Bear Shadow music festival in Highlands, NC
Welcome to Bear Shadow, a 3-day music festival in Highlands, North Carolina. We’re proud to announce our 5th year of incredible live music with beautiful mountain scenery, warm spring temperatures, and unique flora and fauna. We’re also excited to introduce you to new experiences, fan-favorite daytime events, and as always, incredible Grammy-worthy live performances.
We’re focused on elevating your weekend at Ferngrove, located just 5 minutes from downtown Highlands, NC. Fans can build their weekend experience from morning through evening, with plenty of immersive opportunities designed to showcase the connection of music, mind, body, and nature.
Friday May 29th’s benefit concert supporting Stage4Hope – music acts will be announced shortly.
Saturday May 30, 2026
Sunday May 31, 2026
Friday May 29th’s benefit concert supporting Stage4Hope music acts will be announced shortly.
Tickets go on sale December 11, 2025 at 12 Noon ET.
2026 Daytime Experiences
For 2026, we’re bringing back beloved daytime events like Livestream: fly fishing excursions and Summit & Sound: guided hikes complete with an up-close-and-very-personal music experience overlooking high vista views.
Stage4 Hope - 2026 Charity Partner
As Bear Shadow’s 2026 charity partner, proceeds from Friday’s pre-festival benefit concert goes directly to Stage4Hope to help them bridge the gaps cancer patients and families face after a late-stage diagnosis—offering the support and resources needed most. To learn more about this organization, please click here.
$100,000 Bear Shadow proudly commits to the environmental conservation and preservation of The Highlands Plateau. Since 2021 we’ve donated nearly $100,000 to organizations like the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, Sky Valley-Scaly Mountain Volunteer Fire & and Highlands Biological Station. Bear Shadow is a production of Highlands Festivals, Inc., a 501c3 organization.
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Bear Shadow 2022