The Annual Hillberry Harvest Moon Festival is a gathering of friends
Bluegrass music is a defining staple of the unique Ozarks culture. In recent years, it has gained a very progressive, cult-like following, with explosions of music festivals dotting the landscape of the Ozark Hills.
Oct. 2-6, one such festival, Hillberry Harvest Moon Festival, will grace the hearts, and ears, of thousands of locals, visitors, artists and adventurers at The Farm, a campground and event venue located outside of Eureka Springs, Ark., owned by Deadhead Productions Manager, John Walker.
Folks travel from all over the country, New Jersey to California, to capitalize on the strong national touring act representation on the festival’s playbill. Those fortunate to call the Ozarks home, are privy to this concert of champions in their very own backyards.
In 2015, Hillberry II marked the beginning of Hillberry’s transition to the popular local music festival it is today. The festival, produced by Deadhead Productions, and longtime partners Railroad Earth, has birthed one of the largest bluegrass sensations known in Midwest history. Hillberry is original to the northwest region of Arkansas.
“Hillberry was inspired by a communal music-loving spirit existing at other festivals,” Chris Anderson, management partner at Deadhead Productions, said. “Namely, Harvest Festival, which had recently been canceled when we decided to host the second installment of Hillberry within a months’ time.”
Chris grew up exposed to bluegrass from the Ozarks to the Appalachians and, thus, developed a passion for music and the outdoors at a young age. Though his appreciation for bluegrass music admittedly did not come to fruition until his early 20s.
“This festival and space was a blank canvas of raw potential to manifest our vision,” Chris explained. “It comes down to curating a space that allows for artistic expression, music, dance, and creativity for adults and children alike. It is second to none in its own right, and enhances a magic by the fans, for the fans of not only bluegrass music, but the cultural significance of the Ozarks that so many call home.”
The lineup for this unique bluegrass festival is nothing short of magic. With names like: Railroad Earth, Paul Cauthen, Elephant Revival, Arkansauce, Armchair Boogie, and countless other well-known bluegrass bands and solo artists, it is no wonder this festival is so largely attended by locals and visitors alike. The lineup consists of a mixture of artist applications coupled with active recruitment by Jon and Chris. The partners are always looking for bands that fit the infamous “Hillberry Vibe.”
The team at Deadhead Productions looks at every band and solo artist who applies for a spot at the music festival. They enjoy supporting local artists and providing a platform to those just starting out, as well as the seasoned professionals that faithfully grace the stage year after year.
“About half of the lineup is local/regional talent and the remaining performances are fan favorites, well-known traveling artists and repeat performances. We like to keep it fresh and exciting every year,” Chris said. “Paul Cauthen is a new-to-Hillberry artist this year and we are extremely excited to share his talent with the masses at Hillberry,” Chris added. “We aim for one-half new and local talent combined with one-half fan favorites and repeat performances. We truly want to keep it interesting and new with each festival we produce.”
Hillberry has received several nominations and awards over the years. The Arkansas Democrat Gazette “Best Of” voted Hillberry the Best Annual Event/Festival of Arkansas for 2023. The festival was also given high rating accolades by the Arkansas Country Music Awards, as well as the well-known Page Six entertainment publication.
People love this type of music because it is “good-timing music which tugs at the heartstrings and brings a smile to the listener’s face. You can be in a foul mood, but once you hear the jubilant fast-paced beat and start those feet stomping, it is impossible not to let life’s daily worries wash away,” Chris said.
This festival has positively impacted the community of Eureka Springs in quite notable ways. From lodging to local restaurant and entertainment fare, the local economy is stimulated during this festival each autumn. A percentage of proceeds from beer sales are donated to Turpentine Creek, a nearby tiger rescue and sanctuary outside of Eureka Springs. A non-perishable food drive organized in partnership with Conscious Alliance also plays staple to the annual event.
The Hillberry Harvest Moon Festival is welcoming and family friendly. People of all ages come to enjoy the music and experience. Kids 12 and under receive free admission for the five-day, fun-filled festival. There are activities for kids as well as food trucks, local artist vendors, and a plethora of fun and family-friendly activity throughout the whole festival footprint. Most visitors enjoy camping and stay on-site for the whole festival, while others opt to come and go, finding lodging in town and experiencing Eureka Springs while simultaneously taking in the fast-paced bluegrass beat offered at The Farm.
What started as a venue space and campground, has steadily and successfully built up to the ability to host the music festival.
“The Farm owner, Jon Walker, and I never set out to throw music festivals, it was a natural progression,” Chris reveled. “The desire was to build something from the ground up, with heart, that truly resonated with people. The invisible hand of fate led us right where we were meant to be for optimal performance and the camaraderie of community enjoyment offered today.”
The layout for the festival is a unique formation emulated from Grateful Dead concerts, complete with a Shakedown Street, main field, craft and art vendors, and everything within earshot and eyeshot of the music for all attendees to enjoy, whether rocking out from their individual campsites or exploring the local artistic fare and food amenities available for all to enjoy.
The Farm is host to several other local events. It offers a year-round campground, including a disc golf course, mountain biking trails, and can be reserved.
“The overarching mission of Hillberry: The Harvest Moon Festival is to create a space where people can come together to celebrate music, nature and community. A place where everyone feels welcome, the music is top-notch, and the beauty of the farm produces an overall experience, creating memories that folks will treasure for years to come. At the end of the day, the mission of this festival is to show that all people are accepted, regardless of where they come from and what they have been through. The intrinsic blood, sweat, and tears poured into this festival over the years provides a heartfelt, unique opportunity to restore faith in humanity,” Chris said. “Hillberry is more than a music festival; it is a gathering of friends, a way to get to know one’s local and not-so-local neighbors, raise each other up, and produce a strong sense of community. We want everyone to be part of the infamous Hillberry Family.”
Festival musician line-up, ticket purchasing, and additional information can be found at hillberryfestival.com.
