Stonington Farms Music Fest brings Country and Bluegrass to Kinston on September 5
Stonington Farms will host its inaugural Stonington Farms Music Fest on Saturday, Sept. 5, bringing a full day of country and bluegrass music to Kinston.
The festival begins at noon on the grounds of Stonington Farms, located at 3275 Faulkner Road. The event will feature performances by The Malpass Brothers, Lorraine Jordan’s Country Grass Show, Deeper Shade of Blue, The Lovesick Drifters, Hank Williams Tribute Band, and Shannon Baker and Sometime Soon.
For Jim Cauley of Stonington Farms LLC, the festival continues a family tradition of bringing people together through music and community events.
“The farm means a great deal, not only to me, but to our entire extended family,” Cauley said. “I grew up there and my kids have spent an enormous amount of time there with their grandparents over the years. My granddaughter now loves going to the farm.”
Since the 1970s, the property has served as an informal gathering place for horse shows, music festivals, weddings, parties and large family gatherings featuring live music.
“It is a beautiful and welcoming place that we wanted to share,” Cauley said. “So a few years ago, my wife and I started helping our daughters with improvements to make it a more intentional place for regularly hosting events.”
Those improvements included the construction of a large bathhouse facility and a covered stage.
The idea for the September festival grew from conversations Cauley had with his father, who died in 2025.
“Before my dad passed away in 2025, he and I had begun talking about hosting another multi-band music festival,” Cauley said. “He had done a few when I was a teenager. This classic country and bluegrass event on Sept. 5 grew out of those conversations. I know he will be watching.”
The open-air festival will offer space for guests to bring tailgate chairs or blankets. An open-air pavilion with tables, chairs, shade and fans will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Food trucks and concessions will be on-site.
Outside food and drinks are not permitted. Tents and umbrellas that could block other guests’ views are also prohibited. Attendees may want to bring sunscreen, hats, bug spray and personal fans.
Parking will be available nearby, with free shuttles operating between the Lowe’s Foods parking lot at 207 Airport Road in Kinston and the festival venue.
Cauley said support from sponsors has helped reinforce the family’s belief that the event is a good fit for the region.
“We think the music festival is a good fit for Kinston and eastern North Carolina, and the sponsors’ support helped to reinforce that,” Cauley said. “We hope music fans agree and will come spend a day at the farm.”
Tickets and additional information are available through the Stonington Farms website and the official event ticket page.
