Buskers Fest 2025

September 20th, 2025 | 2-7pm | Downtown Boone

Join Us for Buskers Fest 2025!

Experience the Arts at Buskers Fest! Since its launch in 2021, this vibrant, open-air arts festival celebrates creativity in all its forms. Buskers Fest goes beyond traditional street performance to celebrate a vibrant mix of artistic expression, making it one of Boone’s most cherished cultural events.

Come see and experience a showcase the talents of hundreds of local artists, performers, and makers. From live music and performance art to original artwork for sale, the streets of Downtown Boone come alive with creative energy, inviting attendees to experience the arts firsthand.

Whether you want to participate as a creative, or enjoy the festivities, we invite you to join us and be part of the magic!

100+ Artists Registered & Counting!

What is "Busking"?

Busking: is the act of performing in public places for voluntary donations. It’s a time-honored way for artists to share their work, gain exposure, and earn money directly from an audience.

Busking brings music, art, and creativity into everyday life. In Boone, NC, it’s part of the town’s cultural heartbeat. From legends like Doc Watson to today’s street performers and artists, busking has shaped Boone’s artistic identity. With strong community support and a lively downtown, Boone offers the perfect stage for creatives to share their talents and make art accessible to all.

Register Today!
Event Participation & Sponsorship

Participate

Calling all creatives! Register now using the button below!

Arts businesses and food vendors should also complete the same registration form to apply for participation in the festival.

Support

Interested in supporting Buskers Fest through a monetary sponsorship (and enjoying some great perks in return)? Or do you have goods or services you'd like to donate to help bring the event to life?
Join Us, register HERE!

SPONSOR/DONATE

Volunteer

Interested in helping plan the event or lending a hand on the big day?

Register as a volunteer below! Just let us know your interests and where you'd most like to contribute.

LEND A HAND!

One of the highlights of this year’s festival is our Silent Auction on the Jones House lawn!

Festival-goers will have the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind chairs from our Seat at the Table project –each one thoughtfully thrifted, upcycled, and transformed into a work of art by selected local artists.

This arts advocacy initiative was created to spotlight the importance of integrating art into everyday spaces, proving that even something as ordinary as a chair can spark conversation and creativity.

Click below to learn more about the project!

Spotlight: Silent Auction

Learn more

Wheel Throwing and Pottery Demonstration by App State Clay Club

Plein Air Painting by Jeanine Hasty

Live Portrait Drawing by Ashlynd Scavotto

Embroidery Demonstration by Emma Jayne Embroidery

Live Painting by Allyson Murphy

Pottery Fairy House Demonstration by Theresa McGrath

Dollar-a-Minute Doodles by Mitch Capps

Caricatures by Bat Hilliard

Book Trivia and Writing Challenges with Lindsey Jai

Live Art Demonstrations

Interactive wish tree, sensory fabrics bin, and a coloring station by Drop Dead Adorable Art

Close up and Platform Magic by Dana Fleming

Family Friendly Magic Show by Dillon Williams

Interactive Magic by John Greene

Performance Art and Juggling by Bagel

Close Up Magic by Fletcher Roberts

Magic and More!

Business Events

Lost Province Brewing Co.

12:00 PM – Live music by Abby Bryant (festival kickoff)

2:30 PM – Stein Holding Competition

SouthEnd Brewing Co.

2:00–5:00 PM – Live music by Midlife Trip

5:30 PM – Stein Holding Competition

7:00–10:00 PM – Live music by South on Something

828 Real Estate

All Day – Festival Photobooth

Salsa Dancing by Latin Dance Boone

African Djembe Drumming by Davey West

Dancing/Bass Playing by Watauga Humane Society’s “Hutch”

Interactive Music Making with the Bright Green Sonic Melkerson, created by Mark Edwards

The Rocking, Rolling 50’s Tribute Show with Professor Boogie

Performance Art

The heart of the fun will be right on King Street in Downtown Boone, with plans to spill over into Howard and Depot Streets—so there’s plenty of space for creatives to pop up, show off, and share their talents!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 20, from 2-7pm!
Downtown streets will stay open to traffic. Artists and vendors will be set up along sidewalks and in select lots, so you can stroll, shop, and enjoy without any roadblocks.
More information will be released soon on parking. For now, the below are always available:
King Street - Short Term Metered Parking
Queen Street - Long Term Metered Parking
App State Library Deck - Free on Weekends and after 5pm on Weekdays (see info about App State parking here)
Boone First Baptist Church -Free for specific events, please ask or see an attendant to confirm
Please always check local parking signage to avoid being towed! We also encourage carpooling or taking the bus where possible. AppalCART is a FREE service to everyone within the Town of Boone limits.
Yes! Buskers Fest is an open-air, non-ticketed event that is completely free to attend.

You’ll need to bring cash or your card if you'd like to purchase art from local creators or tip the musicians and performers sharing their talents throughout the day.
Yes! We encourage you to either check out the local downtown restaurants or stop by any of the food trucks on the day of!
You can browse and purchase artwork from local creators, enjoy live music and performances, dive hands-first into interactive art projects, grab delicious food and drinks from local eateries and food trucks… the list goes on and on!

Absolutely! Buskers Fest is a family-friendly event, and we encourage you to bring the little ones along to enjoy the festivities happening throughout downtown.
Yes, pets are welcome! Since Buskers Fest is an outdoor event, well-behaved pets on leashes are absolutely allowed. Just keep in mind that some downtown shops and restaurants may have their own pet policies, so be sure to check signage or ask before bringing your pet inside.
Please make sure to pick up after your pet to help keep the festival area clean.
Buskers Fest is a rain-or-shine event. In the case of severe weather, our team will make appropriate adjustments and communicate any changes promptly through social media and other public channels.
More details coming soon on the exact locations of restrooms and water refill stations.
Please scroll up to the “Participate” section to access the registration form!
Please scroll up to the “Sponsor/Donate” section to access the sponsorship form!
For questions, please contact Krista, Administrative Coordinator, at admin@watauga-arts.org.
We anticipate a high volume of inquiries and appreciate your patience as our team responds. Thank you for your understanding!