The Susanville Bluegrass Festival is ON for 2021. The previously-announced festival was subject to review and cancellation by the owner, the Lassen County Fair, but it will now happen as scheduled on June 25-27 at the Lassen County Fairgrounds in Susanville.
The event is currently the only bluegrass festival confirmed for the month of June in California.
The NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival’s Facebook Group Page is the place to enjoy great local music. Area Bluegrass Musicians are welcome to self-post their music. For more information, contact page host Bruce Bellochio <Bbellochio@gmail.com>.
Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Facebook Group Page
The NCBS-welcomed Brookdale Bluegrass Festival will be held August 13-15, 2021 at its original location, the Brookdale Lodge in Brookdale. More information will be available soon.
Here is the current status of bluegrass events of interest to Northern California bluegrass fans as of May 8, 2021. Many events will have limited attendance.
This guide will be updated as new information becomes available.
MAY
6-9 — Parkfield Bluegrass Festival, Parkfield. Cancelled, will return in 2022.
16 — Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival, Paramount Ranch, Agoura Hills. Cancelled, may be held as a virtual contest.
27-31 — Strawberry Spring Music Festival, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Postponed to 2022.
29-30 — Pick & Gather, Riverdance Farms, Livingston (NCBS welcomed). As scheduled.
JUNE
11-13 — Telluride Bluegrass Festival (Week 1), Telluride, CO. As scheduled.
17-20 — CBA Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Cancelled, will return in 2022.
17-20 — Telluride Bluegrass Festival (Week 2), Telluride, CO. As scheduled.
25-27 — Susanville Bluegrass Festival, Lassen County Fairgrounds, Susanville. As scheduled, subject to review.
25-27 — Kate Wolf Music Festival, Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville. Cancelled. 25th and final festival will be held in 2022.
JULY
1-4 — High Sierra Music Festival, Plumas County Fairgrounds, Quincy. Postponed to 2022.
9-11 — Lost River Bluegrass Festival, Community Center Park, Merrill, OR. As scheduled.
15-17 — Redwood Ramble, Camp Navarro, Navarro. Postponed to 2022.
23-25 — Rockygrass Bluegrass Festival, Planet Bluegrass Ranch, Lyons, CO. As scheduled.
AUGUST
1 — Jerry Garcia Day, McLaren Park, San Francisco. As scheduled.
TBA — Brookdale Bluegrass Festival, Brookdale Lodge, Brookdale (NCBS welcomed). Original Brookdale Lodge location, likely scheduled during second weekend of August.
12-15 — NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos. Cancelled, will return in 2022.
19-22 — Bower’s Mansion Bluegrass Festival, Bower’s Mansion Regional Park, Carson City, NV. As scheduled.
20-22 — Summergrass San Diego, Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Vista. As scheduled.
SEPTEMBER
3-5 — Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival, Plumas County Fairgrounds, Quincy (NCBS welcomed). As scheduled.
17-19 — Millpond Music Festival, Millpond Recreation Area, Bishop. Planned. The decision about the 2021 event will be made on June 1.
17-19 — Pickin’ In The Pines, Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff, AZ. As scheduled.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
September 28-October 2 — IBMA World Of Bluegrass, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC. As scheduled, virtual (maybe also in person).
OCTOBER
1-3 — Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. As scheduled.
Here is all you need to know to go to the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair on Saturday, May 8:
Fun: The Northern California Bluegrass Society/Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society will present the 33rd edition of this beloved Rite of Spring over four Saturdays, April 17 & 24 and May 1 & 8, 2021.
New Location: The previous location is unavailable this year and the fair will be held at The Summit House, 23123 Santa Cruz Highway, Los Gatos, at the top of Highway 17, 6 miles south of Los Gatos and 9 miles north of Scott’s Valley.
Cost: FREE, seating is outdoor restaurant style, where the Summit House Beer Garden & Grill will serve you food and drink, which will not be free.
May 8 Bands (Noon-5:00pm): Wildcat Mountain Ramblers, Bean Creek, North Country Ble.
Raffle: The NCBS raffle pays the bills and has great prizes. Tickets will be sold at the fair.
Weather: Sunny, High 81, Low 50.
Covid 19 Rules In Full Effect: Yes, including masks and social distancing.
Reservations: Recommended (408) 353-2700.
Views: Beautiful Santa Cruz Mountain Vistas are in every direction from the outdoor seating at this lovely mountaintop establishment.
And remember…all of your friends will be there!
The Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair will present North Country Blue on Saturday, May 8, 2021, Noon-5:00pm at The Summit House. The other bands performing that day will be The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers and Bean Creek.
The free 33rd Annual Bluegrass Fair is presented by the Northern California Bluegrass Society/Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society with sound by Robert Cornelius and sponsored by The Great Room.
Food & drink will be served by The Summit House Beer Garden & Grill. This year, the Bluegrass Fair will be held on four Saturdays, April 17 – May 8. There will be Beautiful & Inspiring Views of The Santa Cruz Mountains in the outdoor audience area. The regular bluegrass fair location is unavailable this year.
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED (408) 353-2700.
Bean Creek will finally return to live post-Covid performance at the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair on Saturday, May 8, 2021, Noon-5:00pm at The Summit House. The other bands performing that day will be The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers and North Country Blue.
The free 33rd Annual Bluegrass Fair is presented by the Northern California Bluegrass Society/Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society with sound by Robert Cornelius and sponsored by The Great Room.
Food & drink will be served by The Summit House Beer Garden & Grill. This year, the Bluegrass Fair will be held on four Saturdays, April 17 – May 8. There will be Beautiful & Inspiring Views of The Santa Cruz Mountains in the outdoor audience area. The regular bluegrass fair location is unavailable this year.
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED (408) 353-2700.
The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers will play the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair on Saturday, May 8, 2021, Noon-5:00pm at The Summit House. Other bands performing that day: Bean Creek and North Country Blue.
The free 33rd Annual Bluegrass Fair is presented by the Northern California Bluegrass Society/Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society with sound by Robert Cornelius and sponsored by The Great Room. Food & drink will be served by The Summit House Beer Garden & Grill. This year, the Bluegrass Fair will be held on four Saturdays, April 17 – May 8.
There will be Beautiful & Inspiring Views of The Santa Cruz Mountains in the outdoor audience area. The regular bluegrass fair location is unavailable this year.
Thanks to KION-TV (Monterey) Weather Guru Zach McIntyre’s Recommendation about last week’s bluegrass fair event. He is a bluegrass fan originally from South Carolina!
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED (408) 353-2700.
Here is the current status of bluegrass events of interest to Northern California bluegrass fans, as reopening occurs and while future health developments await us. Many events will have limited attendance.
This guide will be updated as new information becomes available.
MAY
6-9 — Parkfield Bluegrass Festival, Parkfield. Cancelled, will return in 2022.
8 — NCBS/SCBS Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair (Week 4), The Summit House, Los Gatos. As scheduled.
16 — Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival, Paramount Ranch, Agoura Hills. Cancelled, may be held as a virtual contest.
27-31 — Strawberry Spring Music Festival, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Postponed to 2022.
29-30 — Pick & Gather, Riverdance Farms, Livingston (NCBS welcomed). As scheduled.
JUNE
11-13 — Telluride Bluegrass Festival (Week 1), Telluride, CO. As scheduled.
17-20 — CBA Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Cancelled, will return in 2022.
17-20 — Telluride Bluegrass Festival (Week 2), Telluride, CO. As scheduled.
25-27 — Susanville Bluegrass Festival, Lassen County Fairgrounds, Susanville. As scheduled, subject to review.
25-27 — Kate Wolf Music Festival, Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville. Cancelled. 25th and final festival will be held in 2022.
JULY
1-4 — High Sierra Music Festival, Plumas County Fairgrounds, Quincy. Postponed to 2022.
9-11 — Lost River Bluegrass Festival, Community Center Park, Merrill, OR. As scheduled.
15-17 — Redwood Ramble, Camp Navarro, Navarro. Postponed to 2022.
23-25 — Rockygrass Bluegrass Festival, Planet Bluegrass Ranch, Lyons, CO. As scheduled.
AUGUST
1 — Jerry Garcia Day, McLaren Park, San Francisco. As scheduled.
TBA — Brookdale Bluegrass Festival, Brookdale Lodge, Brookdale (NCBS welcomed). Newly announced at original Brookdale Lodge location, likely scheduled during second weekend of August.
12-15 — NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos. Cancelled, will return in 2022.
19-22 — Bower’s Mansion Bluegrass Festival, Bower’s Mansion Regional Park, Carson City, NV. As scheduled.
20-22 — Summergrass San Diego, Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Vista. As scheduled.
SEPTEMBER
3-5 — Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival, Plumas County Fairgrounds, Quincy (NCBS welcomed). As scheduled.
17-19 — Millpond Music Festival, Millpond Recreation Area, Bishop. Planned. The decision about the 2021 event will be made on June 1.
17-19 — Pickin’ In The Pines, Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff, AZ. As scheduled.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
September 28-October 2 — IBMA World Of Bluegrass, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC. As scheduled, virtual (maybe also in person).
OCTOBER
1-3 — Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. As scheduled.
May Reminder: The NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival in Tres Pinos has been cancelled due to the ongoing Coronavirus Crisis. The festival, which was originally planned for August 12-15, 2021, will return in 2022.
