This is my favorite column of the year, a welcome to the Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival Week at Grass Valley. We have a jam-packed week planned for all of you. The four-day CBA Music Camp kicks off the week. The Academy begins a four-day run on Wednesday (SOLD OUT), there is a kickoff concert on the Vern’s Stage Wednesday night and the festival itself begins Thurs- day morning and ends Sunday after- noon. Many of us stay over on Sun- day night and listen to the echo of the music in the pines. We are family-friendly and welcome children with activities developed just for them. And children love to camp.
There are many options for both tent camping and RV camping. Full Hookup RV camping is determined by lottery for members only, check out our publications for details. Electric Only Hookups are available with ticket purchases. Tent camping is located throughout the festival grounds although avoid the “Tent Camping Only” area near Gate 4 unless your family appreciates 24 hour jamming and crowded camp sites..
Even though we allow dogs and cats, leave your pet at home unless you are camping in an RV. The pet rules were originally developed for those who travel with pets in RVs. Your pet does not enjoy bluegrass and old time music as much as you do and will be happier with more freedom at home. Camping with pets is not permitted in the tent camping areas.
Porta-potties are placed strategically through the Nevada County Fairgrounds and the People Mover can transport you from your camp to the stages/concession area. Bicycles are allowed (helmets required for children). No bicycles are allowed inside the performance/concession area and must be left at the fence surrounding that area.
Activities just for children are KidFest (recreational), Kids on Bluegrass (performance) and the CBA Youth Academy (instructional, separate registration, tuition fee). KidFest (Kathleen Rushing directs this event) is held every morning and afternoon Thursday through Saturday near the stage for toddler to mid-range kids and parents must stay and supervise the activities. There are crafts and music related activities held in a fenced in area. Kids on Bluegrass (KOB) for 3-17 year-olds begins on Thursday afternoon near Gate 4 and requires a time commitment for rehearsals and Friday and Saturday late afternoon performances on the main stage. Frank Solivan directs this program and each child is required to participate in a low-stress audition process Thursday. Parents are not required to stay with their children during the KOB rehearsals.
The CBA Youth Academy (enrollment opened 2/15/17 and sold out within the month) enrolls 49 children and is an instructional and activities-rich “camp” for 8-16 year olds. The Barefoot Movement and Jan Purat, Yoseff Tucker and Justin Hiltner are faculty this year and the Saturday afternoon End of Camp performance on the Pioneer Stage is a must attend. For information for 2018 contact Paul Elwell at cbayouthprogram@gmail.com.
The Grass Valley/Nevada City areas feature architecturally (gold rush) downtowns and a visit to both downtown areas is recommended as are drives through the neighbor- hoods. The Empire Mine State Historic Park is located in downtown Grass Valley and was the richest hard-rock mine in California and operated 1850-1956. This is a lovely park and worth a visit and tour. Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park is a 30-minute drive away and features small buildings and acres of what Hydraulic Mining destruction looks like a century later.
My own family always arrives on the Fairgrounds the weekend before the festival (camping on a per-night basis through the CBA is available beginning Saturday June 10, 2017). The Fairgrounds begins to fill with Music Camp participants on Sunday. We spent the days before the Festival swimming in the local Grass Valley and Nevada City public swimming pools, visiting the Yuba River and the various lakes within driving distance of the grounds. We took advantage of the reasonable camping fees and explored the California history of the Gold Rush. I encourage other families to come early and enjoy Nevada County.
We are celebrating our 42nd Festival this year. Please come and I promise you will add this event to your yearly “must attend” list. See you in Grass Valley.
