Memorial Day Weekend features an abundance of annual traditions each year in and around the nation’s capital. Just to the west, in Cumberland, Maryland, the annual bluegrass celebration known as DelFest has become a customary pilgrimage each spring for thousands of music lovers from across the DMV.
But its features major headliners, and of course, numerous sets by the host Del McCoury Band, and bluegrass fans come from far and wide to enjoy four consecutive days and nights of camping at Allegany County Fairgrounds.
It’s a lovely stretch of land with incredible views of Knobley Mountain high above the Potomac River as it runs north along the property — an idyllic setting for attendees and artists alike. From May 22 to 25, it became its own city.
No different than any other, this year’s bill was packed, showcasing a mix of styles while staying true to the gathering’s roots, as both up-and-coming and established bluegrass acts took one of the three stages at any given moment.
Listen to the Official DelFest 2025 Spotify playlist:
Despite low temps and consistent heavy rain across the first two days, attendees packed the main lawn to take in the Grandstand performances and were rewarded with standout sets by the Dan Tyminski Band and The Wood Brothers Thursday night and Sierra Ferrell Friday night.
The Travelin’ McCourys — with the fresh addition of new fiddler Christian Ward — riled up the audience Saturday night. DelFest favorites, The California Honeydrops closed out Sunday evening after hosting one of the lively afterhours sets the night prior.
Del McCoury, now 86 years old, cracked jokes and told stories in between songs the whole weekend. Surrounded by his family for most of the event — including his brother Jerry and his sons and longtime bandmates Ronnie and Rob McCoury — he showed he’s still got the charm and the voice to impress big audiences night after night.
Parklife DC was there for all four days, battling through the rain. We made the long haul from our camp to the stages, quite a few times, while trying to keep gear as dry as possible on the first two days and still taking in as much as possible.
Below is an extensive gallery of color digital shots from across the four days in Cumberland at DelFest 2025, the 17th edition of the event. All images copyright and courtesy of Casey Ryan Vock.
Day/Night 1: Thursday May 22, 2025
The Del McCoury Band annual soundcheck set
Sister Sadie
Dan Tyminski Band
The Wood Brothers
Day/Night 2: May 23, 2025
Jerry & Dawg Revisited: Joe Craven, Jim Kerwin, Ronnie McCoury and Stu Allen
Leftover Salmon
The Del McCoury Band
Sierra Ferrell
Day/Night 3: May 24, 2025
Darrell Scott String Band
Asleep At The Wheel
Railroad Earth
Larkin Poe
The Travelin’ McCourys
The California Honeydrops afterhours set
Day/Night 4: May 25, 2025
Matteo Mancuso
The Price Sisters
Gaelic Storm
The SteelDrivers
Ronnie McCoury with his family on the Grand Stand Stage
The Del McCoury Band
The California Honeydrops
