2025 Haverford Music Festival Shaping Up, Vendors & Acts Still Sought

HAVERFORD, PA — Haverford Music Festival is back for 2025 and promises tons of local music, food, drinks, kids activities, community organizations, and more.

This year's festival will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Sept. 6 at Eagle and Darby roads in Havertown, and it's completely free to attend.

Headliners this year are Buckwheat Zydeco Jr., Sasha Dobson, Arbouretum, and Dibbs and the Detonators.

While this year's headliners are already set, organizer Jesse Hubley told Patch he and the team who make the festival happen are still accepting applications for volunteer performers.

"We look for diversity of genre," Hubley, President of the nonprofit group Haverford Township Education, Arts and Music Society which runs the festival, said. "We wouldn't select 10 different Americana or indie or country bands."

Hubley's team looks for a mix of genres while also factoring in what kind of music the headliners offer up.

Whether volunteer performers are individual artists or bands, the team focuses on acts that have released new material recently, original songs, and their live performance schedules.

He said a subcommittee will listen to applicants, not for personal preference but for professional quality, to determine who fits the bill.

"Being a family festival, we don't do hardcore, heavy metal stuff," he said.

Area acts who want to be considered for the festival can apply online here through the end of June. The full music lineup will be announced in July, so stay tuned to Patch for a full schedule of performances.

So far, planning this year's event has been going well, Hubley said.

"This is our fourth year back after a two-year hiatus," he said. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause on the festival in 2020 and 2021.

While Hubley and the rest of the Haverford Township Education, Arts and Music Society (HTEAMS) are excited about this year's festival, it does come with heavy hearts.

A founding member of HTEAMS who was instrumental in bringing the festival back died in summer 2024, and the festival's main stage has been renamed in his honor.

The Oakmont Field Stage is now the Barry Gutman Oakmont Stage.

"Barry was in the community, and has been a music enthusiast and writer for quite some time," Hubley said.

Gutman volunteered at the festival in 2014 and later helped form HTEAMS, where he served as the group's press officer. Hubley said Gutman did everything from handling press released to doing TV appearances while promoting the festival.

In 2022, Gutman was going through health issues, and those led him to take a step back from helping the festival. Hubley recalled Gutman telling him he needed to focus on his health, but then, almost as if the music called to him, he resumed his role in spreading the word of the festival.

"The night of the 2022 festival when headliner was on, it was a minor miracle, Barry and I bumped into each other in the back part of the field," hey said. "He told me to disregard his comments and that he was determined to keep pressing with the festival."

Unfortunately, Gutman's health issue resurged and took his life last summer.

"We figured the best way to honor his legacy would be to keep his name as part of the festival," Hubley said.

While the Barry Gutman Stage will host headliners and volunteer performers, the rest of the volunteer acts will play the Eagle Road Stage.

Volunteers will perform from noon to 3:30 p.m. on the Gutman Stage, and from noon to 5 p.m. on the Eagle Road Stage. Headliners will hit the Gutman Stage after the volunteer acts wrap up.

And what's a festival without festival activities?

"It's going to be a party atmosphere," Hubley said. "Each year we try to enhance the experience more."

Guests 21 and older can visit the beer garden on Hathaway Lane. Conshohocken Brewing will be serving up beer and canned cocktails. Wine will be available, too. Outside alcohol is not permitted at the festival.

As for vendors, festival goers will find food trucks, crafters, community organizations and more, also on Hathaway Lane.

Vendors are still being sought for the festival. Interested vendors can learn more about joining the festival online here.

There will also be a kids' activity area. Hubley said the longest lines at the 2024 festival were for the inflatable bounce house and slide for the kids.

"The kids' area gives parents a chance to get a little bit of a break," he said.

Pets are not allowed on the grass fields at the festival, but are permitted in the beer garden and on Hathaway Lane.

Attendees can bring blankets and chairs.

The festival is fully funded by sponsorships and donations, and Hubley said that's key to keeping entry free to everyone.

He said festival goers will find donation jars at one entry point and at the festival's information booth. Donations can also be made online here.

HTEAMS has 10 active board members and a handful of consistent volunteers who make the festival possible. But Hubley said other volunteers are needed to help ensure a successful event.

Anyone interested in helping out at the festival can sign up for volunteer time slots online here. Volunteer opportunities include working with bands to load in and out, handling grounds crew operations, stage set up, beer garden ticket sales, and more.

Learn more about the 2025 Haverford Music Festival online here.