Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Cheap, fun, bluegrass festivals

#1

I’m always looking for inexpensive bluegrass festivals to park my camper for the weekend and make some joyful noise. My son, wife and I all like to attend, so anything priced north of $120/person gets expensive real quickly. Additional points for decent camper hookups and lots of jamming.

I’m here in PA, so I’ll start us off with the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival: https://www.remingtonryde.com/remington-ryde-bluegrass-festival. $50/person for 5 days with electric and water hookups. The Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival is pretty nice with lots of jamming and some minimal electric hook up; $100/person, electric extra: http://delawarevalleybluegrass.org.

What are some of your low cost favorites.

2 Likes
#2

Great suggestions! Tons to do in the Hershey area.

#3

I’m surprised at so few responses. Do folks here go to bluegrass festivals?
Here is a list of some in the NE US: http://www.docsbluegrass.net/bluegrass-festivals.html

#4

I go to several but distance from PA would take away the “affordable” aspect. The few in E. OH (Norwalk & Manfield) might be close enough…

http://www.charlottebluegrassfestival.com/music_festival_events.html

http://www.marshallbluegrassfestival.com/home.html

http://www.norwalkmusicfestival.com/

http://www.mansfieldjamfest.com/

http://www.ohio.org/events/7th-annual-bluegrass-festival

#5

Thanks Dave!

I wasn’t really looking for more festivals up my way (although you never know when you might find a local gem). I was more interested in festivals anywhere that folks might think of as a diamond in the rough. The couple I mentioned are just a among the ones I like to attend each summer because they are good festivals (fun jamming, good acts, nice folks…etc.) that don’t break the bank to attend. Some wonderful festivals like Merlefest (about $200/person with additional $150 for RV camping) and Gray Fox ($210/person with camping) are a little out of my league; especially when you consider that I need 3 tickets. I’m sure they are worth every penny, but so is a 1939 Martin bone and I cannot afford one of those either. :wink:

Anyway, thanks for the reply and maybe some other folks will share their favorite festivals.

#6

I can relate to the price thing…it’s what keeps me from attending those bigger festivals.

If I had to pick one around here it would be Charlotte…for the over all amount and quality of music in the parking lot and the inclusiveness of the jams.

#7

Festival: Armuchee Memorial Weekend Bluegrass Festival
City, State: Armuchee, GA
Start Date: Thu May 24, 2018
End Date: Sat May 26, 2018
Web Site: http://www.sebabluegrass.org/events/festival.php?fid=1798
(Web site opens in new browser window)
E-mail: tarheelfiddler@yahoo.com
Telephone: 770-928-4517
(Call before travelling; events can change)
Notes: Best Jamming Festival in Georgia.
Covered Dish Dinner Thursday at 6 PM
Friday Stage Show 4:45 PM Till ???
Saturday Stage Show 10:45 AM Till ???
Campers Welcome Early, Come Jam.
For Camping Information contact
Chuck Langley 706-766-6352
Dan Daniel 770-900-7472