wˈɪlks kˈaʊntiz loʊkˈeɪʃən æz ðə sˈaɪt ʌvðɪ ˈænjuːəl mˈɜːl fˈɛst ðə lˈɑːɹdʒɪst fˈoʊk ænd blˈuːɡɹæs mjˈuːzɪk fˈɛstɪvəl ɪnðə nˈeɪʃən hɐz lˈɛd tə ðə hˈoʊmtaʊn ˈɑːpɹi ɐtɹˈæktɪŋ pɹˈɑːmɪnənt mjuːzˈɪʃənz ɪn fˈoʊk ænd blˈuːɡɹæs mjˈuːzɪk.
Wilkes County's location as the site of the annual MerleFest - the largest folk and bluegrass music festival in the nation - has led to the Hometown Opry attracting prominent musicians in folk and bluegrass music.