DUNLAP, Tenn. — One of Sequatchie County’s longest-running music traditions is preparing to mark a major milestone this summer as the Historic Coke Ovens Bluegrass Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Historic Coke Ovens Park and Museum in Dunlap.
Hosted by the Sequatchie Valley Historical Association, the annual festival will take place at the Coke Ovens Amphitheater, located at 350 Mountain View Road in Dunlap. Organizers say the event will be held rain or shine, with a new indoor pavilion available if weather conditions require it.
The family-friendly festival will feature a full day of live bluegrass music from a lineup that includes:
- Fast Track
- Cumberland Band
- Lakeside
- Fredonia Bluegrass
- Connection 27
- Conspiracy to Kill a Possum
- Valley Grass Express
- Cannon Creek
Earl Eames will serve as band coordinator and Kelle Perry will emcee this year’s event.
Admission is $10 per person, cash only. Children under 12 will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Festival organizers remind attendees that:
- No alcohol is permitted.
- No pets are allowed.
- Guests should bring their own lawn chairs.
- No personal coolers are permitted in the amphitheater seating area.
Food concessions will be available on-site, including offerings from Smokey Ridge BBQ.
The Historic Coke Ovens Bluegrass Festival has been a staple of the region’s music scene since 1986, helping raise funds to preserve the historic Coke Ovens site. All proceeds from the event benefit the Sequatchie Valley Historical Association, a nonprofit organization whose volunteers maintain and preserve the Historic Coke Ovens Park and Museum.
The event is sponsored by several local businesses and organizations, including Citizens Tri-County Bank, BTC Fiber, and The Dunlap Mercantile.
For more information about the festival, organizers can be reached at 423-949-2156, or visitors can find additional details at cokeovens.com.
The festival grounds will open at the Historic Coke Ovens Amphitheater in Dunlap for what organizers hope will be another successful celebration of bluegrass music, local history, and community heritage as the event enters its fourth decade.
