42nd Folk Music Festival Returns to Sharlot Hall Museum Oct. 3, 2026, Featuring The Folk Legacy Trio
A crisp October morning in Prescott will echo with the strings of folk legends as the 42nd Folk Music Festival returns to the historic grounds of the Sharlot Hall Museum on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The day‑long celebration will open at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m., with the first set taking the stage at 10 a.m. This marks the festival’s first appearance on the museum’s open‑air campus in seven years, following a hiatus that began in 2019.
More than 50 musicians will perform across four stages – the Main Stage, the Garden Stage, the Heritage Stage, and the Kids’ Stage – giving the event a broad palette that ranges from traditional to contemporary folk. Acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, and harmonica will fill the air, while the Kids’ Stage will feature age‑appropriate songs and activities designed to engage families.
Admission is $15 for adults, with children nine and younger entering free and museum members receiving complimentary entry. Tickets for the public festival will be sold at the gate on the day of the event. The private concert with The Folk Legacy Trio, scheduled for Friday, October 2 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the museum’s historic ballroom, is available exclusively online through the Sharlot Hall Museum website.
The Folk Legacy Trio, a national group celebrated for their faithful renditions of classic folk songs, will perform a limited‑seating concert that draws from the repertoires of The Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, and other influential folk artists. Their set list for the October 2 performance will include staples such as “Tom Dooley” and “The Times They Are a‑Changin’.” The trio has been described as the living library of the folk era, bringing songs from the 1950s and 1960s to contemporary audiences.
Founded in 1928 as the Gubernatorial Mansion Museum, the Sharlot Hall Museum occupies a 4‑acre campus that houses the 1864 Territorial Governor’s Mansion and surrounding historic structures. The museum has long hosted cultural events—including folk music festivals, Native American art markets, and heritage celebrations—and the 42nd Folk Music Festival continues that tradition by using its gardens and historic buildings as performance spaces.
The festival began in 1984 and has been held annually since, with the 32nd edition in 2015 featuring over 70 acts. Local musicians have used the festival as a platform to reach wider audiences, and the museum has partnered with regional music schools to provide workshops during the event.
The festival fits within the museum’s broader programming strategy, which includes seasonal events, educational workshops, and collaborations with local schools. For the Prescott community, the festival is expected to draw visitors from the surrounding counties, offering a boost to nearby restaurants, hotels, and retail businesses.
From an industry perspective, the festival underscores the continued relevance of folk music festivals as platforms for regional artists and as attractions that blend cultural education with entertainment. The event also supports the museum’s mission to preserve and interpret Arizona’s cultural heritage.
Tickets for the public festival will be available at the venue on the day of the event, while the private concert with The Folk Legacy Trio is already on sale online. Museum members can attend the festival free of charge. The 42nd Folk Music Festival and the accompanying trio concert are scheduled to take place on October 2 and 3, 2026, and are open to all ages.
