The twang of the banjo and the traditions of Appalachia return to Hagood Mill Historic Site as the annual Banjo Extravaganza Festival takes place Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18, 2026. The two-day festival celebrates one of America’s most iconic instruments with live performances, history, traditional arts, artisan vendors, food, and family-friendly activities.

The festival begins Friday, July 17 with a special evening program in the Heritage Pavilion beginning at 6:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a screening of Andy Eversole’s new documentary, Banjo Earth: North Carolina, an engaging look at the people, places, and traditions that have shaped North Carolina’s banjo heritage.

Following the documentary, acclaimed Appalachian musician Murphy Campbell will perform a special live concert celebrating the musical traditions of the Southern mountains. A gifted ballad singer and banjo player, Campbell has become a powerful voice for preserving Appalachian heritage through music while sharing stories of resilience, family, and community. Her performances honor the generations who carried these songs through the mountains and reflect the enduring spirit of the people who continue to call Appalachia home.

Food and beverages will be available Friday evening from The Fermentary and Carolina Bauernhaus.

Friday admission is $10 per person.

The festival continues Saturday, July 18 as the gates open at 10 a.m. for a full day of exceptional old-time music featuring nationally recognized performers.

Saturday Performance Schedule:

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. — Bob Buckingham

10:30 – 11:15 a.m. — Barrow Wheary

11:15 – 11:45 a.m. — Dan Gellert

11:50 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. — Murphy Campbell

12:45 – 1:30 p.m. — Clifton Hicks

1:35 – 2:15 p.m. — Molly Johnson

2:15 – 3:15 p.m. — Andy Eversole

3:20 – 4:15 p.m. — Owen Grooms

In addition to outstanding music, Saturday’s festival will feature several food vendors, a quality artisan market, and a wide variety of traditional Appalachian folk-life demonstrations. Throughout the day, visitors can watch blacksmithing, chair caning, woodworking, pottery, quilting, spinning, looming, knitting, metalsmithing, leatherworking, and other heritage crafts. Guests are encouraged to visit with the artisans, learn about these time-honored traditions, and purchase handcrafted works to take home.

The centerpiece of Hagood Mill Historic Site is the fully operational 1845 water-powered gristmill, one of the finest surviving examples of nineteenth-century milling technology in the South Carolina Upcountry. The mill will be operating throughout the day, with fresh stone-ground cornmeal and grits available for purchase, along with Hagood Mill cookbooks and other mill-related merchandise.

Saturday admission is just $7 per person, which includes admission to both Hagood Mill Historic Site and the Hagood Creek Petroglyph Site. Children 9 and under are admitted free, and parking is always free.

Visitors wishing to enjoy the entire weekend can camp onsite. Primitive camping is available for $10 per person per night (ages 10 and older), or $15 per person for both nights. Children 9 and under camp free.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and spend the weekend enjoying great music, mountain traditions, delicious food, and one of the Upstate’s most unique historic destinations.

Hagood Mill Historic Site is located at 138 Hagood Mill Road in Pickens.