IBMA World of Bluegrass & Bluegrass Live!

The IBMA World of Bluegrass makes Chattanooga the center of the bluegrass universe for five days, combining an industry conference and awards with the public-facing Bluegrass Live! festival downtown. The street-festival portion fills stages across the riverfront district with dozens of acts, plus food and craft vendors, and much of it is free and open to the community. Serious fans can add ticketed showcases and awards events, but you can enjoy world-class picking outdoors at no cost. Check the schedule for free stage times, plan for downtown parking or rideshare, and bring a chair for the outdoor performances.