Bluegrass Festival on Hood Canal
Hosted by the Kristmas Town Kiwanis since 2004, Bluegrass From The Forest is returning to Shelton once again as an outdoor festival on July 29-31. Camping, jamming, workshops, and national bluegrass bands are the highlights of this annual event and organizers are delighted to be gathering again in this new festival location.
Although pandemic restrictions continue to prohibit the festival to be held the Performing Arts Center, event organizers Duane Wilson and Greg Linder were excited by the opportunities presented by the 2021 outdoor festival format.
"We missed the comfort and all the amenities that the school theater had to offer but the space in our new outdoor location is fantastic. We had fifteen acres to spread people out. The campers were on site, and everyone had a great time!"
National Bluegrass Bands Lead the Lineup
Main stage bands include AJ Lee and Blue Summit from California, John Reischman and the Jaybirds, Nick Dumas and Branchline
Jim Hurst, Patrick Connell and the Portland Radio Ponies and local favorite Bluegrass band, Runaway Train. Afternoon and evening tickets start at $20 with special rates for kids and families. For a complete list of the bands visit bluegrassfromtheforest.com
Visit bluegrassfromtheforest.com for additional details or to book your tickets.
Led by singer, songwriter, and mandolinist AJ Lee, the bluegrass band has performed all over the world, but finds home in California's Bay Area.
Now in their 20th year, with seven acclaimed albums and two Juno nominations, the Jaybirds are simultaneously innovative and unadorned, sophisticated and stripped-down, happily old-fashioned and 21st-century contemporary.
Nick Dumas has appeared on the 2018 Compass Records band release "Rivers and Roads" that won two IBMA awards (one for Album of the Year) and a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album. Visit Nick's website here.
Family Weekend Getaway
The expanded camping with its forest backdrop hosts over 20 acres for families to find their own areas to enjoy the music and activities. With two stage areas, a beer and wine garden, workshops and family activities including Chick’s Kids Music Workshop, Midnight Hot Dogs and an all-ages Country Dance, there is plenty for everyone to do. This year the event will also have on site dining from local food trucks as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner menu served from the on-site kitchen.
This is a fantastic event for a local camp destination with the family. Stay for one, two or all three nights of live performances and workshops and enjoy the surrounding areas like Hood Canal or Olympic National Park during the day. Visit Explore Hood Canal! for details on hikes and area attractions. Camping ($15/night) is available Thursday through Monday so pack up your RV and camp chairs, you can’t get a better family weekend deal!
Dinner and a Show!
Friday, July 29 (6-8 PM) celebrated local chef, Xinh Dwelley, will be joining the event for an outdoor dinner. The meal includes chicken curry, sautéed Hammersley Inlet clams, salad, bread, and dessert.
Guests can picnic in front of the stage with live music beginning at 6:30 PM.
Chef Xinh Dwelley will be guest chef Friday. Details & tickets ($35/$50 with event admission) are available at cookwithxinh.com.
For more information about happenings around the Hood Canal region, be sure to check out www.explorehoodcanal.com!