By Ryan Snyder

SHAKORI HILLS SPRING GRASSROOTS FESTIVAL, SILK HOPE, APRIL 21-24 

Who to see: Arrested Development, Taj Weekes, Langhorne Slim, the Lee Boys & The Travelin’ McCourys, Kooley High, Donna the Buffalo. Lots of Donna the Buffalo.

The scene: It’s a pretty even split of twentysomething festies getting their fix of what’s usually the opening bell of festival season and middleaged Donna fiends hajj’ing to their Mecca. Foodwise, the campground dining scene is nearly nonexistent. There’s a cove of approved vendors offering fairly standard fest fare, but at usually less-than-desirable prices.

Why you want to go: For festival lovers with kids of just about any age, it doesn’t get much better than Shakori Hills. It’s free for kids 12 and under, and there’s an army of staff and volunteers on hand to play with the wee ones. Discounted youth tickets are also available for the 12- 15 set who are both too old for face painting and too cool to hang with their parents. For everyone else, the pristine woodland and rolling hills are an idyllic place for a little age-regression therapy.

Miscellanea: It’s a mere 1-hour jaunt from Greensboro and adults can procure a 4-day pass for $90 before April 18. Single-day passes are also available at shakorihills.org.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT OTHER FESTIVALS:

MERLEFEST, WILKESBORO, APRIL 28-MAY 1 

SMILEFEST, PINNACLE, JUNE 3-5 

LAKE EDEN ARTS FESTIVAL, BLACK MOUNTAIN, MAY 12-15 

BONNAROO MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL, MANCHESTER, TN, JUNE 9-12 

FLOYDFEST, FLOYD, VA, July 28-31