Founded by Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley in 1972, the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival was the first bluegrass festival in the northeast United States. The first Delaware Bluegrass Festival took place on Labor Day Weekend that year. 

Our primary interest has always been southern Appalachian old-time and bluegrass and related music styles. featuring a wide variety of what would now be termed “roots” musicians. Our lineups over the years have featured a wide variety of what would now be termed “roots” musicians, alongside compatible music forms like Cajun, Canadian, blues and traditional country acts.

This festival has become one of the nation’s premier Bluegrass events and continues until this day. Originally held in Bear, Delaware, the festival remained there until its move to the Salem County Fairgrounds near Woodstown, New Jersey in 1990.