Dawn the lights and set the stage, the finishing touches are being completed for the 2024 Pickin’ In The Woods festival.
The first year of the Pickin’ in the Backwoods music festival presented by Duke’s Indy and the Coyote Radio Show and Podcast is scheduled to open on Friday at 11 a.m with local Headliner Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band taking to the stage at 10:45 p.m. The event is open for all ages.
Both days of the event, Friday and Saturday will run from 11 a.m. to midnight, rain or shine says Event Organizer Justin Jett. Saturday’s headliner Arlo Mckinley— who was signed by the late John Prine— is set to begin at 10:45 p.m.
Thirty-three bands will perform on two different stages in the campgrounds over the course of the weekend. They range from local and regional to internationally touring bands, but all stay within the hometown country feel of americana, folk, bluegrass, country blues and outlaw honkey tonk music, according to Jett.
The event will be held at eXplore Brown County at Valley Branch Retreat (2620 Valley Branch Rd.). The campground will also offer its routine seasonal activities including ziplining, ATV trails and tours, paintball, airsoft courses, hiking, bike rentals and fishing with some of the activities at an additional cost.
“This is going to be the most intimate festival in the country, that’s what I’m calling it,” said Jett. “With this level of talent anyway.”
Only 600 tickets are being sold and they cover the entire weekend, single day passes are not available. General admission tickets are $158 per person.
“Everything’s included in the ticket,” said Jett. “So once they buy it, they’re all set. They can camp if they want. No extra fees on parking. There are also artist and craft vendors going to be set up.”
While food trucks will be available at the campgrounds, Jett said that people can also bring in outside food, drinks and alcohol.
“Anything you expect to do when you go camping by yourself,” said Jett. “So if you want to drag out your own coal and grill and eat hot dogs over a fire or bring a cooler and a tent, you’re welcome to do that. People can bring their own beer, most other festivals don’t offer that.”
Tickets can be purchased on the website (www.pickininthebackwoods.com/tickets.html).
People can save $10 on each ticket by using the promotional code Coyote when buying their tickets, according to Jett.
