Dates
- Day 2 • Thu 05/22 • 2pm-4pm
- Day 3 • Fri 05/23 • 2pm-4pm
- Day 4 • Sat 05/24 • 2pm-4pm
- Day 9 • Thu 05/29 • 2pm-4pm
- Day 10 • Fri 05/30 • 2pm-4pm
- Day 11 • Sat 05/31 • 2pm-4pm
- Day 16 • Thu 06/05 • 2pm-4pm
Location
Chapel Hill
Price
FREE with festival entry
Description
Tucked beneath the eaves of the garden-topped earth and wooden stage on Chapel Hill, the Ballad Tree is one of the most cherished traditions of the Kerrville Folk Festival. For decades, it has been a place of quiet courage and generous listening, where songs, poems, and stories are shared face to face, heart to heart.
On most festival Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 3:00–5:00pm, songwriters of all ages are invited to take part. Anyone may sign up for a five-minute turn to present an original song, poem, or story. Each session begins with a guest host offering a song or two, then names are drawn from the hat as time allows. Bring your instrument, fill out a slip, and trust the moment.
Suggested by Bobby Bridger and Tom Paxton in the festival’s early years, the Ballad Tree has grown into a cornerstone of the Kerrville experience. It is as much about listening as it is about performing. Even if you never put your name in the hat, you’ll likely hear two or three dozen original songs over the course of an afternoon, many of them unforgettable.
For 2026, the Ballad Tree schedule has been thoughtfully adapted to support the growing energy around the Volunteer Staff Concert and the Day 18 Afternoon Boogie-down Concert. This year, Ballad Tree gatherings will take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the first two weekends of the festival, and on Friday only during the third and final weekend. We invite you to join us in celebrating songwriters across these seven special days.