We want to thank everyone for coming together to help make this event happen; pickers, campers, the many volunteers, amazing bands, instructors, the Chick Rose School of Bluegrass for kids, vendors, sponsors, South Mason Youth Soccer Park, and the City of Shelton. Thank you, we couldn’t do this without you!
2026 Sponsors
Mandolin Level $2500+
City of Shelton
In memory of Dick Pasilich
Mason County Tourism
Fiddle Level $1000+
Neil’s Pharmacy
All About Parties
Bowers Dental Group
Band Level $500+
AAA Septic
Melanie Bakala | State Farm Insurance
Dave Bayley and Family
Builder’s First Source (Shelton)
Castle & Coleman Logging
Edward Jones – Stefanie Dantine
Green Diamond Resource Co.
Hood Canal Communications
Hunter Farms
Lynch Creek Farms
Carolyn Olsen Family
Doc Olson
Our Community Credit Union
Peninsula Credit Union
PUD 1
Sierra Pacific Industries
Stage Level $250
Belco Forest Products
Elma Feed & Farm Supply
Manke Lumber Co Inc
Pacific Asset Management - Josh Morin
Tozier Brothers Ace Hardware
Williams Architecture
Media Supporters
KMAS 1030 AM/103.3 FM
KCBS FM Seattle
Tracing The Fjord Shoppers Weekly
Shelton Mason County Journal
WAMA – WA Acoustic Music Assoc.
Contests & scheduling:
GREG LINDER (360) 490-8981
Event, camping & vendors: DUANE WILSON (360) 280-3917
LODGING: explorehoodcanal.com
Thank you for your media support!
The details
LOCATION:
Shelton South Mason Soccer Park at 2102 E Johns Prairie Rd, Shelton. This July will be our festival’s 20th year, and its 5th year at this outdoor location.
TICKETS:
Weekend Pass – $65
Family Weekend Pass -$130 (2 adults and up to 4 kids)
Evening/Afternoon – Adult $25 | 13-17 $15
All day Saturday – Adult $35 | 13-17 $22
Age 12 and under – free with adult
Saturday Night Dance – free with any wristband or $15 at the door! Tickets are also available at Builder’s First Source, Shelton Music and Powers Music - all in Shelton.
CAMPING
(Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun)
$15/night (online or pay on site).
Camping pass requires the purchase of performance ticket.
FOOD:
Visit the onsite “Snack Shack” with the kitchen serving breakfast, lunch and dinner items. There are also plenty of great restaurants in the area. Visit explorehoodcanal.com/dining.
LODGING:
If you are not camping on site be sure to book early for choice lodging options. Many of the local accommodations are vacation rentals which may require a minimum stay. The Shelton Inn on Railroad Ave. was recently remodeled and has new owners. For a complete list of lodging visit explorehoodcanal.com.
YOUR HOSTS:
The festival is produced by the Kristmas Town Kiwanis Club and community members. When you meet volunteers at the festival, please let them know their efforts are appreciated.
2026 Headliners
REMEDY TREE
Fresh from a breakout year, Florida’s Remedy Tree is one of the most exciting new voices in modern Americana. Blending bluegrass fire, old-time soul and folk storytelling, the award-winning quartet has earned a reputation for high-energy performances and heartfelt songwriting that honor tradition while pushing the genre forward.
After finishing as runners-up at the prestigious SPBGMA National Band Championship, signing with Mountain Fever Records, and selling out much of their recent touring, the band has quickly become one to watch. Their music has taken them from festivals across the United States to Ireland’s Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival, with more international dates on the horizon.
Founded by husband-and-wife duo Gabriel and Abigail Acevedo, Remedy Tree brings together diverse musical roots—from Gabriel’s Puerto Rican heritage and rural Florida upbringing to Abigail’s lifelong immersion in folk and old-time music. Joined by bluegrass stalwarts Isaac Taylor and Nathan Beaumont, the band creates a fresh, authentic sound that’s both deeply rooted and unmistakably their own. Whether delivering driving bluegrass, rich harmonies or beautifully crafted originals, Remedy Tree offers a captivating live show that’s winning over audiences wherever they go. If you’re discovering them for the first time, don’t be surprised if they become one of your festival highlights.
Remedy Tree | Florida
UNSPOKEN TRADITION
Hailing from the mountains of North Carolina, Unspoken Tradition has become a leader in contemporary bluegrass. Blending traditions of Appalachian music with fresh, original songwriting, the quintet delivers a mix of instrumentals, soaring harmonies and heartfelt stories. Their award-winning songs have topped the Bluegrass Today charts multiple times and climbed into the Billboard Bluegrass Top 5. The band has built a reputation for unforgettable live performances, from sold-out shows to appearances at some of America’s most celebrated festivals. Unspoken Tradition honors bluegrass tradition while confidently carrying it into the future.
HEMLOCK REVIVAL
UNION CITY COUNCIL
Based locally, Union City Council quintet mixes elements of old-time mountain, fiddle, blues, gospel, jazz, and folk fo a high-energy performance. Featuring Guy Demartino and Greg Linder on steel-string acoustic guitars, Donald Strand on the dobro & mandolin, Martin Strand on bass, and Gwendolyn Taylor on the fiddle. Each of the members comes from a diverse musical background, allowing them to weave their individual experience and approach to traditional bluegrass in a creative way. Along with vocal harmonies and skillful instrumentation, the Union City Council is sure to please any audience!
Emerging from the thriving Pacific Northwest bluegrass scene, Hemlock Revival is a six-piece band bringing fresh energy to timeless traditions. The group blends deep-rooted bluegrass with a progressive edge, creating a sound that’s both familiar and exciting. Drawing inspiration from modern trailblazers such as Mighty Poplar and East Nash Grass, while honoring bluegrass legends like The Johnson Mountain Boys and The Osborne Brothers, Hemlock Revival delivers driving instrumentals, rich harmonies and exceptional musicianship. Their performances weave together traditional favorites with inventive new interpretations. Already making waves across the Pacific Northwest, the band has appeared at leading venues and earned a showcase performance at Wintergrass, establishing themselves as one of the region’s most promising new bluegrass acts.
RUNAWAY TRAIN BLUEGRASS
A cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest bluegrass scene, Runaway Train Bluegrass has been delighting audiences for years with its authentic blend of hard-driving traditional bluegrass, tight vocal harmonies and first-class musicianship. Rooted in the classic sound but delivered with energy and precision, the band’s clean pickin’ and engaging performances have earned them a loyal following throughout the region. While each member maintains a busy musical schedule, Runaway Train comes together for select performances, making every appearance a special occasion. As the longtime host band for the Bluegrass from the Forest Festival, they play a vital role in welcoming festival-goers and helping set the tone for a weekend of outstanding music.
THE BAR-K BUCKAROOS
Get your dancing shoes ready! The Bar-K Buckaroos are the festival’s Country Dance host band, serving up an irresistible mix of Western swing, classic country and dance hall favourites guaranteed to keep the floor moving all
night long. Drawing inspiration from the golden era of swing bands from the 1920s through the 1940s, their lively repertoire also ventures into bluegrass, blues, jazz, reggae and classic country, all delivered with a Western swing flair. Featuring rich vocals, twin guitars, fiddle, trumpet, bass and percussion, the band creates a fun, energetic sound that’s equally at home in the dance hall or on the festival stage.
PORCH PICKIN’
Portland-based Porch Pickin’ captures the simple joy of friends gathering to make great music. On fair-weather evenings, their regular sessions in the neighbourhood’s Circle Park draw locals from their homes, chairs in hand, to enjoy traditional bluegrass. Featuring bass, mandolin, banjo and guitar, the quartet combines classic bluegrass standards with fresh arrangements and effortless harmonies.
Warm, authentic and full of heart, Porch Pickin’ brings the spirit of community to every performance—inviting audiences to pull up a chair, tap a toe and enjoy the music.
Music workshops
Bluegrass jamming is special because people of all stripes come together for the music. There is a wonderful body of traditional bluegrass tunes that are universally known across the country. You can show up at any festival and these tunes will be played. Sure, there are plenty of new tunes all the time, but it’s wonderful to play music with strangers who already know many of the tunes.
The workshops are taught by the band performers, so it’s an opportunity to learn from accomplished masters. Remember they also need to rehearse, eat, rest, and then go play on stage!
Attendance at workshops is included with your pass. Instructors share
techniques and anecdotes as well as their philosophy about performing.
Workshops will be held outdoors at 10 - 11AM Saturday and Sunday by selected band members. Locations will be posted with signs at the event.
It can be tough deciding which one to attend when you’d like to go to several. It comes down to logistics, available space, and teachers. No matter which you choose, we know it will be a great experience!
Schedule
sc h e d u el
Saturday 10-11 AM
Banjo – Zane Mcginnis (Unspoken Tradition)
Fiddle – Tim Gardner (Unspoken Tradition)
Dobro – Donald Strand (Union City Council)
Sunday 10-11 AM
Fiddle – (to be decided)
Banjo – Isaac Taylor (Remedy Tree)
Guitar – Gabriel Acevedo (Remedy Tree)
Bass – Abigail Acevedo (Remedy Tree)
Sunday 10:00 AM
Mandolin Tasting
Our Mandolin Tasting host will be Nathan Beaumont of Remedy Tree.
SATURDAY NIGHT COUNTRY DANCE
Join us on Saturday night of the festival for a country dance hosted by the Bar K Buckaroos. The dance begins after the main stage performances end on Saturday. Admission free with festival wristband (weekend pass or day pass) or $15 without. Afterwards enjoy the free (in)famous Midnight Hotdogs!
BAND SCRAMBLE
Sign-up to be in the band scramble any time after 10:00 AM on Saturday. After being assigned into bands, participants have 30 minutes to prepare one song with vocals and one instrumental tune (possibly more, depending on how many participants there are. Participants will perform their tunes at a contest performance on the Showcase Stage at 12:30 PM on Saturday. If you’re not familiar with a bluegrass band scramble – here’s the deal: anyone who plays an instrument (at any level) can sign up to participate. Names will be drawn for the bands. Ideally, each band will end up with a bass, a banjo, a mandolin, one or two guitars and possibly some instrument hardly anyone has heard of. It’s not an exact science and it’s mostly a lot of fun. The newly formed bands have 30 minutes to meet, come up with an instrumental and vocal tune that they all happen know (or can learn quickly). Then they take it to the stage for a live contest performance. It’s kind of like musical potluck—you never know what you’re going to get!
CHICK ROSE SCHOOL OF BLUEGRASS FOR KIDS (FREE)
SATURDAY, 10 AM – 2 PM
This intensive and fun workshop for kids is led by local musicians. Founded by Chick Rose, who passed away in 2012, it lives on in the music of the children who have participated. Kids are divided into groups according to experience and are coached by advanced musicians. The program culminates in a performance on Saturday on the main stage. There is no extra charge for this program. Performance will take place on main stage Saturday at 6:30pm.
2026 Schedule BLUEGRASS
MAIN STAGE SCHEDULE
FRIDAY EVENING
7:00 – Runaway Train
8:00 – Porch Pickin’
9:00 – Unspoken Tradition
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
1:50 - Band Scramble Winner
2:00 - Union City Council Band
3:00 - Hemlock Revival
4:00 - Unspoken Tradition
SATURDAY EVENING
6:30 - Chick’s Kids
7:00 - Bar K Buckaroos
8:00 - Runaway Train
9:00 - Remedy Tree
SUNDAY
12:00 - Union City Council Band
1:00 - Hemlock Revival
2:00 - Remedy Tree
2:55 - All-on-stage finale
SHOWCASE STAGE
SATURDAY
10:00 - workshops (meet by building)
10:00 - Mandolin Tasting ( meet in small tent)
10:00 - Chick’s Kids workshop begins (meet front of main stage)
10:00 - begin sign-up for band scramble (near building at flag)
11:00 - Marv’s slow jam ( in small tent)
12:00 - meet for band scramble drawing
12:00 - open mic
12:30 - band scramble contest
1:15 - open mic
10:00 – 12:00 – COUNTRY DANCE 12 AM Midnight Hotdogs –
SUNDAY
10:00 - workshops (meet by building) 11:00 - open mic
10:00 Mandolin Tasting with Seth Mulder (in the tent) click here for more info 11:15 to 11:45 – Open Mic
