Music Echoes Through the Trees: it's the Bluegrass From the Forest Festival!
By Rachel Hansen | Photos courtesy of Explore Hood Canal
The sounds of banjos, fiddles, and rich vocal harmonies will once again fill the South Mason Youth Soccer Park as Bluegrass From the Forest returns to Shelton, July 10–12, 2026. Now celebrating its 21st year, the beloved volunteer-run festival brings together nationally recognized bluegrass artists, Northwest favorites, workshops, camping, and plenty of opportunities for musicians and fans to connect. The event has grown to fill a 15-acre park in Shelton with main stage performances, free music workshops, jam sessions and the popular Chick Rose School of Bluegrass for kids.
This year's lineup blends acclaimed touring acts with talented regional performers. Headlining the festival is Remedy Tree from Florida, an award-winning Americana and bluegrass band known for energetic performances, original songwriting, and appearances at major festivals in the U.S. and abroad. Joining them is North Carolina's Unspoken Tradition, whose modern Appalachian sound and chart-topping songs have earned them a growing national following.
Representing the Pacific Northwest are several standout groups, including Washington's Union City Council Band, whose traditional bluegrass style is influenced by old-time, blues, gospel, jazz, and folk. Also taking the stage are Hemlock Revival, festival host band Runaway Train, and Oregon's Bar-K Buckaroos, who will keep the Saturday evening tradition alive with a lively western swing country dance.
With forested dry camping on site, Bluegrass fans and families travel from as far as California, British Columbia, Idaho and Oregon to spend the weekend immersed in great music and learning some new skills while visiting and sharing memories with other music enthusiasts. With two stages, a beer and wine garden, food vendors, instrument “tasting” workshops between performances, band scrambles, as well as a Saturday night Country Dance, the event also includes some fantastic national Bluegrass bands!
Each year organizers invite headliner bands to fill the outdoor stage with music ranging from traditional to more progressive bluegrass. Friday the main stage music gets underway with local host band, Runaway Train Bluegrass Band who is known for tight harmonies and clean pickin'.
After morning workshops and jam sessions, the main performance gets underway again Saturday at 2 PM with Union City Council, Hemlock Revival and Unspoken Tradition. Inspired by their own influences and the roots of traditional and "newgrass" music, North Carolina–based quintet Unspoken Tradition channels a sound that is both impassioned and nostalgic—equal parts hard-driving fire and heartfelt sincerity. Their music carries the soul of Appalachian storytelling.
Saturday evening is one of the festival's biggest highlights, beginning with a performance by Chick's Kids, showcasing the next generation of bluegrass musicians. The music continues with sets from the Bar-K Buckeroos, Runaway Train, and headliner Remedy Tree before the fun carries into the night with a lively country dance led by the Bar-K Buckeroos from 10 p.m. to midnight. After the dance, festivalgoers are invited to gather for the annual midnight hot dog feed—a free tradition that welcomes everyone for a late-night bite and good company.
Bluegrass from the Forest is hosted by the Kristmas Town Kiwanis with all proceeds going to support local children and family projects in Mason County. Tickets begin at 25.00 per person with special discounts for three day passes and families. Kids 6 and under are free. Camping (Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun) – $15/night, camping and parking are available on site. For additional details on band bios, ticket and camping reservations go to www.bluegrassfromtheforest.com.
Workshop schedule can be found here: www.bluegrassfromtheforest.com/schedule/workshops/