Explore New York State’s musical roots, and the influence on today’s music!
Saturday, August 15 & Sunday, August 16, 2026
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Join us for the Fiddle & Folk Festival—a lively weekend of music, craft, and community that honors the rich folkways traditions of New York State. From foot-stomping fiddle tunes and handcrafted instruments to storytelling, dance, and the voices of a new generation, this festival invites guests of all ages to explore how music connects us across time. Rooted in history and alive with creativity, the Fiddle & Folk Festival brings together performers, makers, and music lovers in an immersive celebration of heritage and sound.
Ticket Information
GCV&M Member admission is FREE and guaranteed for this event.
Become a Museum Member to enjoy FREE admission to this event plus FREE general admission May – November.
| Museum Members | Purchased Online in Advance | Purchased at the Door |
|---|---|---|
|
Members |
FREE |
FREE |
Buy online and save $1!
| General Admission | Purchased Online in Advance | Purchased at the Door |
|---|---|---|
|
Adult (18+) |
$24 |
$25 |
|
Students (13 – 17) & Seniors (62+) |
$21 |
$22 |
|
Youth (4 – 12) |
$18 |
$19 |
|
Child (3 & under) |
FREE |
|
Notice something new? We have a new ticketing system! We hope you’ll find this easy to navigate and appreciate your patience as we roll it out. If you are having issues or have questions, please email info@gcv.org. Museum Members will need to login to received discounted Member pricing and more information on how to do that is available here. Thank you, as always, for your support of the Museum!
Fiddle & Folk Highlights
Performances All Day!
From the Great Meadow to the far reaches of the Historic Village, listen to the sounds of fiddle and folk as professional musicians, amateurs, and students entertain and delight.
Making the Music
Step into the world of instrument crafting with live demonstrations from talented artisans.
- Watch as traditional techniques bring wood, string, and skill together in real time—whether it’s violin-making, bow rehairing, or shaping a banjo from scratch.
- Explore hands-on exhibits with opportunities to ask questions, try your hand, and maybe even get a tune-up in the on-site instrument repair clinic.
Find Your Folk
Jam sessions welcome ALL. Bring your instrument, pull up a chair, and join fellow musicians in spontaneous sessions celebrating shared tunes and old-time camaraderie.
New to jamming? The Slow Jam space offers a relaxed, beginner-friendly environment where everyone’s encouraged to join in, learn by ear, and feel the joy of making music together. No stage, no pressure—just pure, unplugged fun.
Music in Motion
Music has always invited people to move! From contra and square dances to spirited reels–whether you know the steps or just feel the rhythm–our callers and musicians will guide you. Come for the music, stay for the joy of moving together.
Historic Village Highlights
Take a walk through our Historic Village, visit with costumed interpreters, join a Toward Freedom & Fairness tour, visit the farm, and so much more.
Spread over five garden-filled acres, learn about each unique building and the lives of Western New Yorkers in the 19th Century.
Tune in to the Music!
This lively, reimagined celebration of folkways traditions spans four themed stages, each illuminating a different element in New York State’s rich musical heritage. You won’t want to miss a note!
Exhibition Barn
Listen as the fiddle’s story unfolds. Performers explore how this iconic instrument evolved across cultures and communities.
Location TBD
Discover the soundscape of the 19th century. From dulcimers to concertinas, jaw harps to mandolins, this stage brings to life the folk instruments and rhythms that shaped early American music.
Quaker Meeting House
Where music meets memory. Ballads, spirituals, and sea shanties preserve shared histories and lived experience, offering a reflective space for storytelling in song.
Village Square Stage
Step into the heart of folk tradition where music meets motion. This stage celebrates the social side of sound—square dances, waltzes, and reels—spotlighting how music moves us, together.
Brooks Grove Methodist Church
A gathering place for community favorites. This stage features beloved regional performers and crowd-pleasing ensembles, offering a heartfelt blend of tunes that connect generations and bring neighbors together.
Location TBD
Bright futures take the stage. Student musicians showcase their talent and creativity, carrying traditional sounds forward with fresh perspective and youthful energy.
Share Your Sound
Whether you’re a seasoned performer steeped in tradition or a student just beginning your musical journey, the Fiddle & Folk Festival invites you to take the stage – or take to the porches! We’re calling all folkways instrumentalists and musical storytellers – any age and experience level – to bring the rich musical heritage of New York State to life.
- Student musicians (currently taking lessons) receive FREE admission—a perfect chance to perform, learn, and connect with a vibrant community of artists and music lovers.
- Groups of students—school ensembles, private studios, homeschool collectives—are especially encouraged to sign up and share your sound together!
- Seasoned performers and passionate amateurs, we want to hear from you too—especially small ensembles that reflect the collaborative, social spirit at the heart of folk traditions.
Men's Vintage Base Ball
The Museum’s vintage base ball teams unpack their woolen uniforms, brown balls, and double-knobbed bats to play in Silver Base Ball Park, the first and finest replica 19th-century base ball park in the country.
11 a.m. – Oatka B.B.C. vs. Flower City
1 p.m. – Rochesters vs. Spring Creek
Genesee Country Nature Center
Can’t play an instrument?
- Make music with our 19th-century noisemakers – whimmy diddles, buzzsaws, and limber jacks.
- Take a hike on over 5 miles of trails and rely on your ears to experience the music of nature in our new auditory scavenger hunt!
The Genesee Country Nature Center is a fantastic place to explore the flora and fauna of the Genesee Valley Region. Take a hike on a nature trail (ranging from .5 – 1.3 miles), learn from a resident naturalist, meet animals up close and personal, and so much more.
John L. Wehle Gallery
Home to an extensive collection of 19th-century clothing and sporting and wildlife art, the John L. Wehle Gallery includes three rotating exhibits and several smaller displays. Exhibits include:
- An Extraordinary Attraction: 50 Years of History, Art, and Nature (NEW in 2026)
- Color Me Calico: A Taste for Prints and Parties
- Perceived Realities: Wildlife, Land, & Myth
Food & Beverage
Stop into these locations for a bite to eat or something to drink!
- Depot Restaurant
- Open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. (grill closes at 3)
- Grab a wrap or burger and a drink.
- Freight House Pub
- Open from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Grab a small bite and a craft beer or cider.
- D.M. Munger Confectionery
- Open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Located on the Square in the Historic Village
- Stop in for Village-made cookies, candy, hand pies, and more!
- Pavilion Garden Restaurant
- Open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Located in the Historic Village
- Ice cream, hearty sandwiches and more!
Shopping at the Flint Hill Store
Enjoy a premier shopping experience when you visit the Flint Hill Store, located adjacent to the admissions tunnel. From handcrafted goods made right here in the Historic Village, to treats and sweets, Museum apparel, local art, decor, and more, there’s something for everyone in the Flint Hill Store.
New in 2026, purchase cans of GCV&M’s Fat Ox Ale or Stocking Hill Ale (made by Rohrbach’s Brewing) right from the Store or pick up a growler at the Freight House Pub and we’ll hold it for you!
FAQs
Parking is free and plentiful! Park in any of the main lots at the front of the Museum. Please leave the first two bays available for handicapped parking.
Please have your ticket(s) either printed out OR pulled up on your phone screen and ready for scanning for quick and easy check-in. Pro-tip: take a screenshot of each of your tickets to have ready and pulled up on your phone screen! Please note: Wifi can sometimes be spotty at the front of the Museum.
Pre-registered student musicians receive free admission to the Fiddlers’ Fair! Those under age 18 also receive admission for 1 chaperone.
Yes! This event is rain or shine. The Museum will only cancel in case of a severe weather emergency.
Please dress accordingly for the predicted weather conditions.
We recommend wearing a good pair of walking shoes – there is a lot to see and do, and surfaces in the Historic Village (brick paths, cobblestone, grass), can be uneven.
While there are ample picnic tables and places to sit around the Museum grounds (as well as chairs in the larger musical venues), we do recommend bringing a chair or a blanket if you’d like to find a spot to camp out and enjoy the tunes!
Yes! Leashed service animals are welcome with proper identification.
We’re sorry to hear that you’re not able to attend! Tickets may be refunded only up to 7 days prior to the event date and are strictly non-transferable by date, entry time, or program.