Woody Guthrie Folk Festival

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Woody Guthrie Folk Festival The Woody Guthrie Folk Festival is held annually in mid-July to commemorate the life, legacy and music of Woody Guthrie in his hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma.

July 14-17, 2027 The Woody Guthrie Folk Festival is held annually in Okemah, Oklahoma in mid-July, the week of Guthrie’s birth, to commemorate the life and music of Woody Guthrie. The five-day festival includes daytime performances held indoors at the Brick Street Cafe and the Crystal Theatre as well as evening main stage performances at the Pastures of Plenty. The festival is planned and implemented annually by the Woody Guthrie Coalition to celebrate Guthrie’s musical legacy. The event is made possible in part from a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council. Mary Jo Guthrie Edgmon, Woody Guthrie’s younger sister, is the festival’s perennial guest of honor.

The Woody Guthrie Coalition is sadden to once again share the loss of someone without which WoodyFest simply would not e...
10/11/2026

The Woody Guthrie Coalition is sadden to once again share the loss of someone without which WoodyFest simply would not exist. Don Moore was a long time WGC Board Member and Community Leader in Okemah. In 2021 Don received the Oklahoma Governors Arts Awards Community Leadership Award for the incredible work he did during his time on our board; Don cultivated the partnership with BancFirst that led to the beautiful permanent stage that now sits in the Pastures of Plenty in Okemah. We send our deepest sympathies to Norma and all who loved Don. We are incredibly grateful to Don and his family for including us as memorial option to honor him, which you can do at the address in his obituary or by going to this link; https://www.woodyfest.com/donate/

08/27/2026

Congratulations to Jonas Lee, our 2026 Youth Songwriting Winner!

His original song, “Weary Old Veteran,” was a standout moment at this year’s WoodyFest. Watch the full performance below, and go check out more from Jonas on his YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/

Keep an eye out for youth programming at next year’s 30th annual festival!

08/27/2026

Back to school always gets us thinking back on our Youth Showcase and how much heart the younger generation brings to our festival every year.

In just one day, this year’s crew wrote an original song together, “Been Good to Know Ya,” at a workshop put on by RT Valine and the Woody Guthrie Center. Take a listen and watch them bring it to life on stage!🍎🎶

Thank you for being you, Dolly. 📸 Condé Nast
08/26/2026

Thank you for being you, Dolly. 📸 Condé Nast

What a great evening! Thank you to The Summit at The Midway, Lightfoot Family Band and everyone who came out to support....
08/23/2026

What a great evening!

Thank you to The Summit at The Midway, Lightfoot Family Band and everyone who came out to support. We’re so grateful for the $847 raised for the festival and for everyone who helped make it happen. We appreciate you all! ❤️

Over the past week we have been taking in all the tributes to our friend Terry Buffalo Ware, and while we are not sure w...
08/10/2026

Over the past week we have been taking in all the tributes to our friend Terry Buffalo Ware, and while we are not sure we have the right words to add to the well deserved words that have already been penned, we will try.

Without Buffalo there would be no WoodyFest. Those are not just words of hyperbole for this time of heartbreak, they are a statement of fact. Terry has been at WoodyFest since the very first festival and in 2003 he and his friends formed the official WoodyFest house band, making sure whoever needed a sideman at festival had one. We have been reminiscing over the many pictures of Buffalo and the dozens and dozens of stages and sets he played in Okemah over the last twenty-nine Julys, and we are so lucky he shared his talents with WoodyFest and its artist.

We know Buffalo wanted to be in Okemah this year as well, and up until just a week or so before the festival he was still planning and hoping to be. While we missed him terribly we took comfort in the hope he was giving his body and soul what they most needed during that time and that he could feel all the love going to him from Okemah.

Thank you, Buffalo for being such an integral part of WoodyFest but most of all for being you; the kindest person we have ever had the pleasure of sharing our stage with.

08/03/2026

We’re grateful our paths crossed with Glen Hansard.

In 2020, Glen generously shared several performances with our Virtual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, including this beautiful performance of his song “Leave A Light.”

Our hearts have been with his family since learning of his passing last week and will continue to be with everyone mourning his loss in the weeks and years ahead.

Thank you, Glen. Your songs will live on. ❤️

Thank you to our 2026 WoodyFest sponsors. Putting on a festival like this takes real support, and every one of you showe...
07/23/2026

Thank you to our 2026 WoodyFest sponsors. Putting on a festival like this takes real support, and every one of you showed up for it without hesitation. We don’t take that for granted. From all of us putting this thing together, thank you for believing in what we’re doing.

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Okemah, OK
74859

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