Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival

Our largest event, the Good Old Fashioned has been held each summer since 1994. It features three wonderful days of California bands on the main stage, as well as hot campground pickers on the side stage between main acts. The GOF is also legendary among festival fans for both the quality and quantity of campground jamming.

The festival takes place on the second weekend in August at Bolado Park, just south of Hollister.  There is a tree-filled, shady campground for tent camping and a spacious meadow for RVs. The weather in August is typically comfortably warm during the day, with nights that range from mild to cold (pack layers!) The GOF is kid friendly, with a Kids on Stage program for budding bluegrass musicians and a wonderfull volunteer-staffed crafts and activities corrall next to the audience area.

Please note that there are absolutely no dogs or pets of any kind permitted at Bolado Park, except for service dogs, which must be in uniform at all times.  Any ticketholders or volunteers who arrive with a pet will not be allowed to enter the festival grounds. To avoid unpleasantness and enjoy your festival, please respect this policy and make other arrangements for your pet.

Handicapped camping spots are available. Please contact Mike Fisher at 831-336-2185 to reserve a spot.

The GOF flier also serves as ticket order form for mail order tickets. Tickets are also available online, in the Members Area for NCBS members or here for non-members.
Applications are now being accepted from bands that would like to play at the 2010 festival.

We always need volunteers to help run the festival. Click here for the volunteer form.

News

NCBS Adds Thursday To 2012 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival

The 19th Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, August 9-12, 2012, will be four days long. The Thursday-Sunday event will be held at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister).

The festival is a benefit for the Northern California Bluegrass Society and a showcase of top California bluegrass bands. Previously, this has been a three-day event.

The added festival day will provide enhanced service for early-arriving attendees.

2012 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Set For Four-Day Run

Bean Creek takes the stage at the GOF.

Bean Creek takes the stage at the GOF.

The 19th annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be the first to enjoy a four-day run. The event will be held Thursday-Sunday August 9-12, 2012 at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos. The festival is a benefit for the Northern California Bluegrass Society and a showcase of top California bluegrass bands. The extra day will provide enhanced service for early-arriving attendees.

Three-Day Reminder: Saturday, December 31 Is Last Day To Apply For The 2012 GOF Main Stage

Three-Day Reminder: The deadline for band applications for the main stage at the 2012 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is this Saturday, December 31, 2011. The festival will be held the second weekend of August at Bolado Park, Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister).

2012 Good Old Fashioned Band Application

One-Week Reminder: Good Old Fashioned Band Applications Due December 31st

One-Week Reminder: The deadline for band applications for the main stage at the 2012 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is December 31, 2011. The 19th GOF festival will be held the second weekend of August at Bolado Park, Tres Pinos (7 miles south of Hollister).

2012 GOF Band Application

Northern California Festival News For 2012

Hellman's Hollow, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Hellman's Hollow, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Planning is now underway for the 2012 festivals all around Northern California and the news is good! Here are some updates on festivals with important changes for the next year:

The Northern California Bluegrass Society has announced that the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival in Tres Pinos will expand to four days, Thursday-Sunday, August 9-12. The added day will provide enhanced service to early arriving fans at the 19-year-old event.

Bluegrassin' In The Foothills

Bluegrassin' In The Foothills

L&S Promotions has announced that the Bluegrassin’ In The Foothills Festival in Plymouth will be held September 14-16. The beloved 10-year-old festival was slated for possible cancellation due to the difficult economy, but was saved by a passionate outpouring of support from Northern California bluegrass fans.

The late Warren Hellman, host of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco, had the foresight to establish an endowed trust to permanently fund the internationally-known festival following his death. The 12th annual free event will be held as usual October 5-7. The location of the main stage in Golden Gate Park has been officially named Hellman’s Hollow.

291773_234373629939862_227953480581877_654276_7576785_nThe new director of the California Bluegrass Association’s King’s River Bluegrass Festival in Sanger September 21-23 is Stan Allen.

Mark Hogan is the new director of the Cloverdale Old Time Fiddle Festival in Cloverdale. New dates are January 21-22.

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