Historic Rock Castle opens its gates Friday, Sept. 25, for a two-day bluegrass festival headlined by the Del McCoury Band and The Travelin' McCourys.

The Rock Castle Bluegrass Jam, running through Saturday, Sept. 26, is the rebranded version of the site's former Folk and Bluegrass Fest, as the Hendersonville Standard reported. Organizers changed the name to better reflect a lineup centered on bluegrass music, the Standard reported. They want the Bluegrass Jam to join the Living History Festival and the Halloween event Castle of Villains as one of Rock Castle's signature annual gatherings.

The festival's roster also includes Lonesome River Band, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, Grammy Award winners Andy Leftwich and Cody Kilby, Henhouse Prowlers, Dirty Grass Players, DownRiver Collective and Striking Matches. Organizers called it one of the biggest bookings the site has hosted.

Gates open at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. Dirty Grass Players kick off the music at 5 p.m., and the Del McCoury Band closes the night from 8:10 to 9:30 p.m. The evening wraps with the Grateful Ball, a separately ticketed after-party for ages 21 and older presented by The Travelin' McCourys from 9:45 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26, gates open at 1:30 p.m. with Back Porch Pickin' at the Castle. The Travelin' McCourys headline from 8:10 to 9:30 p.m.

Advance two-day adult tickets cost $25. Two-day children's tickets are $15. At the gate, adult tickets rise to $35 and children's to $20. Children 5 and under get in free. Grateful Ball tickets are $55 in advance and $65 at the gate. An all-inclusive Castle Grass Pass is also available for full weekend access. Tickets and details are at castlegrass.com.

The festival is presented with support from Sumner County Tourism. Sam Gilbert, Rock Castle's director, is the sponsorship contact for the event.

Rock Castle sits on 18 acres overlooking Old Hickory Lake at 139 Rock Castle Lane. The Federal-style limestone home was built beginning in 1784 by surveyor Daniel Smith and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site reopened in summer 2026 after a multi-year construction project replaced its 1970s-era visitor center with a new building featuring museum space and an event venue with views of the property.

For more information, call (615) 824-0502.