It's a Love Fest
It’s not just about the music.
Or camping under a canopy of trees.
Or the tacos and wood-fired pizzas.
Or the icy cold beer.
Or the fire-breathing after-dark entertainment.
Or the feeling like you’re in the most welcoming secret treehouse club there ever was.
At Albino Skunk Music Festival, it’s all of it.
This biannual, one-of-a-kind festival tucked away in rural Greer on the Skunk Farm is unique to the Upstate,
and we’re here to tell you all of the reasons you should love it as much as we do.
Words: Ariel Turner
Photos: FishEye Studios, Jackie Shapiro Brooker, Ariel Turner
But First, Music
Where else in South Carolina could you have seen The Avett Brothers, Lake Street Dive, Billy Strings, and The War and Treaty, all on the same stage, and all before the rest of the world discovered them? Only at SkunkFest. The festival, founded more than 25 years ago by Glynn Zeigler as a celebration of bluegrass music, has expanded to include an eclectic mix of Americana, folk, singer-songwriter, alt-country, acoustic, roots, and rock music.
Twice a year—in the fall and spring—Zeigler curates a line-up designed to help you find your new favorite act you won’t have heard of until they play the SkunkFest stage. He has a knack for it, like a musical match-maker for the hundreds of loyal attendees and bands looking to gain a following.
Check out the fest line-up here: https://albinoskunk.com/lineup/
TRULY OFF THE GRID
Named after the white skunks spotted on the grounds, the Skunk Farm at 4067 Jordan Road in Greer is about as off the grid as you can get and still have utilities. This works out pretty well since the whole point of the three-day festival is to forget the stresses and anxieties of real life.
The thick tree canopy throughout the grounds provides the perfect surroundings for camping and, incidentally, ideal structures from which to hang canvas banners or giant swings for the big kids of all ages. They’re also great for hanging hammocks if that’s more your sleeping style.
Whether you choose to camp the entire festival or pop in for the day, time seems to stand still once you arrive, or, at least, clips along at a less frantic pace than the outside world’s.
Check out the camping guide here: https://albinoskunk.com/camping-rvs/
FOR THE LIL SKUNKS
Kids who’ve grown up frolicking through the Skunk Farm woods and climbing on the SkunkArt Bus are their own sort of independent. It’s like 1980’s free-range parenting was preserved in a time capsule at the Skunk Farm. The result? Pure joy and happiness and some of the muddiest kids you’ve ever seen.
It’s not, however, an entirely unstructured weekend for the younger crowd. Kids events from yoga to crafts to magic shows are part of the regular schedule, because here, the under 18 crew is just as important, valued, and appreciated as the adults.
For an idea of what to expect, view the Kiddieland activity schedule here: https://albinoskunk.com/for-the-kids/
MAKE ART, NOT WAR
Visual and performance artists thrive here. Whether officially, as vendors in the craft area at the top of the hill, or unofficially, as musicians or theatrical performers breaking out into song around the late night campfires, the culture is strong.
Tim TV & The Secret Cirkus bring out the stilt-walking and fire-breathing throughout the weekend. John and Karri Scollon of the Columbia Marionette Theatre work their magic with animal puppets – including a skunk, dog, and glowing jellyfish – that look more realistic than not as they make their way through the crowds. Henna artists, jewelry makers, and a variety of other artisans provide even more color to the festival.
And of course, there’s plenty of tie-dye to go around.
SOUL FOOD (AND DRINK)
It wouldn’t be an OTGG story without mentioning the food and drinks. While you can bring your own coolers into the festival, there are plenty of food vendor options that might make you think twice about that.
In the past, Upcountry Provisions has been a staple vendor with their signature pastries and pizzas fired on site. A rotation of other local vendors like Pound 4 Pound Sweet Treats, Mac Attack, Methodical Coffee, Boiled PNuts always provide a convincing argument to ditch the cooler and buy local if you can.
Spring Skunk ‘23 food vendor line-up is available here, and it looks like a doozy in the best way: https://albinoskunk.com/vendors/#food
Community Tap, which has been a mainstay of Skunk Fest for years, will be pouring beer and wine throughout the festival.
FAMILY REUNION
To immerse yourself in the full experience of SkunkFest is to join a family, of sorts. If you become a repeat attendee, you’ll be reunited each Spring and Fall with your new friends made during previous festivals.
And while Albino Skunk Fest may not be for everybody, it certainly welcomes anyone. And it’s clear, from Zeigler on down to his loyal band of volunteers, that this is just about the happiest place in the Upstate where everyone is included, everyone is kind, and everyone is just so dang happy to be there instead of anywhere else.
Want to join the fun? Tickets are available now for the May 11-13, 2023 Spring Festival: https://albinoskunk.com/tickets/