Connecting you with 30A Songwriters Festival Producers Jennifer Steele and Russell Carter

<p>Every Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend since 2010, the <a href="https://www.30asongwritersfestival.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">30A Songwriters Festival </a>has turned South Walton’s quiet winter season into a destination built around music, storytelling, and community.</p><p>On this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, host Kerri Parker sits down with festival producers Jennifer Steele and Russell Carter to reflect on 17 years of a songwriter-focused festival that has become a cultural and economic cornerstone for Walton County. They share how intentional curation, in-the-round performances, and deep community partnerships shaped the festival — and why its partnership with the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County is essential to sustaining year-round arts programming.</p><p>The conversation also offers insider insight into the 2026 lineup and what first-time attendees can expect from a weekend that transforms neighborhoods, venues, and listening rooms into an immersive musical experience — drawing visitors not for the weather, but for the music. </p>