Every April, for the past thirty-one years, strings get strummed at the Dallas International Guitar Festival. The event takes place on the 140,000 square feet of display space at the Dallas Market Hall. The three-day festival celebrates guitar making, collectors, musicians and music enthusiasts.

It all began with a Dallas guitar shop owner named Charley Wirz, who conceived the idea to hold a vintage guitar show with booths for exhibitors and dealers. First held in a small room at a Dallas hotel, Wirz’ idea became an overnight success.

Wirz passed away in 1985, but his idea lived on through his friend and fellow guitar lover, Mark Pollock. Pollock took the idea to the next level, beginning an annual Saturday night jam session. By 1990, 10,000 attendees were bursting through the doors at the Dallas Convention Center. The first larger shows were held in the Dallas Fair Park, before being relocated to the Dallas Market Hall.

Today, the show attracts celebrities and newcomers alike. It celebrates the simple philosophy of good music and great guitars. Worldwide there are now more than 2,000 guitar events, but the Dallas resident, Charles Wirz was the first to conceive of such a guitar convention.

Popular exhibit items in recent years have included Eric Clapton’s ‘Blackie,’ the most expensive guitar to be bought at auction, Jimi Hendrix’s Strat, and guitars from Santana.

The music never stops at the guitar festival. Bands flock from around the globe for an opportunity to play to such an elite musical crowd. Exhibition booths fill the large space of the hall, containing everything from rare vintage pieces to more modern guitars.

Each year more than 10,000 guitar players and instruments arrive for jam sessions and to ogle over intricate, vintage pieces. Whether interested in guitars, music or celebrities, this place is for visitors looking for a surprisingly unique experience.