26 YEARS OF GOOD OLD FASHIONED FUN: The Northern California Bluegrass Society’s Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is fun, relaxed, and close-to home. This weekend’s Thursday-Sunday gathering features great California bluegrass bands on the main stage and many more bands on the ‘tweener stage. The Late Night Stage kicks off in the Dance Hall on Friday & Saturday nights. Plus, the First Stage beginning at 10:00am on Friday will feature even more exciting bands in the San Benito County Historical Park’s Historical Village.
The GOF offers flushy restrooms, hot showers, shade in the audience area, a low-power broadcast of the stage to the camp, excellent sound, tent & RV camping, children’s activities, a raffle, the NCBS election, food and craft vendors, nominations for the Northern California Bluegrass Awards, and easy handicapped access, along with plenty of fun jamming! New this year — a Band Scramble and free private lessons for kids.
The GOF is a benefit for the NCBS and helps the Society’s volunteers provide services to area bluegrass community all year long.
The San Benito County Historical Park is set in a beautiful valley of ranches and vineyards. The park has upgraded some facilities since our first year and features a lovely historical village that is perfect for jamming. There are gorgeous views of the hills.
The address of the Historical Park is 8300 Airline Highway, Tres Pinos (next to Bolado Park, 7 miles south of Hollister).
TICKETS: There will be plenty of tickets at the gate.
Gate Prices:
3-Day Adult $120
2-Day 90
1-Day Sat. 60
1-Day Fri or Sun 50
Youths (Ages 13-17) – above prices discounted to $70/55/40/30
Seniors (65 & above) – above prices discounted to $110/85/55/45
Children (12 & under) – FREE
Thursday Ticket $15. Gates open at NOON on Thursday. No early arrivals.
CAMPING: Camping is FREE with all multi-day tickets. The water is the same as at Bolado Park, so bring water for drinking & cooking purposes. No RV hook-ups this year. If hook-ups are needed, they are available next door at Bolado Park, but a vehicle will be needed. Walking from Bolado Park to the Historical Park on the highway is not advised.
MUSIC SCHEDULE:
There are no stage performances on Thursday afternoon, which is reserved for jamming and socializing.
(The ‘Tweener Stage alternates with the Main Stage.)
FRIDAY, August 9
10:00am — The Open Heart Strings (Santa Cruz)
11:00 — Home Stilled String Band (Sacramento)
Noon — Mood Swing (Los Angeles)
1:00pm — Festival Speed (Marin)
Main Stage
2:00pm — Ben Greenberg
3:00 — Bloomfield Bluegrass
4:00 — Wendy Burch Steel & Redwood
5:00 — Dinner/Workshops/Tours
6:00 — Dark Hollow
7:00 — Bean Creek
8:00 — Windy Hill
9:00 — The Town Howlers
Late Night Stage
10:00pm — Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass Band
SATURDAY, August 10
10:00am — Rose Valley Thorns
11:00 — Red Dog Ash
Noon — Grasskickers
1:00pm — Lunch/Workshops/Tours and Band Scramble
2:00 — Wildcat Mountain Ramblers
3:00 — North Country Blue
4:00 — Nell & Jim Band
5:00 — Dinner/Workshops/Tours
6:00 — Rita Hosking Band
7:00 — Muleskinner Stomp
8:00 — AJ Lee & Blue Summit
9:00 — The Goat Hill Girls
Late Night Stage
10:00pm — Dave Holodiloff Band
SUNDAY, August 11
10:00am — The Gilly Girls
11:00 — Kids On Stage
Noon — Fog Holler
1:00pm — Festival Speed
2:00 — Stoney Mountain Ramblers
3:00 — Bluegrass Element
OTHER FUN: Take a tour of the historical village. Plus take a tour of the earthquake-driven landform that makes up the area.
DIRECTIONS:
South on Highway 101 to just past Gilroy.
Exit right, then left over bridge on Highway 25 and go
southeast towards Hollister.
(Follow signs to Pinnacles National Park.)
Go through Hollister, then continue south on 25.
Exit I-5 at Highway 152 (Pacheco Pass) and go west
towards Gilroy.
Turn left on Highway 156 just past Casa de Fruta and go
south towards Hollister.
Go through Hollister, then continue south on Highway 25.
Take either Highway 101 (or Highway 1 to Highway 129 to 101)
north & east towards San Juan Bautista.
Turn on Highway 156 near San Juan Bautista and go east towards
Hollister.
Go through Hollister, then continue south on Highway 25.
>FROM HOLLISTER:
Drive south on Highway 25, following signs to the Pinnacles and Bolado Park
The San Benito County Historical Park is 7 miles south of Hollister on Highway 25 (and 2 miles south of the town of Tres Pinos).
Turn right and go over the bridge into the park.
Gas stations, food stores, etc. are plentiful in Hollister and limited in Tres Pinos.
PETS: DOGS ARE ALLOWED, but must remain in the designated Dog Camping Area.
CAMP BROADCAST: KGOF will provide a low-power broadcast of the stage to the camp on your FM radio.
WEATHER: Sunny & beautiful. Thursday: High 79, Low 54. Friday: High 82 Low 57. Saturday: High 80, Low 57. Sunday: High 83, Low 55.
SEE YOU AT THE 26th ANNUAL FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND! And remember, all of your friends will be there!
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