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  Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about the North Wikesboro Rotary & Fire Department Merlefest campground.

General Campground Info

  • Is your campground what is known as Sewerfest?
  • What address can I use for the campground to put in my GPS?
  • Do you always sell out of RV spots with electrical and water hookups?
  • Do you normally sell out of tent spots?
  • Your campground looks like it is small. Is it?
  • Can I cancel my reservation and get a refund?
  • Is there security at your campground?
  • When does the campground open?
  • Can we arrive before Wednesday or stay after Monday?
  • We have friends staying in the campground. Can we be placed next to them?
  • We love to pick and jam. Do you guys have a place that we can do this?
  • What type of shower facilities and restrooms do you offer?
  • Do you sell firewood for campfires?
  • Do you sell ice at the campground?
  • Is there an RV dump station available?
  • Is there a water fill station available?
  • We ran out of propane. Is propane filling service available?
  • Shuttle Info

  • Do you provide a shuttle to the festival?
  • Where does the shuttle drop me off?
  • Where does the shuttle pick me up from at the festival?
  • Do we have to wait in those long lines for your shuttle?
  • Do you charge for the shuttle service you offer?
  • How often does the shuttle to the festival run?
  • How often does the shuttle back to the campground run?
  • Can the shuttle take me to Walgreens, the grocery store, etc?

    Is your campground what is known as Sewerfest?
    In a word...NO! Sewerfest is at a different location and hosted by a different fire department. If you register with us prior to the campground opening and then show up at Sewerfest be prepared to pay for a spot at their campground. Please note...We WILL NOT offer a refund the week of the festival because you registered with the wrong campground. We have made EVERY attempt to differentiate between the campgrounds. If you are trying to register for Sewerfest this IS NOT the correct site.

    What address can I use for the campground to put in my GPS?
    The following address will get you to the North Wilkesboro Rotary & Fire Department campground. There are also signs for the campground on US Highway 421 and Business 421.

    1400 Willow Lane
    North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

    Do you always sell out of RV spots with electrical and water hookups?
    Each year we have more and more people reserve these coveted spots and inquire about spots the closer we get to the festival. Each time that we've added additional electric and water RV spots they are quickly reserved. At the conclusion of the festival we offer our guests the chance to reserve their same spot(s) for the next year. Members have first right of refusal on their electric and water RV spot(s) until June 30th at which time we CAN NOT guarantee that we get can get you back into the same spot you had previously. If you want to assure yourself an electric and water hookup spot it is best to reserve as soon as possible.

    Do you normally sell out of tent spots?
    We do not normally sell out of tent spots for festival so there is plenty of space available for tent camping. We are proud of the fact that when people show up for the festival and they decide to stay and spend the night they camp with us because of our nightly rate. So if you are in town for the festival and decide you just don't want to drive back come on over and stay with us. There is no reason to pay a weekly rate at other campgrounds if you only want to spend one or two nights.

    Your campground looks like it is small. Is it?
    We take great pride in the fact that we are a smaller campground. We feel that being a smaller campground enables us to give our welcomed guests great customer service. We currently have 75 water & electrical RV spots as well as wide open space for tent camping. We also have a large indoor jam facility as well as clean indoor heated restrooms and hot showers. Sure there are other "larger" campgrounds where you can fight for space with 150 RVs (on tighter spots that aren't 25' wide) or 450 tent sites but not with us. Also with "larger" campgrounds come larger crowds, more waiting, loud and obnoxious neighbors and a staff that can't respond to the needs of their guests - not with us. As our guest our main concern is to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. While we can't lay claim to being the biggest campground during Merlefest we believe our hospitality sets us apart from other campgrounds where you are just a dollar sign. So is our campground small? Sure...but that is what makes us the best.

    Can I cancel my reservation and get a refund?
    We certainly understand that things come up and you can cancel an existing reservation for the 2024 festival prior to April 17th, 2024. However, there is a $10 cancelation fee which will be subtracted from the refund sent back to you. No refunds are offered after April 17th, 2024. Also please be aware that we WILL NOT offer a refund during the festival, or after April 19th, 2024 if you suddenly realize that you registered for the wrong campground. Please see "Is your campground what is known as Sewerfest?" for further clarification.

    Is there security at your campground?
    Yes. From the time that the campground opens it is staffed with members of the North Wilkesboro Fire Department 24 x 7. Also since the campground is inside the city limits of North Wilkesboro it is not uncommon to see members of the North Wilkesboro Police Department at the campground.

    When does the campground open?
    Our campground opens at noon on Wednesday the week of the festival and closes at noon the Monday following the festival.

    Can we arrive before Wednesday or stay after Monday?
    Unfortunately no. The North Wilkesboro Rotary Club provides the campground to the North Wilkesboro Fire Department for our camping event through a partnership we have with them. The Rotary Club usually has events scheduled prior to and after the time that we use it for camping. Therefore we are unable to take possession of the campground before Wednesday and we have to have it cleaned and turned back over to them on Monday.

    We have friends staying in the campground. Can we be placed next to them?
    Absolutely. All that we ask is that you indicate this on your registration form so that we can make the necessary arrangements on our end. If requests are not made in advance we might not be able to accommodate your request upon your arrival so please let us know when you make your reservation.

    We love to pick and jam. Do you guys have a place that we can do this?
    Yes we do. We have both an indoor area as well as outdoor covered area. Where the picking and jamming happens only depends on where you first sit down and start playing. With the past couple of years most of the impromptu picking took place in the indoor area and from what we heard several times the acoustics of the building are great. We have more than enough chairs for pickers and jammers as well as guests who just want to sit back and watch. Feel free to click on the "Photos" button on the left and check out the photos.

    What type of shower facilities and restrooms do you offer?
    We offer clean heated bathrooms for both male and females. Our facilities are checked every hour and cleaned and restocked as needed. If you ever have ANY concern see one of us at the front of the campground and we will glady help in any way possible.

    Do you sell firewood for campfires?
    We will deliver firewood to your campsite FREE of charge however, there are also bins placed around the campground stocked with firewood that you can get at any time. We added the bins around the campground as sometimes we are delayed during busy times in getting firewood out to you. The only stipulation is that you rent the burn pan from us for $5. This fee helps us to recoup money associated with replacing the pans as they wear out. Plus that means there is one less thing that you have to worry about packing and bringing with you. You can rent the burn pan at any time during your stay by simply seeing one of us at the front of the campground.

    Do you sell ice at the campground?
    Yes we do. You can purchase ice at any time during your stay by simply seeing one of us at the front of the campground.

    Is there an RV dump station available?
    Yes there is a free RV dump station.

    Is there a water fill station available?
    Yes there is a free water fill station available to RV campers as well as tent campers.

    We ran out of propane. Is propane filling service available?
    Yes it is. If you need service see one of us at the front of the campground and we can put you in contact with the company who supplies propane to the campground. Please keep in mind that the payment terms will be with the gas company and not the campground.

    Do you provide a shuttle to the festival?
    Yes we do! Our shuttle has been one of the most popular and complimented features. You can ride in seated air conditioned comfort directly to and from the festival entrance with very minimal waiting.

    Where does the shuttle drop me off?
    The shuttle will drop your off on the campus of Wilkes Community College right near the front gates of the festival.

    Where does the shuttle pick me up from at the festival?
    The shuttle will pick you up on the campus of Wilkes Community College where it dropped you off.

    Do we have to wait in those long lines for your shuttle?
    If you've ever been to Merlefest you've seen the long lines for the overcrowded, run down, old school buses without air conditioning. Having to ride on one of those wonderful buses after standing in a ridiculously long line is a perk (if you want to call it that) of staying at a large overcrowded campground. With our shuttles you can bypass all of those lines and go directly to the area where the shuttle dropped you off at. The only people you will have to wait with are other guests from our campground.

    Do you charge for the shuttle service you offer?
    Nope. We offer our shuttle free of charge. We do however, have a fireman's boot in the vans for donations. The monies collected from any donations go directly to help offset the cost of gas and renting the vans.

    How often does the shuttle to the festival run?
    Our shuttles run every 30 minutes - at the top of the hour and the bottom of the hour and continously at the end of the day. Please keep in mind that traffic trying to get onto the college campus can delay us by a few minutes but we make every effort to be there on time.

    How often does the shuttle back to the campground run?
    The shuttles departs from the festival back to the campground as soon as they are unloaded and guests board. These departures are scheduled every 30 minutes but again...please keep in mind that traffic trying to get onto the college campus can delay us by a few minutes. The shuttles will run AT LEAST 1 hour after the last act of the evening finishes performing.

    Can the shuttle take me to Walgreens, the grocery store, etc.
    Unfortunately we are not able to provide shuttle service to any location other than the festival.