Festival FAQs

We strongly encourage, but do not require, clear bags. Something that is compact and easy to carry all day is recommended.

Yes! Compact, foldable chairs are allowed. Reclining chairs are prohibited. Please do not leave chairs unattended as they are subject to removal.

Sorry, no coolers allowed, but we recommend bringing a portable water bottle to refill as needed at one of the water stations located at each end of State Street, near The Corner and the The Country Mural Stage.

The festival is not a safe space for your family pet. It’s loud and the weather is unpredictable, also there’s little green space. We understand that Downtown residents must take their pets outside for potty breaks, we just ask that you please pick up after your pet.

Service animals are welcome at the festival.

Find directions here. 

Find lodging and camping here.

For more lodging information on Bristol, please visit Explore Bristol’s website.

Friday, September 19 – 3 p.m.

Saturday, September 20 – 9 a.m.

Sunday, September 21 – 10 a.m.

Please see the festival map for more information on ticket booth and entry/exit point locations.

Shuttles stop at a number of area hotels and parking locations, and drop off at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and at the Downtown Center right behind the Country Music Mural Stage all weekend long. Shuttle passes may be purchased online ahead of time or may be purchased on the shuttle for cash only.

Shuttles that pick up at Virginia locations will drop off in front of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Shuttles that pick up at Tennessee locations will drop off at the Downtown Center behind the Country Mural State. For the festival, shuttles will pick up and drop off individuals every 30 minutes at the following locations:

Free Parking

Free street parking is limited around State Street and the festival grounds to city streets and public parking areas. To help reduce our carbon footprint we strongly advise carpooling or parking at one of our shuttle pick-up sites.

ADA Parking

ADA parking is available at Regions Bank (corner of Volunteer Parkway and Shelby Street). Once your state issued identification is verified, you will then be instructed where to park. ADA parking is limited and filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Disabled Veterans of America (DVA) operate the ADA parking area. Donations to DVA for parking there are appreciated.

Paid Parking

Paid parking and private lots are available throughout the city. For festival attendees who purchased parking through Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, the ORANGE PARKING LOT is located along the Moore Street entrance to Cumberland Square Park, Bristol, Virginia (across from the Birthplace of Country Music Museum). The paid parking pass for the ORANGE LOT is valid during Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. See the festival map for more information.

A map of the festival is available here.

YES! Please help us keep the festival going! All festival attendees in the street, vendor, food, beverage gardens and entertainment/stage areas are required to wear a valid festival wristband. Festival security will be on-site to escort any individuals to the festival gates that are not properly credentialed inside the festival footprint. Wristbands are available at any of the ticket booths on-site. Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is produced by the Birthplace of Country Music, a non-profit organization.

Children 12 and younger are welcome at no cost with a paid guardian. Children should not be left unattended.

Bring your receipt/confirmation email to a festival TICKET BOOTH. You cannot redeem wristbands at a reentry/exit point. You must visit a designated ticket booth.

You should have received an email from Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion through Tixr to the email address used when purchasing your tickets. If you did not receive the email, please check your spam folder. You may also need to login to your Tixr account to retrieve your ticket. If you did not receive your ticket and have additional questions, please visit the Will Call ticket booth in front of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for assistance.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion does provide payment plans for tickets earlier in the year in order to spread out your payment over time. Once the payment plan is completed, the tickets are released to the email provided on the order or are mailed, depending on the selected delivery method on the order.

Tickets are generally delivered 30 days prior to the festival. If you need assistance with your order on-site, please visit the Will Call ticket booth in front of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum when you arrive at the festival.

We do not recommend outside ticket purchases due to the potential for scamming. Please only purchase passes from Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion or a trusted friend. Online social media groups cannot verify the validity of Bristol Rhythm & Roots tickets. Tickets should only be purchased from Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion through our trusted ticking platform, Tixr through BristolRhythm.com or at a ticket booth.

Tickets for Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2026 will be on sale starting on Friday of the festival. This special Family Reunion Ticket is the lowest ticket price all year! Lock in your ticket for 2026! Check email or visit our website for more information at BristolRhythm.com.

Yes, but there are a limited number of VIP slots that can be upgraded prior to the start of the festival, so get them while they last! Contact brice@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org for VIP information prior to the start of the festival.

Booking for the 2025 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion festival is complete. Stay tuned for information regarding the 2026 Festival! Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion no longer accepts unsolicited artist submissions. We appreciate your interest in wanting to participate in our festival, but due to the sheer volume of submissions we receive, we do not have the resources to give each submission its due diligence. We have an active Music Committee that is always exploring and researching.  If they are interested in discussing an offer with you or your band, they will reach out to you. Thank you for your understanding.

Please have your booking agent or band representative email Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion’s talent buyer who will reach out with more information.

If you were selected to be a vendor at Bristol Rhythm, you will receive an email from the Vending Committee with further information. If you have not received this email or your packet, check your spam filter or email traceylandevents@gmail.com with the subject line “2025 Confirmed Vendor Needs Assist.” Information will be available to vendors on-site as needed.

Lost and found is located at the Merchandise Tent on the corner of State Street and 5th Street on Friday 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. / Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. / Sunday 11 a.m – 7 p.m.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is a family-friendly atmosphere. Please do not bring weapons, outside alcohol, glass or illegal substances into the festival. Bags may be subject to search upon entry.

Water refilling stations are located on the corner of State Street and Lee Street and on State Street in front of the Country Mural Stage.

• The Virginia Museum of Fine Art offers the VMFA Artmobile open to the public. Learn more on our website.
• The Kid’s Zone is located in Johnny Wood Plaza off of Lee Street next to the WCYB building with family-friendly activities.
• Children’s Day is located in Anderson Park on Saturday morning and is a free event.
• YogaROCKS! is held on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at the Country Mural Stage.

Check our Special Events page for more information.

Volunteers are welcome! Learn more at volunteer.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org. Volunteers will receive a t-shirt and a day pass to attend the festival for a four-hour shift. Please note that Museum Volunteers must undergo special training prior to the festival.

Please email info@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org for any additional questions. Please note that during the festival response times may be delayed. You may also visit the Will Call ticket booth in front of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for assistance.