Overview:
The SnowyGrass Music Festival returns to Stanley Park July 9-12 with bluegrass, Americana, workshops, camping, and jam circles.
The SnowyGrass Music Festival is back, which means Stanley Park is about to become a small village of banjos, fiddles, low-back lawn chairs, friendly dogs, mountain views, and people who absolutely brought a cooler but somehow still forgot sunscreen.
The 11th annual festival, presented by Upstream Concerts and RiverPointe Vacation Condos, runs July 9-12 at Stanley Park, 380 Community Drive. The four-day festival brings Colorado and national bluegrass and Americana acts to Estes Park, featuring workshops, campground jam circles, on-site camping, food trucks, and general-admission lawn seating.
What to know before you go
SnowyGrass takes place at Stanley Park, with panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains providing the kind of backdrop most festivals would have to fake with a very expensive screen. Guests should bring their own low-back chairs for general admission lawn seating.
Kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult. Friendly dogs are welcome, which is good news for bluegrass fans whose best friend also appreciates a tasteful harmony break. Food trucks will be on-site, and camping is available as an add-on.
Tickets are priced by day or for the full weekend. Thursday tickets are $15, Friday tickets are $49, Saturday tickets are $75, Sunday tickets are $75, and four-day passes are $175. Camping is available separately. Here’s what’s going on each day of the event.
Thursday’s Schedule:
Thursday, July 9, is the soft launch for the weekend, with camper check-in beginning in the afternoon and the festival’s Campy Hour open mic setting the tone for the days ahead.
Camper check-in runs from 2 to 3 p.m. at the parking entrance, followed by camper gate access from 3 to 8 p.m. for those with four-day camping access. Organizers ask campers not to arrive early, since volunteers will be setting up the grounds and managing check-in.
Thursday-only parking check-in begins at 3:45 p.m. The Campy Hour bar opens at 4 p.m. at the Bluebird Shelter, followed by the Campy Hour open mic from 5 to 7 p.m. Organizers say the open mic may run later if there are enough signups.
Friday’s Schedule:
Friday, July 10, gives festivalgoers a chance to ease into the weekend before the evening lineup kicks in.
The Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Class runs from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Bluebird Shelter. The class is followed by Mighty Holler from 4:45 to 6 p.m., Gasoline Lollipops from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and an acoustic set from Sullivan Sisters Duo from 8:20 to 9:35 p.m.
Gasoline Lollipops are the Friday night anchor, bringing their Colorado roots sound to the festival. The later Sullivan Sisters Duo set should offer a strong acoustic wind-down after a bigger evening set.
Saturday’s Schedule:
Saturday, July 11, is the first full festival day and the kind of schedule that rewards pacing. Coffee first. Then fiddle.
The day begins with a Bruce Molsky fiddle workshop from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Bluebird Shelter, followed by a Stash Wyslouch guitar workshop from 11 to 11:45 a.m.
Music starts at noon with Friendly Reminders, followed by Richey Ramsey Duo from 1:20 to 2:20 p.m., Ragged Union from 2:40 to 3:55 p.m., Bruce Molsky and Stash Wyslouch from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., Yoseff Tucker and the Ascots from 5:35 to 7:05 p.m., and Sullivan Sisters from 7:25 to 8:55 p.m.
A late-night set from Bruce Molsky and Stash Wyslouch is scheduled from 9:15 to 10:15 p.m. at the Bluebird Shelter, though the listing notes that the set is still to be determined.
Sunday’s Schedule:
Sunday, July 12, keeps the workshops going before moving into a full afternoon and evening of music.
The day begins with a workshop featuring Bruce Molsky and Stash Wyslouch from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Bluebird Shelter. Blue Canyon Boys will lead a harmony workshop from 11 to 11:45 a.m.
Lost Penny performs from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., followed by a gospel set from Yoseff Tucker and the Ascots from 12:35 to 1:45 p.m. Blue Canyon Boys take the stage from 2:05 to 3:20 p.m., followed by Bruce Molsky and Stash Wyslouch from 3:40 to 5:10 p.m.
Silas Herman and the Tone Unit close out the main evening stretch from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and Blue Canyon Boys return for an acoustic set from 7:20 to 8:20 p.m. at the Bluebird Shelter.
This is a really fun locally run Bluegrass Festival. It’s never crowded and quite intimate. You can get right up front, dance and really see the musicians playing. You can bring your own food and there are food trucks, too. Drink and merch is available on-site. Hope to see all locals there!! Another way to really enjoy our wonderful Estes Park.