FaithFest 2026 Comes to Wilkesboro This Weekend — What You Need to Know

One of Wilkes County’s biggest annual Christian music gatherings returns this weekend as FaithFest 2026 brings two days of music, worship, preaching, testimonies and family activities to Wilkesboro.

The two-day festival will feature some of the best-known names in contemporary Christian and worship music, including TobyMac, CeCe Winans, Ben Fuller, Charity Gayle, Mac Powell and Micah Tyler.

FaithFest is held at the FaithFest Events Complex on Runway Industrial Drive, easily recognized by the towering 110-foot white cross overlooking the property.

FaithFest 2026 Full Schedule

Tickets Are Sold Out

As of September 9, FaithFest’s official ticket system lists its adult admission options as sold out, including two-day General Admission, Friday-only and Saturday-only tickets as well as Pit and Platinum passes.

The original two-day General Admission ticket was $90 plus processing fees, while Friday-only admission was $60 and Saturday-only admission was $70 before processing fees and applicable sales tax.

Children age 12 and under attend free, but FaithFest asks parents to obtain a free Kids Pass for each child. The Kids Pass covers General Admission access for one or both days.

Because the event is sold out, anyone considering a ticket offered through another person should take extra care to verify that the ticket is legitimate before exchanging money.

Parking Is Free

General Admission parking is free and will be located by Lowe’s Park at Rivers Edge, next to the FaithFest venue. FaithFest says traffic signs and parking directors will be in place.

If additional parking is needed, overflow parking is expected to use fields beside and across from Sagebrush.

Handicapped Parking

Free handicapped parking will be available at:

Wilkes Community College
1328 South Collegiate Drive
Wilkesboro, NC 28697

Guests using handicapped parking will be shuttled from the college to the FaithFest front gate and returned to their vehicles after the festival.

Bring Your Own Chair

FaithFest does not provide general admission seating. Seating space is first-come, first-served, so attendees should bring their own lawn chairs or blankets.

Organizers specifically advise against high-back chairs that could obstruct the view of people sitting behind them.

Small coolers are permitted but will be checked at the gate. Most food vendors accept cards, according to FaithFest, but not all do, and an ATM is expected to be available on-site.

FaithFest Is Rain or Shine

FaithFest is an outdoor, rain-or-shine event. Organizers advise visitors to prepare for hot conditions and changing weather.

As of Wednesday morning, the current Wilkesboro forecast includes warm and humid conditions with the possibility of thunderstorms during the festival weekend. Anyone attending should check the latest forecast before leaving home and plan accordingly.

FaithFest says it has procedures in place to move attendees to shelter if thunderstorms require it.

Food Vendors at FaithFest 2026

Food and drinks will be available throughout the festival. The currently published vendor list includes:

• Anna’s Sweet Treats
• Buttercups Ice Cream
• Cain’s Corndogs
• Chicken Sandwiches
• The Dog Father
• Granny’s Old Fashioned Donuts
• Fresh Catch Seafood
• Island Noodles
• Mexican Food
• Joy Coffee Co.
• Pizza
• Kona Ice
• The Winner’s Circle BBQ
• O’Shields Concessions
• Jay’s Lemonade
• The Change Wagon
• Dippin’ Dots & Lemonade
• Garden Route Coffee
• Hearts with Hands
• The Rollin Grub
• Subway

Camping Is Available Beside the Venue

FaithFest also offers camping at Lowe’s Park at Rivers Edge, within walking distance of the festival grounds.

Camping check-in begins as early as noon Thursday, September 10, and campers must check out by 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tent sites are approximately 20 feet by 20 feet, while RV and popup sites are approximately 20 feet by 40 feet. Camping reservations are separate from festival admission and do not include a FaithFest ticket.

The camping area includes shared water access, restrooms, portable toilets and a bathhouse. Some designated RV sites have either 30-amp or 50-amp electrical service, while other sites are primitive.

Accessibility and Special Guests

FaithFest 2026 will be interpreted for deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees, with an area near the stage reserved for interpreters and deaf guests. Registration for that program is now closed for 2026.

FaithFest also established a Special Guests program for people with physical or developmental disabilities and their immediate families. The program included free Saturday admission, preferred parking, covered seating, assistance from vehicles, an adult-size changing area, snacks and other accommodations.

All 150 Special Guest spaces for 2026 have already been filled.

From Wilkes Community College to a Permanent FaithFest Home

FaithFest has become a major part of Wilkes County’s annual event calendar, but the festival started much smaller.

Founder and director Craig Church developed the idea after feeling called to create a large gathering in his home community centered on Christian music, preaching and evangelism.

The first FaithFest was held in 2017 at Wilkes Community College, using the Watson Stage. Accounts of the festival’s history say approximately 4,000 to 5,000 people attended the inaugural event.

FaithFest grew rapidly during the following years and eventually became too large for its original location.

The organization later secured approximately 38 acres in Wilkesboro for a permanent FaithFest venue. Development of the property has included grading, roads, irrigation, sod, lighting, fencing, a speaker system, baptistry and the highly visible 110-foot cross.

FaithFest says additional development at the complex includes plans for a permanent main stage, permanent power and additional signage.

What Is FaithFest?

FaithFest is more than a traditional music festival. Organizers describe its mission as using Christian worship music, preaching and personal testimonies to unite believers, reach people with the Gospel, bring the community together and encourage spiritual revival.

That combination of national recording artists, speakers, testimonies, ministry organizations, volunteers, food vendors and family activities has helped turn FaithFest into one of the most recognizable annual gatherings held in Wilkesboro.

A Big Weekend for Wilkesboro

With thousands of visitors expected in the area, FaithFest weekend is also likely to mean heavier traffic around U.S. 421, South Collegiate Drive, River Street and the Runway Industrial Drive area.

Local restaurants, stores, gas stations and hotels can also expect increased activity as visitors arrive from outside Wilkes County for the two-day event.

Those who already have tickets should plan to arrive early, bring appropriate outdoor seating, prepare for changing weather and follow the current parking directions provided by FaithFest.

TheWilkesboros.com will continue monitoring local information surrounding FaithFest 2026 and will update this story if organizers announce significant schedule, traffic or weather-related changes.