For nearly five decades, the Festival for the Eno has brought our community together in celebration of music, art, creativity, and care for the river. It is homegrown and grassroots — powered by hundreds of volunteers, artists, partners, and supporters who believe in protecting the lands and waters we all love.
In 2025, the day after the Festival wrapped, Tropical Storm Chantal moved through our region — a stark reminder of the increasingly extreme heat and severe weather that now define July in North Carolina. In recent years, temperatures have climbed higher and storms have become less predictable. As an organization that relies on more than 600 volunteers — many of whom are seniors — and asks artists, staff, and community members to spend long hours outdoors, we must face the realities of these growing health and safety risks.
At the same time, West Point on the Eno, our longtime Festival home, is scheduled to close for construction in early summer. As an environmental organization, stewardship requires us to adapt to real conditions and respond thoughtfully to the climate realities we face. It calls us to evolve how we operate to protect the long-term health of the Eno River Association and the conservation work you have sustained for 60 years.
Join Us on September 12th for Our 60th Anniversary Event
In 2026, instead of our traditional July Festival, we will gather for a 60th Anniversary fall benefit concert and community celebration in downtown Durham on September 12th. This special event will carry forward the spirit of the Festival — music, community, and support for the river — in a format that is safer and more sustainable.
We’re excited to come together in a new way and begin shaping the future of this event. We plan to return to a Festival format in Spring 2027, in a model that reflects both our traditions and the realities of our changing climate. In the meantime, we hope you’ll join us on September 12 and stay connected for more details and opportunities to help bring our 60th Anniversary to life in downtown Durham.
The heart of this event remains the same — community, creativity, and care for the river. Thank you for growing with us.
Sincerely,
The Eno River Association
P.S. Read Executive Director Ryan Fehrman’s March Director’s Message for a deeper look at why the Festival is evolving and check out our Event FAQs here.
