So many people were so happy and excited to have the Joe Val Festival back up and running. It is a truly wonderful event with so many jams, various types of workshops, discussion panels, led jams, and terrific bands on the stages. There are, of course, loads of spontaneous jams throughout the hotel in the hallways, foyers, rooms, and of course the very popular Kids Academy for the younger festival attendees.
Another key element of this festival is the friendly people one meets throughout the weekend, and the sense of community, family, and friendships that this festival encourages. I know too that there are many folks out there that love having a mid-winter festival to look forward to — a way to escape the cabin fever, see smiling faces, and have loads of fun and music-filled days to recharge one’s soul.
I heard plenty of folks commenting that it is so nice to have a festival in the winter in a hotel where one never has to worry about sunburn, mud, ticks, mosquitos, etc, and where one can have a really comfy bed and great shower. There are definitely some nice features to a big mid-winter full bluegrass festival in a hotel.
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard all year to put on this wonderful event that brought so much happiness to so many people.
I (any so many others) hope to be at the Joe Val Festival next year, and for many years to come!
