October, 2026
Camp Ben McCulloch, Driftwood, TX
The 19th Annual Austin String Band Festival is the weekend of October, 2026, at Camp Ben McCulloch in nearby Driftwood, TX. Join us for a weekend of music, camping, jamming, dancing, and friends!
This family-friendly festival brings together musicians and roots music enthusiasts from Central Texas and beyond. In addition to two stages of live string band performances, there’ll be dances, workshops, kids’ activities, and tons of campsite jamming.
Program
- Admission & Tickets
- Volunteer – Sign Up Here
- Performance Schedule
- Organized Jams
- Workshops
- Kids’ Activities
- Silent Auction
- Performers
- Camping
- Food
- Location
- A Few Reminders — Important, Please Read!
Join AFTM
Become a member of AFTM to support our efforts, and to get discounted tickets. Join today!
Volunteer
We need your help! Sign up to volunteer here.
Sponsors
Thanks to our generous sponsors for helping keep the Austin String Band Festival affordable and fun! We really appreciate it!
Admission & Tickets
Tickets will be available on-site at the admissions gate. Cash, cards, and checks will be accepted.
If you pre-purchased tickets online, we’ll have your name on the list at the gate. There’s no need to print your tickets.
Kids under 15 are free with adult!
Active AFTM members get a discounted price. Email membership@aftm.us or visit our membership site to check your status or join, using your email address to log in.
| Non-Member | AFTM Member | Student (with valid ID) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend Pass | $55 | $50 | $45 |
| Saturday Day Pass | $45 | $40 | $35 |
| Friday Day Pass | $30 | $25 | $20 |
Tent Campsite (per tent): $30/night
RV Campsite (per vehicle/trailer): $40/night
Volunteer
Sign up to volunteer at https://tallycal.com/p/asbf2025. Volunteers are a very important part of making the festival affordable and successful. Please consider helping out if you are able!
Volunteers for PRIME slots will get a free festival weekend pass. There are limited numbers of prime slots so grab one quickly if you can! Prime slots are evening shifts that are marked with the word “PRIME” on our sign-up page. Camping is extra.
Volunteering for a regular slot will get you either a free day pass or 50% off a weekend pass, your choice. Work two regular slots for a free weekend pass. Camping is extra. Email James (volunteer@aftm.us) to get the 50% code if that’s the option you’d like to use.
Email James Seppi (volunteer@aftm.us) with any questions. The festival is rain-or-shine so please show up regardless of the weather.
Performance Schedule
Main stage performances start every hour on the hour and are listed in bold below.
Mini-stage sets are in-between, starting at the 45-minute mark every hour.
Friday, October
| 6:00 PM | Square dance: TBD |
| 6:45 PM | TBD |
| 7:00 PM | TBD |
| 7:45 PM | TBD |
| 8:00 PM | TBD |
| 8:45 PM | TBD |
| 9:00 PM | TBD |
| 9:45 PM | TBD |
| 10:00 PM | Square Dance: TBD |
Saturday, October
| 1:00 PM | TBD |
| 1:45 PM | TBD |
| 2:00 PM | TBD |
| 2:45 PM | TBD |
| 3:00 PM | TBD |
| 3:45 PM | TBD |
| 4:00 PM | TBD |
| 4:45 PM | TBD |
| 5:00 PM | TBD |
| 5:45 PM | TBD |
| 6:00 PM | TBD |
| 6:45 PM | TBD |
| 7:00 PM | TBD |
| 7:45 PM | TBD |
| 8:00 PM | TBD |
| 8:45 PM | TBD |
| 9:00 PM | TBD |
| 9:45 PM | TBD |
| 10:00 PM | Square Dance: TBD |
Organized Jams
There will be jams of all kinds spontaneously happening with friends old and new throughout the festival, but we’ll also have some hosted jams on Saturday. Bring a jam chair and your instruments.
We’ll also have a whiteboard up to help folks organize their own jams and find link-minded musicians!
Friday:
- 5PM: TBD
Saturday:
- 10AM: TBD
- 12PM: TBD
- Song Jam – TBD
Sunday:
- 10AM: Gospel Singing, led by TBD
Workshops
We’ll have multiple workshops running on Saturday before performances start. A map of workshop locations will be posted at the festival. Schedule/locations are subject to change, so be sure to check the board at the Merch booth.
| Time | Location A | Location B | Location C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11AM | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Noon | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 1PM | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Kids’ Activities
Bring out the whole family for a fun time at the festival — children under 15 get in free!
We’ll have some special activities for the kids on Saturday, over by the Merch booth.
- 1PM – 2PM: TBD
- 1PM – 3PM: TBD
- 2PM – 4PM: TBD
- 3PM – 5PM: TBD
Silent Auction
On Saturday afternoon, we’ll host a Silent Auction fundraiser for AFTM. The auction will take place near the kitchen area.
Donations: We need your stuff! Musical instruments, albums, CDs, artwork, books, and other quality items will be graciously accepted! Please bring your donations for the Silent Auction to the festival on Saturday morning. Lee and Janita Thomas are coordinating the auction and can answer any questions you have. Text or call Lee at 817-480-5561.
Performers
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Missy Beth & the Morning Afters
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Camping
There is plenty of primitive tent camping, and a small number of RV sites with hookups. All camping fees are to be paid upon festival entry, on a first-come-first-served basis. You may pay with cash, check or credit card.
Friday and Saturday camping should be paid at the festival admissions tent. You may arrive earlier than Friday to camp. If you do, please pay Camp Ben directly for the nights before Friday. Check-out is Noon on Sunday.
A burn ban for Hays County is currently IN EFFECT as of September 1st, 2025. See the Hays County Burn Ban site for more information: https://www.hayscountytx.gov/burn-ban. Here’s an excerpt of what that means for you at Camp Ben:
Recreational Fires (i.e. campfires, fire pits) are allowed as long as they are kept in a “fire ring” to prevent spread of fire. These fires cannot be unattended, and you must keep a water source nearby.
Trash & Recycling
Pack-it-in, Pack-it-out. Campers who have recycling at their residence are encouraged to take recyclables home with them; a bag will be furnished for use on site or to take trash home. This helps us greatly – Thanks!
No dogs or other pets
We love dogs, but please leave them at home.
NO DOGS ALLOWED except service animals.
No amplified music
Out of courtesy to fellow campers, jammers, and official performers, please no amplified music in the campground.
Food
We’ll have two great on-site food trucks:
- Texas Street Crepes – Fresh and delicious street crepes made to order from scratch. Vegetarian options. Refreshing Fresh Squeezed Lemon and Limeades. Espresso and Lattes to keep you going all night long!
- Vigilante Vittles
Festivalgoers can also bring their own food and beverages (no glass, please). There’s ample space and tables to picnic, and campers can of course cook at their campsites.
Please help us manage waste by packing out your own trash and recyclables.
Location
Camp Ben McCulloch
18301 FM 1826
Driftwood, Texas 78619
Google Maps Link
Camp Ben McCulloch is within a few minutes of Austin, located 11 miles south of Highway 290 West on Farm Road 1826. From I-35, take Loop 4 to downtown Buda. Head west on Farm Road 967 for 11 miles, then turn left on Farm Road 1826 for 1/2 mile — Camp Ben McCulloch is on the left.
Camp Ben McCulloch’s grounds are lovely, with plenty of big old shade trees, a gurgling creek and room for camping and jamming. Some of the best music is off-stage in sessions lasting till the wee hours. There is also a very nice, shady playground close to the pavilion.
A Few Reminders
The string band festival is a family friendly event. If you are planning to come to the festival please note the following:
- NO DOGS ALLOWED (except service dogs).
- BURN BAN IS IN EFFECT – see the Hays County Burn Ban site for more information
- BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR FOR THE WORKSHOPS, FOR JAMMING, OR FOR EXTRA COMFORT.
- BRING YOUR OWN COOLER AND ICE.
- NO GLASS BOTTLES. CANS ONLY.
- NO FIREWORKS OR WEAPONS.
- NO AMPLIFIED MUSIC.
- BRING CASH AND CREDIT CARDS FOR TICKETS, CAMPING FEES, FOOD, and MERCH.
- PACK-IN & PACK-OUT AS MUCH OF YOUR TRASH AS POSSIBLE
- NO CHILDREN PLAYING ON THE DANCE FLOOR DURING PERFORMANCES