Photo credit by Avery White Pictured are Friends of Wild Wind members during a past Wild Wind Folk Art and Festival.

Each year, Melissa White travels from Vermont to direct the Wild Wind Folk Art and Festival.

White said she “evolved into the position” starting in 2024 over time when her mother, Carol Jilk, stepped down. White is a Youngsville High graduate who now lives in Vermont and travels each year to manage the event “along with much family help.”

The 45th annual Wild Wind Folk Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6-7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, rain or shine, at the Warren County Fairgrounds. Adult tickets are $10, senior citizen tickets are $7 and children 12 and under are admitted free. The festival also offers free re-entry on Sunday with a paid Saturday entry in the sign-in book.

In its 45th year, White said festival organizers take pride in the festival’s family focus. The network of more than 150 artisans who share their talents travel from all over the country to display and sell their creations. Returning and new artists join in on the event, including one of Warren’s own fiber artists, Jessica Porter, will be in attendance. There will be a variety of artists and the seven-hour festival comes with a variety of food vendors as well family centered fun activities such as two magic shows daily, horse rides, hula hoop activities and pets from Paws Along the River.

The festival will also feature the Department of Veterans Affairs mobile Vet Center with information and resources for veterans, service members, and their families.

There will be live music by Old Dawg Bluegrass on Saturday and Warren’s own Temple Grey on Sunday.

For more information, visit www.wildwindfestival.com, , email info@wildwindfestival.com, or call 802-689-0609.