Award-winning bluegrass returns to downtown Blue Ridge on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, Aug. 1, when the third annual Ridge Jam festival takes over the old farmers market pavilion at 787 Summit Street — a shade-covered, rain-or-shine weekend of top-tier music where all proceeds benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Music starts at noon Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, and with gates opening at 10 a.m. both days, families will want the details before chairs and tickets fill up.
The event has grown into one of the region's marquee summer music weekends, drawing national bluegrass acts to a covered venue right in the heart of town. Last year's festival raised thousands of dollars for St. Jude, and organizers say all of this year's proceeds again go to the Memphis-based children's hospital.
Who's playing
The lineup leans heavily on artists recognized by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). Headlining is bluegrass legend Junior Sisk, the 2013 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year, who has announced he plans to retire in September 2027 — making this one of a shrinking number of chances to catch him live.
Closing out Friday night are The Grascals, two-time IBMA Entertainers of the Year, featuring acclaimed banjo player Kristin Scott Benson.
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Saturday builds to a 90-minute finale from the high-energy Appalachian Road Show, an all-star group led by Ellijay's own Barry Abernathy. The band was named IBMA New Artist of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year in 2021.
Tickets and times
Admission is sold by the day or as a two-day pass, and children 12 and under get in free.
| Pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Friday only | $30 |
| Saturday only | $40 |
| Two-day pass | $60 |
| Kids 12 & under | Free |
Gates open at 10 a.m. both days. Music begins at noon Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, running nearly nonstop under the pavilion. Beyond the main stage, the weekend includes vendors, food trucks, band merchandise, camping and plenty of informal jamming among attendees.
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What to know before you go
Bring a chair — seating is not provided, and the covered pavilion offers shade and shelter rain or shine. No coolers or pets are permitted.
Because the venue sits on Summit Street just off downtown, it's an easy add-on to a weekend of shopping and dining in Blue Ridge. The covered setting also means the show goes on regardless of the summer weather.
Organizers can be reached at (706) 455-9265 for questions about tickets, camping and vendor details.
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Why it matters here
Ridge Jam has quickly become the kind of homegrown event that does double duty: it puts nationally recognized musicians on a stage a short walk from downtown, and it turns a summer weekend into a fundraiser for children fighting catastrophic illness. For local families, it's an affordable, shaded, kid-friendly outing — and for the wider bluegrass world, it's another reason to point the map toward Blue Ridge.
For more community happenings and coverage of Blue Ridge and Fannin County, visit Blue Ridge Georgia Community Website and browse more local events stories and community news. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X, and join the conversation in our Community Forum — will we see you under the pavilion?
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