Thanks To Our Good Old Fashioned Festival Host — The San Benito County Historical Society

The Northern California Bluegrass Society thanks our host, the San Benito County Historical Society, which manages the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos.

The historical society volunteers work alongside the bluegrass society volunteers to make the festival happen each year. The beautiful park they maintain is the home of our annual gathering of friends. This year, the historical volunteers also grilled a great Saturday evening meal for festival attendees.

The historical society also runs the history museum in downtown Hollister. The historical village at the park and museum are open many days throughout the year.

The Historic 30th NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be held August 8-11, 2024.

Dance Hall, San Benito County Historical Park.

Late Season Bluegrass Festivals For Northern California

Here are the late-season festivals of interest to Northern California Bluegrass fans:

AUGUST

24-27 – Bowers Bluegrass Festival, Bowers Mansion Regional Park, New Washoe City, NV.

SEPTEMBER

1-3 – Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival, Plumas County Fairgrounds, Quincy, (NCBS welcomed)

20-24 – Berkeley Old Time Music Convention, various venues, Berkeley.

23 – Jamesburg School Bluegrass Festival, Jamesburg School Community Center, Carmel Valley.

23 – Columbia Fiddle & Bango Contest, Gazebo, Columbia State Historic Park, Columbia.

26-30 – IBMA World Of Bluegrass, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC. (NCBS welcomed)

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER

September 29-October 1 – Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

NCBS Welcomes The Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival On Labor Day Weekend

The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes the 2023 Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival on Labor Day Weekend in Quincy. The September 1-3 event will be held at the Plumas County Fairgrounds.

The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers (host band), Salty Sally, Banana & The Bunch, and Dirty Cello are among the Bay Area bands set to perform. There will be plenty of tickets at the gate. Camping areas are plentiful and nice. A Friday evening Open Mike and a spaghetti feed will be hosted by Chef Mike. The NCBS Information Booth will be there.

The Plumas County Fairgrounds, Quincy.

Thanks To All The 2023 Good Old Fashioned Volunteers

Thanks to all of the dedicated, hard-working NCBS Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Volunteers who spent the past weekend (or the past year!) making the festival happen. Your efforts are much appreciated!

Thanks also go to the volunteers of the San Benito County Historical Society who make the park so beautiful!

And thanks to the bands and their fans who have supported the event over many years!

The 30th GOF gathering will take place August 8-11, 2024. See you there!

The Jubilee Uncles

 

 

 

 

Historic 30th Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Set For August 8-11, 2024

The Northen California Bluegrass Society has announced that the Historic 30th Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival has been set for August 8-11, 2024. The then Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society staged the first GOF at Bolado Park in 1994. (Due to the pandemic, the 2020 festival was held online and no festival was held in 2021.)

See you at the San Benito County Historical Park next August — and thanks for your support!

Sunday At The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival

There have been some changes to the Sunday schedule. The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers will perform at 10:00am. Sunny Side Of The Mountain will play at Noon. This year, there will not be a Kids On Stage show.

SUNDAY, August 13

Main Stage

10:00am — Wildcat Mountain Ramblers

11:00 — Lonesome Still

Noon — Sunny Side Of The Mountain

1:00pm — West 45

2:00 — Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass Band

The Northern California Bluegrass Society Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival runs August 10-13 at the San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos.

Saturday At The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival

SATURDAY, August 12

Main Stage

10:00am — The Courthouse Ramblers

11:00 — Festival Speed Bluegrass

Noon — Who’s Feeling Young Now

1:00pm — Lunch Break/Workshops/Tours

2:00 — Marin County Breakdown

3:00 — The Post Folk Revivalists

4:00 — Mission Blue

5:00 — The Storytellers

6:00 — Dinner Break

7:00 — The Jubilee Uncles

8:00 — The Goat Hill Girls

9:00 — Red Dog Ash

Dance Hall Stage

10:00pm — Brent Pierce & His Acid Grass Boys

The Northern California Bluegrass Society Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival runs August 10-13 at the San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos.

Friday At The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival

FRIDAY, August 11

First Stage

10:00am — Old Rosin

11:00am — Rasin Juice

Noon — Cactus Bob & Prairie Flower

1:00pm — Matt Michienzie & Friends

2:00 — Lunch Break/Workshops/Tours

Main Stage

3:00pm — Lucas Lawson & The Unturned Stone

4:00 — The Stoney Mountain Ramblers

5:00 — Birches Bend

6:00 — Dinner Break

7:00 — Dark Hollow Bluegrass Band

8:00 — Bean Creek

9:00 — Trouble Town

The Northern California Bluegrass Society Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival runs August 10-13 at the San Benito County Historical Park, Tres Pinos.

All You Need To Know To Go To The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival This Weekend

Here it is: All You Need To Know To Go To The Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival This Weekend.

THIS FESTIVAL IS NOW 30 YEARS OLD, but due to the pandemic, we will gather for the only the 29th time.

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 Saturday night. 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 restrooms, hot showers, shade in the audience area, excellent sound, tent & RV camping, children’s activities, a raffle, the NCBS election, food and craft vendors, and easy handicapped access, along with plenty of fun jamming! 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 features a lovely historical village that is perfect for jamming.  There are gorgeous views of the hills. Thanks to our hosts — The San Benito County Historical Society!

The Historical Park at 8300 Airline Highway, Tres Pinos is next to Bolado Park, 7 miles south of Hollister.

TICKETS: There will be plenty of tickets at the gate.

At the Gate prices:

Adults Seniors (65+) Youth (13-17)
3 Day $145 $130 $85
2 Day $105 $100 $65
1 Day (Saturday) $70 $65 $50
1 Day (Friday) $60 $55 $35
1 Day (Sunday) $45 $40 $30

The festival is free for children age 12 or under.

Thursday Ticket $15.  Gates open at NOON on Thursday.

CAMPING: Camping is FREE with all multi-day tickets.  Bring water for drinking & cooking purposes. No RV hook-ups. 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:

Thursday afternoon is reserved for jamming and socializing. There will be a band playing on the Lantern Stage (bring your camp lantern) at dark.

There have been some last-minute changes to the Sunday schedule. The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers will perform at 10:00am. Sunny Side Of The Mountain will play at Noon. (This year, there will not be a Kids On Stage show.)

SUNDAY, August 13

Main Stage

10:00am — Wildcat Mountain Ramblers

11:00 — Lonesome Still

Noon — Sunny Side Of The Mountain

1:00pm — West 45

2:00 — Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass Band

 

OTHER FUN: Take a tour of the historical village.

DIRECTIONS:

>From The Bay Area:

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.

>From The Central Valley:

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.

>From The Central Coast:

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 and in the (new!) Stage Area Dog Enclosure.

WEATHER: Perfect — Sunny & Beautiful! Thursday: High 77, Low 55. Friday: High 77 Low 56. Saturday: High 81, Low 55. Sunday: High 85, Low 56.

SEE YOU AT THE 29th GOF FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND! And remember, all of your friends will be there!

Hollister welcomes the Good Old Fashioned!

Complete Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Performance Schedule — Gates Open At Noon On Thursday

The Northern California Bluegrass Society Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be held August 10-13, 2023 at the San Benito County Historical Park, 8300 Airline Highway, Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister). There will be plenty of tickets at the gate.

Gates open at Noon on Thursday. No early entry is allowed except for festival staff.

NOTE: There have been some changes to the Sunday schedule. The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers will perform at 10:00am. Sunny Side Of The Mountain will play at Noon. This year, there will not be a Kids On Stage show.

SUNDAY, August 13

Main Stage

10:00am — Wildcat Mountain Ramblers

11:00 — Lonesome Still

Noon — Sunny Side Of The Mountain

1:00pm — West 45

2:00 — Eric Burman & The Brookdale Bluegrass Band