Rocktoberfest 2026 Recap and 2027 Dates: The RRGCC's Climbing Festival
Rocktoberfest 2026 ran October 8 to 11 at Land of the Arches. Here is when to expect the 2027 festival and how to plan a stay around it.
Updated October 13, 2026. Rocktoberfest 2026 ran Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 11 at Land of the Arches Campground in Campton, KY. That matches the dates we inferred back in August, and the RRGCC's festival page confirms them.
When is Rocktoberfest 2027?
The RRGCC has not announced 2027 dates. Here is our best read, with the reasoning, so you can judge it yourself.
The last three festivals ran Thursday through Sunday: October 10 to 13 in 2024, October 9 to 12 in 2025, and October 8 to 11 in 2026. Two patterns fit all three years, and they split in 2027:
- Starting the second Thursday of October gives October 14 to 17, 2027.
- Ending the Sunday before Columbus Day gives October 7 to 10, 2027.
If you want a cabin for the festival, watch rrgcc.org/rocktoberfest for the announcement. That page is the source of truth, and we will update this post when it changes.
What happens at Rocktoberfest
Rocktoberfest is the RRGCC's annual festival and fundraiser. Expect clinics, guided climbs, gear vendors, competitions, live music and evening programs. Ticket money supports the RRGCC's work buying and caring for climbing land, including the new Cave Fork preserve.
Volunteers who work one shift get 50% off admission, bought at the registration booth when they check in.
Staying at Stone and Sky for the festival
Stone and Sky sleeps 8, which suits a climbing crew splitting one cabin. You get hot showers that never run out, a custom kitchen with place settings for 12, and a hot tub on the screened porch for the nights after. The cabin sits above the Maverick and Nilbog walls in Cave Fork, so you can climb close to home on the days between festival events.
October is peak season in the Gorge. Book early once the 2027 dates are out.