MerleFest early-bird deadline extended

The deadline for Early Bird ticket prices for MerleFest 2011, slated for April 28 to May 1, has been extended to Monday, April 11, at 5 p.m. That is the last day to purchase four-day and three-day tickets at the Early Bird price, representing an average 10-percent discount.

Ticket purchases may be made on the web at http://www.merlefest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. Fans who purchase tickets online now also have an e-ticket option. Once MerleFest 2011 tickets are purchased online, tickets are available for the purchaser to print from any printer. Additional information about the e-ticket option is available at the MerleFest website.

There are no hidden fees or surcharges on MerleFest tickets. Free parking is available, and children 12 years of age and younger are admitted free to the festival when accompanied by an adult with paid admission.

Up-to-the-minute information about the festival can be obtained through the festival's e-newsletter and through Facebook and Twitter (@MerleFest).

More than 90 artists, performing on 14 stages, will join host Doc Watson on the campus of Wilkes Community College for a four-day festival that is a celebration of "traditional plus" music. Doc coined this term to describe the unique mix of music found at MerleFest: Traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including bluegrass and old-time music, and expanded to include Americana, country, "plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play," Doc said.

MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College Endowment Corporation and a celebration of "traditional plus" music. Scheduled for April 28 to May 1, the event is held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro. For more information, visit http://www.merlefest.org.