North Wilkesboro Rotary & Fire Department Merlefest Camping

04/23/2026

Frank passed away last year and it was definitely bittersweet knowing this as we welcomed guest into the campground today.

It is definitely amazing how friendships and bonds can form over the span of a few days over the years. I heard multiple times today how much people would miss playing with both Frank and Barbara.

In one of the few moments today where we weren't super busy I messaged Barbara to let her know that we were thinking about her and she asked that we say hello and give everyone her love.

It only seems appropriate to keep a space for them both in the picking circle and share some of the photos that captured their love for music and laughs that they shared with our guests over the years.

It definitely made me smile before I left tonight to step into the picking shed and see Jerry sitting next to seats that are in memory of Frank and in honor of Barbara as the music played on.

04/22/2026

What a difference 7 hours makes ...

04/22/2026

For our guests La Fortuna -N. Wilkesboro is a fire department favorite so if you like real Mexican food this is the place.

(Bonus it is right down the street from the campground)

WELCOME MERLEFEST FANS!!! If you are in town come try the best and authentic Mexican food in the Wilkesboro area!

04/22/2026

About that time ...

04/20/2026

Currently we have a handful of NON-HOOK UP (no water / no electric) RV spots available as well as plenty of tent camping.

Registration will only be at the gate starting on Wednesday, April 22nd for these spots.

If you have any questions please shoot us a message.

04/12/2026

*** IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MERLEFEST CAMPING ***

Due to the extreme fire danger caused by ongoing drought conditions and little to no rain in the forecast, ALL CAMPFIRES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED DURING MERLEFEST.

We, as well as every other campground, understand that enjoying a campfire is a big part of the camping experience during Merlefest. However, current conditions create a serious risk for rapid fire spread, and for the safety of our community and visitors, this precaution is necessary as there is currently a 100 county burning ban in North Carolina.

This decision has been made through a coordinated effort between the Town of North Wilkesboro, the North Wilkesboro Fire Department, the Wilkes County Fire Marshal's office, and the North Carolina Forest Service.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

We WILL NOT be renting burn pans or supplying firewood during the camping event and any wood burning fire WILL BE extinguished. THIS IS NOT OPEN FOR NEGOTIATION. If this is a make or break deal please let us know and we'll refund your reservation.

Please note that propane-fueled fire pits and other gas-powered camping appliances are permitted, as they present a much lower fire risk when used properly.

Thank you for your understanding.

09/24/2025

Barbara Duran Shaw and I became friends on Facebook a few years back and I've always enjoyed keeping up with their travels and their adventures like when they bought their new RV, and the time they had a wild turkey strike on the windshield, so it saddened me when I saw Barbara post about Frank being in the hospital after suffering a heart attack.

Since that time I've watched daily for updates as Barbara would always post something about the day and how Frank was doing so my heart dropped the other night when I saw a post 8 minutes after she made it that said Frank had passed away.

Frank and Barbara camped with us here during MerleFest for upwards of 10 years and over that time they became part of our extended family and people we knew who would always be back. Each April, I looked forward to catching up, sharing stories, and in a new tradition over the past couple of years enjoying the sweet treats that Barbara would bring to those of us working the campground from Connecticut when they got here.

Anyone that has been our guest and stayed with us for more than a year could easily recognize Frank as he was the guy with banjo and tenor voice at the picking circle each night.

Frank’s kindness and musical talents will be truly missed and music in the picking barn in April won’t feel the same without him. But, I know his spirit and the joy he brought through music will always be remembered by the guests he played with and those of us that got to call him a friend.

Please keep Barbara and the family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

View Frank Shaw's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

04/29/2025

A few moments from the pickin’ circle…we look forward to seeing you all next year!

04/28/2025

...and in the blink of an eye it was over.

From all of us at the North Wilkesboro Fire Department thank you to all of our guests that stayed with us for MerleFest 2025.

It was great to see friends that feel like family and we hope all of you had a great time.

We wish you a safe journey back home, great health throughout the year and we hope to see you back in 2026!

04/04/2025

Happy to report that the state wide burning ban in NC has been lifted and we've received some much needed rain over the last couple of days.