MerleFest campers used to measuring a good night by the size of the campfire are in for a rude awakening this week in Wilkesboro. Thanks to a statewide burn ban and local fire restrictions, those late-night pickin' circles will have to glow by lantern and LED instead of open flames.
Festival organizers and local officials say no recreational fires of any kind will be allowed around the Wilkes Community College campgrounds during the four-day event. The music, vendors and stages are still a go, but campers should be ready for a no-fire weekend, tighter safety checks and a slightly less smoky version of MerleFest tradition.
Statewide ban in force
The N.C. Forest Service put a halt to all open burning effective 6 p.m. on March 28, suspending burn permits and outlawing campfires, bonfires and similar recreational fires until further notice, according to the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Violators could be hit with a $100 fine plus court costs and may be on the hook for suppression costs if a fire gets away from them. The agency has asked county fire marshals to help keep an eye on things and enforce the order.
Local rules tighten camping limits
Backing up the statewide move, the Town of Wilkesboro issued its own burn ban that blocks open burning inside town limits and specifically outlaws recreational fires, portable outdoor fireplaces and outdoor fire pits. Wilkes County followed with a companion notice that lines up county enforcement with the state ban and directs residents to the county fire marshal for details on how long the rules will last and what, if anything, is exempt.
MerleFest says the show will go on
MerleFest runs Thursday through Sunday on the Wilkes Community College campus, with this year’s lineup topped by Alison Krauss & Union Station, Old Crow Medicine Show, Charles Wesley Godwin and Blackberry Smoke, according to MerleFest. The festival’s standing rules already prohibit personal open fires, personal grills and fireworks on festival grounds. Organizers say all programming and vendors will operate as planned while campers are reminded to follow campground rules.
As crews put on the final touches, Artist Relations Manager Lindsay Craven told Spectrum News that the event "has been a family tradition." Spectrum reported that MerleFest drew about 72,000 attendees in 2025 and generated roughly $14 million in regional economic activity, including more than $7 million for Wilkes County. In other words, the campfires may be out, but the local economy is still very much lit.
What campers should plan for
For off-campus and public-lands camping, state officials recommend using portable gas stoves or similar devices where they are allowed by local ordinance and stress that fireworks and pyrotechnics are strictly off-limits while the burn ban is in place, according to the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Campers uncertain about what gear is allowed or how a specific campground is handling the ban are urged to check county guidance or reach out directly to festival staff for site-specific information.
Enforcement and penalties
Local officials say the Wilkes County ban will stay in effect until enough rainfall eases wildfire danger, and local marshals will help with enforcement. The county’s release states that the local ban overrides town burning ordinances until it is lifted and provides contact information for the Wilkes County Fire Marshal’s office for anyone who needs clarification.
