Minnesota Bluegrass Festival

The Minnesota Bluegrass Festival, officially known as the Minnesota Bluegrass August Festival, is a lively celebration of bluegrass and old-time string band music. It is held annually and features top national touring acts along with the best bands from the Upper Midwest region. The festival spans four days and nights and includes music across multiple stages, workshops, showcases, and various activities for all ages.

Here’s a summary of what you can expect at the festival:
– Over 30 hours of concerts on the Main Stage featuring top national talent.
– Various other stages hosting social dancing, contests, crafts, and games in the Family Area.
– Workshops for hands-on learning experiences.
– A marketplace with food trucks and merchant booths.
– Late-night entertainment at Ranch House Live.
– A Pre-Festival Jam Camp for musicians starting on Tuesday before the festival kicks off on Thursday evening.
– Free admission for kids under 18, making it a family-friendly event.

The festival is not just about watching performances; many of the 4,000+ attendees are musicians who bring their instruments to participate in impromptu jam sessions that occur day and night in the campgrounds. For those looking to improve their skills, instructional camps are available in the days leading up to the festival.

Tickets and camping options are bundled, offering various choices to suit different preferences, including rough camping and reserved tent or RV camping with utilities. It’s a summer’s worth of music and family fun packed into one week at the beautiful El Rancho Mañana Campground in Richmond, MN.