GrahamFest’s deep roots encircle a haunted, pre-Civil War era mansion, a horrendous murder, a Wilderness Road General Store, a 1000 acre pastoral setting which boasts the best in Bluegrass, Country, and Southern Rock music, and much more!  GrahamFest dates back to the late 1990s when property owner, singer, and songwriter J.C. “Josiah” Weaver, began an annual, private July 4th music and BBQ party for family and friends at his W.W. Ranch which includes the historic Major Graham’s Mansion grounds in southwestern Virginia.  Weaver’s sapling idea quickly grew into the core event we now call GrahamFest. 

GrahamFest’s namesakes are Squire David Graham and his son, Major David Graham.  They are the original owners of the festival’s centerpiece, the Major Graham Mansion and its massive surrounding hills and forests.  Major Graham was a noted Civil War soldier and legend has it that Confederate officers met secretly in the Mansion third floor attic room plotting their course against the Yankees.  Grandson of Irish immigrant and Revolutionary War soldier Robert Graham, Squire David Graham was known as an accomplished businessman owning some 26,000 acres and 12 iron forges and furnaces in the “Grahams Forge” community.  He is often referred to as southwest Virginia’s finest ironsmith.  The Graham estate includes the original slaves’ quarters, cemetery, wash house, and a Pennsylvania Dutch store.  This authentic store was built in the 1700s and was used for a hundred years as a general store on the nearby Wilderness Road west.

Born and raised near Roanoke, J.C. Weaver describes GrahamFest as “a remarkable tapestry which blends the best of southern music, food, crafts, history, and landscape.  We have something for everyone at GrahamFest!” New this year is the Mansion Ghost Walk Tour which Weaver calls “a dazzling collection of local lore, mysterious family history, and paranormal data collected by the Virginia Paranormal Society.”  That’s right!  The Major Graham Mansion is officially haunted!  GrahamFest guests will surely “feel the spirit” this Labor Day weekend!

GrahamFest is held every Labor Day weekend.  This year GrahamFest offers two spirited days of music…..August 31st and September 1st.  Guests will enjoy over twenty talented artists and bands performing Bluegrass, Country, Beach, Old-time, Folk, Celtic, oldies Rock ‘n Roll, a little ‘40s Swing, and Southern Rock music on three stages!   According to Gwyn Call, GrahamFest Music Director, “the second annual GrahamFest will showcase Josiah and his Mountain Rock Music Show, Confederate Railroad, Grasstowne, No Speed Limit, The VW Boys, Wayne Henderson, Jeff Little and Friends, April Taylor, The Extraordinaires, the Anderson-Strickland Duo, The Harris Brothers, David Stone’s Johnny Cash “Man In Black Show”, Big Daddy Love, The Whitetop Mountain Band, The Appalachian Hoedowners, Frank Emerson, belly and fire dancers from Samra’s Expressions, the ZZ Top Tribute Band “Sharp Dressed Man”, Frank Emerson, piper Bert Mitchell, A.J. Sapp and Friends, The Hytone Hepcats, Leslie Brooks, and guest appearances from several of our dearly departed musical superstars!”  Guests will enjoy a vintage car display, vendors galore, the Squire’s Beer and Wine Garden, a huge children’s playground with its own karaoke stage, primitive and RV camping, and the Bluegrass Museum Bus. Call adds “you won’t want to miss this year’s incredible light show at the 120 x 60 Major Grahams Stage each evening….you will think Branson has come to southwest Virginia!”

GrahamFest Director, Mary Lin Brewer, reports that “seasoned festival goers and cost-conscious vacationers will be hard-pressed to find a similar festival with this kind of deal!”  Early bird tickets go on sale May 30th through August 25th with a $25.00 one-day ticket, a $40 two-day ticket, and a $50 two-day ticket with camping.  For an additional $10, guests may take a Ghost Walk Tour through the haunted Mansion.  Brewer added that “one dollar from every GrahamFest festival ticket sold will be donated to the Mount Rogers Community Services Board and children 12 years and under are free with a paying adult.  We don’t want cost to keep folks away!”  
 
So come ready to stir up a ruckus with some down home good music, mouth-waterin’ food, drink, and spirits!  We’ll weave together a little American history, some mysterious Graham Mansion Ghost stories, bucket loads of foot-stompin’ music, and the beautiful rolling hills of southwestern Virginia.  Don’t miss this Labor Day music festival!  Come on out and feel the spirit!