Forage
Why Folk & Forage?
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Intimate: Community is one of the most important pillars of Folk & Forage, and that is why we will forever be an intimate festival. By staying small, we’ve created a space where people can make genuine connections, and feel a sense of belonging by the end of the weekend. Though small, we are mighty and offer an incredible experience with sounds, lights, and wonders on par with larger festivals.
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Educational: Folk & Forage was created around the idea of honing skills, learning from each other, and gaining knowledge about both the natural world and the musical realms. At Folk & Forage, we put just as much emphasis on our workshops as we do our musical performances. We wanted to create a safe place for families and friends to experience, explore, ask questions, and learn together.
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Interactive: One reason Folk & Forage is special is because of all the contributions that our attendees bring to the festival. There are so many opportunities to interact with the festival, and we encourage the community to participate and add a sprinkle of magic. Whether at the Makers Market, costume contest, campfire jam, open mic, stone soup, or Night Cap, there are plenty of opportunities to share a little bit of yourself with the community.
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World-Class Talent: We feature some of the best musicians and naturalists to create an exceptional experience for you. It’s pretty much unheard of to see this caliber of talent at a festival this size. And because Folk & Forage is intimate, you get to spend the weekend dancing, learning, eating, and experiencing alongside talented musicians and educators.
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Fun: We are more than a little biased, but Folk & Forage is just about as fun of a weekend as we can imagine. Beautiful campsite, incredible music, interactive workshops, welcoming community, campfire jam sessions, family-friendly atmosphere, costumes, and communal events. Whew! We sure do pack a lot into one weekend…..
About
Hello! My name is Austin!
Festivals have shaped my life. As a teen growing up in the Southeast, I spent countless weekends at music festivals with my family, soaking in the music that would eventually lead me to pick up the banjo.
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Later, as a touring musician, I got to experience festivals from the other side of the stage. But I always dreamed of creating my own—one that wasn’t just about music, but also about art, food, foraging, and education.
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That dream needed the right time to take root. Strangely enough, a global pandemic provided the perfect moment. In May 2021, after months of isolation, my wife Kaela and I rented a remote USFS group campground and invited 40 friends to spend the weekend foraging by day and playing music by night. We shook off the solitude, cautiously reentered the world, and found ourselves wrapped in the warmth of community. That weekend, Folk & Forage was born.
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Since then, the festival has grown organically, like the mycelial network it celebrates. What started as a small gathering of friends has drawn in fellow myco-musical folk—strangers who quickly became family. Each year, more people bring their own magic, knowledge, and beautiful weirdness, shaping Folk & Forage into something bigger than we ever imagined.
We’d love for you to be part of it. Come gather with us—share food, music, and stories beneath the trees. Let’s celebrate the wild, the wonderful, and the deeply connected.
Meet the team
Kaela Fox - Communications & Volunteer Coordinator
Kaela wrangles the Folk & Forage volunteers and sends all of the attendee communications. When not supporting F&F or Serenade, Kaela is the Events Manager for the non-profit, SFF Presents, producing Big Ponderoo and Sisters Folk festival. Most commonly found chasing after her and Austin’s daughter at Folk & Forage….
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Favorite Mushroom: Mia
Austin Quattlebaum - Festival Founder & Director
In addition to producing Folk & Forage, Austin tours the country performing on his banjo, produces Banjo Rama at Hama Hama, and is one half of Serenade. He also works as an illustrator and artist, creating all of the Folk & Forage posters and merch as well as designs for others.
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Favorite Mushroom: Chanterelles! Because they’re easy to find and delicious.
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Dana Rivkin - Production Manager
Dana ensures that the Folk & Forage schedule runs smoothly, and takes great care of our artists. When not at Folk & Forage you can find Dana working as the Production Director at Trout Lake Hall, teaching yoga, or leading sensory retreats to Costa Rica.
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Favorite Mushroom: No favorites, just enjoys being in the forest foraging
Nathan Hanley - Operations Manager
Nathan keeps all of the behind-the-scenes elements running smoothly and can fix just about anything. He’s a co-creator of the Night Cap, and if you don’t know what that is yet, you are in for a real treat… Nathan is evangelistic about hot yoga and never misses an opportunity to dress up.
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Favorite Mushroom: Lion’s Mane