All You Need To Know To Go To The 2016 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival This Weekend

OLD FASHIONED FUN AT THE FESTIVAL: The Northern California Bluegrass Society’s Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival is fun, relaxed, intimate, and close-to home. This weekend’s Thursday-Sunday gathering features 25 great California bands on the main stage and many more bands on the ‘tweener stage.  Plus, the First Stage beginning at Noon on Friday  will feature four more exciting bands.

The GOF offers flushy restrooms, hot showers, shade in the audience area, a low-power broadcast of the stage to the camp, excellent sound, tent & RV camping,  children’s activities, a raffle, the NCBS election, food and craft vendors, nominations for the Northern California Bluegrass Awards, and easy handicapped access, along with plenty of fun jamming! The GOF is a benefit for the NCBS and helps the Society’s volunteers provide services to area bluegrass community all year long.

NEW! — The San Benito County Historical Park is set in a beautiful valley of ranches and vineyards. The park is engaged in the process of upgrading all facilities and features a lovely historical village that is perfect for jamming.  The Historical Park is right next to Bolado Park, 7 miles south of Hollister in the community of Tres Pinos.

TICKETS: There will be plenty of tickets at the gate.

Gate Prices:
3-Day Adult          $95
2-Day                        75
1-Day Sat.                50
1-Day Fri or Sun    40
Youths (Ages 13-17)  – above prices discounted to $50/40/30/25
Seniors (65 & above)  – above prices discounted to $85/70/45/35
Children (12 & under) – FREE

Thursday Ticket $15.  Gates open at NOON on Thursday.

CAMPING: Camping is FREE with all multi-day tickets.  The water is the same as at Bolado Park, so bring water for drinking purposes. No RV hook-ups this year. If hook-ups are needed, they are available next door at Bolado Park, but a vehicle will be needed. Walking from Bolado Park to the Historical Park on the highway is not advised.

MUSIC SCHEDULE:

There are no stage performances on Thursday afternoon, which is reserved for jamming and socializing.

(The ‘Tweener Stage alternates with the Main Stage.)

FRIDAY, August 12

First Stage

Noon — Tomas & Friends

1:00pm — Edgewood Mountain Boys

1:45 — Down The Road Ramblers

2:30 — Sage & The Coyotes

Main Stage

3:00pm — Amazing Dr. Zarcon’s Breathing Machine

4:00 — Wildcat Mountain Ramblers

5:00 — Pacific Drive

6:00 — Barwick & Siegfried

7:00 — Shepherd Canyon Band

8:00 — The Vivants

9:00 — Kitchen Help

SATURDAY, August 13

10:00am — Rambling Minors

11:00 — GrassKickers

Noon — Sidetrack

1:00pm — (Workshop/Lunch Break)

2:00 — One Button Suit

3:00 — Vintage Grass

4:00 — Brookdale Bluegrass Band

5:00 — (Workshop/Dinner Break)

6:00 — Stray Hollow

7:00 — Glad to Be Here

8:00 — Susie Glaze & The Hilonesome Band

9:00 — Sidesaddle & Co

SUNDAY, August 14

9:00am —  Extended Roots

10:00 — Cliff Compton and Mountaintop (Gospel Plus)

11:00 — Courthouse Ramblers

Noon — Dim Lights

1:15pm — Kids On Stage

2:15 — Mountain Fire Band

3:15 — Blue Summit

4:15 — Damdave & The Left-Hand Band

Festival ends at 5:00pm

DIRECTIONS:

>From The Bay Area:

South on Highway 101 to just past Gilroy.
Exit right, then left over bridge on Highway 25 and go
southeast towards Hollister.
(Follow signs to Pinnacles National Park.)
Go through Hollister, then continue south on 25.

>From The Central Valley:

Exit I-5 at Highway 152 (Pacheco Pass) and go west
towards Gilroy.
Turn left on Highway 156 just past Casa de Fruta and go
south towards Hollister.
Go through Hollister, then continue south on Highway 25.

>From The Central Coast:

Take either Highway 101 (or Highway 1 to Highway 129 to 101)
north & east towards San Juan Batista.
Turn on Highway 156 near San Juan Batista and go east towards
Hollister.
Go through Hollister, then continue south on Highway 25.

FROM HOLLISTER:

Drive south on Highway 25, following signs to the Pinnacles and Bolado Park
The San Benito County Historical Park is 7 miles south of Hollister on Highway 25 (and 2 miles south of the town of Tres Pinos).
Turn right and go over the bridge into the park.

Gas stations, food stores, etc. are plentiful in Hollister and limited in Tres Pinos.

PETS: DOGS ARE ALLOWED, but must remain in the designated Dog Camping Area.

CAMP BROADCAST: KGOF will provide a low-power broadcast of the stage to the camp on your FM radio.

WEATHER: Sunny & beautiful. Thursday: High 77, Low 54. Friday: High 82 Low 56. Saturday: High 88, Low 56. Sunday: High 86, Low 55. Depending on the wind, there may be some light smoke in the air from a distant forest fire.

SEE YOU AT THE FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND!

And remember, all of your friends will be there!