The Bluegrass Music Society of the Central Coast (BMSCC) proudly presents the 25th Annual Parkfield Bluegrass Festival. Parkfield, known as the "Earthquake Capital of the World,” springs to life every Mother’s Day Weekend with toe-tapping Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Traditional music. Bluegrass music fans take over this small country village once a year for four days of concerts, workshops, children’s activities, camping and around-the-clock music jams! Live bands play all day on a cozy stage and at night fans enjoy late night sets in the Parkfield Cafe and Barn Dances in the Community Center. Attendees are welcome to come for the weekend with their RVs or tents. Single-day admissions are also available.
The Festival features fourteen groups including many nationally known bands from around the USA: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, Bushwick Mountain Boys, Showman & Coole, The Price Sisters, Mountain Highway, Evie Ladin Band, Water Tower, Blue Birds on a Wire, Solid Gold Stranger and Red Dog Ash. Returning this year will be the longtime Festival favorites The Honeysuckle Possums, SLO County Stumblers and Amber Cross. Walking tours of the San Andreas Fault will again be featured, lead by Geologist Julian Lozos. The popular Friday and Saturday night Barn Dances in the Community Hall are a rowdy Festival favorite! There will be instrumental, vocal and dance workshops for young and old led by featured band members.
The Festival will once again offer a multitude of activities for youngsters including the popular Kids' Bluegrass Program, with Joy Louise at the helm. All kids up to age 16 are welcome - be they beginners or experienced pickers. Instruction will be provided for Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, Banjo and Singing. Loaner instruments will be available for kids. The students will show off their newfound talents on stage on Sunday! Kid activities will also include a craft creation class and a bedtime sing-along.
Parkfield is a picturesque hamlet secluded on the Central Coast of California. Surrounded by the best of California’s natural beauty. Parkfield’s clean air, warm nights, and idyllic setting mesh effortlessly with true American music: bluegrass. Every Mother’s Day weekend this quiet town’s population leaps from a mere 18 to over a thousand bluegrass pickers, pluckers and fun-loving fans. For over two decades music fans have savored the natural beauty and peaceful ambiance of the Parkfield Bluegrass Festival. Nature’s soothing sights and sounds combine with the soulful, high lonesome sound of bluegrass music for an experience that is unique, to say the least. Check out the Festival on Facebook and Instagram as well.
