A message from the family of our beloved founder, Charlie Cran, on the Fall 2026 Cancellation:

We want to express our deep appreciation for the outpouring of love and gratitude you have shown for Charlie over the past months as we have tried, as a community, to process the loss of such an integral figure in our lives. He is loved and missed dearly. Charlie dedicated his life to bringing countless magical experiences to others, changing the course of many lives. He created a nurturing, inclusive family of Strawberrians who carry that ethos out into the world.

It is imperative to us to work hard to keep Charlie’s vision and legacy alive far into the future, and we are honored to dedicate ourselves to that mission as Strawberry’s new owners. We are working with the Strawberry Music team to recharge, reinvigorate, and carry on the magic that Strawberry has always been known for. We want to bring you the best possible festival experience moving forward, and we need some time to make that happen. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Fall 2026 Strawberry Music Festival.

Serious consideration was given, knowing how this will affect the Strawberry community, including our ticket holders, staff, volunteers, performers, and vendors. However, this is a necessary step to come back better than ever for the Spring 2027 Strawberry Music Festival.

FALL 2026 TICKET EXCHANGES & REFUNDS

We’re happy to offer the opportunity to roll over your Fall 2026 Strawberry Music Festival ticket(s) to the Spring 2027 Strawberry Music Festival. Fall 2026 Strawberry Music Festival ticket(s) are also eligible for a refund if you do not wish to roll over your tickets.

• Fall 2026 tickets are eligible for transfer to the Spring 2027 Strawberry Music Festival.
  
  OR
  
• Fall 2026 tickets are eligible for a FULL refund minus shipping and handling fees. 

To qualify for a refund or exchange, please complete the form, available here. RV Site Reservations will be refunded. Due to the large volume of requests, please allow 2–4 weeks as we process exchanges and refunds. 

Thank you for your patience and continued support. Please reach out to info@strawberrymusic.com with any questions or concerns.

Looking for another beautiful weekend of music, community, and camping? We have your answer right here!

Our friends at the California Bluegrass Association are hosting the 51st Annual Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival this June 18–21 in Grass Valley at the Nevada County Fairgrounds!

Three stages of music, featuring The Bluegrass Cardinals, Sam Grisman Project, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Missy Raines & Allegheny, and so many more! Enjoy nonstop jamming, square dances, youth programs, free workshops & family fun for all. Find out more information here!

And just like that, our 75th festival is in the books! We are filled with so much gratitude for the amazing, passionate, and considerate community of music lovers who made the Spring 2026 Strawberry Music Festival a resounding success.  

The Spring 2026 festival was dedicated to our founding father, fearless leader, and friend, Charlie Cran. Thank you for carrying on his spirit through your stories, songs, and participation in this festival, which he loved so fiercely. 

Strawberry relies on our enthusiastic volunteers to help make this festival successful, safe, and fun year after year. A heartfelt and huge thank you goes out to the volunteers who contributed their time and skills. Thank you to the diligent crew leaders and coordinators who spend many hours before, during, and after every festival organizing volunteers and juggling various roles and responsibilities. 

Thank you to the concessionaires, businesses, and nonprofit organizations who provide unique shopping, music, and art experiences. Thank you to the musicians and performers who shared their talents and passion with us. We would also like to thank the staff and volunteers at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, who have welcomed and supported Strawberry over the last decade.

And last, but never least, thank you to our patrons for literally and figuratively investing in and cultivating an unrivaled and unique music, art, and community experience.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Thank you for your patience while we unpack our supplies and begin to address the following post-festival wrap-up items:

• Lost & Found: We will use Lost Forms submitted at the Info Booth during the festival to contact the owners of the items we have found. We will also review any email inquiries submitted to info@strawberrymusic.com. Please let us know if you lost something and have not already submitted a Lost Form. This process may take one to two weeks to complete. We appreciate your patience! 
• Problem Box (tickets lost/stolen/left at home): Customers who left their tickets at home can avoid the gate charge by mailing unused tickets to the office postmarked by Monday, June 22nd. Lost tickets will be reviewed and reconciled in the order in which notifications were received.
• Surveys: We are excited to read your surveys as we work together to improve the festival experience each year! Please find the online version of the Spring 2026 Survey here.

THANK YOU!

PHOTO CREDIT:  Kate Skogen, Evan Thompson, Dave Bonnot, Tim Konrad, Tim Van Raam

Today, Tuesday, May 19th, is the LAST day to purchase tickets online for Spring 2026 AND the last day to purchase tickets with the All Festival Pass Discount. The deadline is 11:59 pm TODAY.

A 25% discount on camping tickets for both festivals? It sounds almost too good to be true, but it’s just one of the ways we here at Strawberry are helping your entertainment budget go further. Get your All Festival Pass here. (Pro Tip: Check out the Spring lineup and the Fall lineup — you shouldn’t miss these fests! We aren’t.)

Advance tickets purchased today will NOT BE MAILED. Tickets can be picked up from Will call at the Box Office 24/hr daily starting at 8:00 am on Thursday, May 21st.

Why not shower you all with good news? Spring 4-Day/-Night, 3-Day/-Night, and 2-Day, as well as all Spring 1-Day tickets (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), will be available for purchase at the gate!

Arriving Wednesday? Please do not arrive early OR line up/park on McCourtney Road. 

What does “arrive early” mean? In your Entrance Plan included with your ticket(s), there is an entry time for prebanding — either 11:30am or 2:30pm. You do not need to be at the Fairgrounds at 11:30am on the dot, we just want you there anytime after 11:30am. 11:35am? Wonderful. 11:40am? Also great. 11:45am? We wish we could hand out awards!

If you arrive 30 minutes early, we will send you down the road to wait in a nearby parking lot. Please do not create a hazardous or discourteous situation by lining up or parking along McCourtney Road prior to the approved arrival time stated in the Entrance Plan sent with your ticket(s).

Please contact us if you have any questions about your arrival time at (209) 984-8630 or info@strawberrymusic.com. Thank you for your cooperation!

The Sarsaparilla Strummers make refreshing music for kids both young and young-at-heart. The Strummers feature songwriters and pickers from several past and Spring 2026 Strawberry Main Stage acts — Chris Doud (The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit), Owen Ragland (Honey Run and Flatpick Hotel), Alec La Roche (The Brothers Strong), and Tim McCaffrey (Little Fuller Band).

This experienced group has tapped into all of their talents and influences to create kids music that blends bluegrass, folk music, and western music into upbeat, lyrics-driven arrangements that keep folks moving and smiling along. The Sarsaparilla Strummers stage show combines elements of music exploration and participation, and good old-fashioned entertainment. 

Come join us at the Forest Amphitheater on Friday morning! Kids will have the opportunity to make their own musical instruments before or can come dance along to a fun-filled show! The Sarsaparilla Strummers perform on the Play Stage at 11:15am. 

We are excited to introduce our new non-profit partner, The Strawberry Way Foundation (TSWF)! TSWF was formed to support the culture of the Strawberry Music Festival, its programs and communities. We believe deeply in its mission to create and support accessible, immersive music learning and performance environments for children and adults of all socio-economic and cultural origins. Learn more about TSWF’s goals and prospective activities.

We are thrilled to support and celebrate this new partnership AND our 75th music festival with a whole weekend of opportunities to win fun prizes during Spring Strawberry. Raffle tickets will be available at the Info Booth and Preserves for $5 each or 6 for $20.

Prizes include everything from tickets to Amy’s Orchid Lounge and Breakfast Club to gift certificates for Preserves and the T-Shirt booth. The raffle will include ticket giveaways to other live music events each day and culminate in a grand prize giveaway of tickets to Fall Strawberry! 

Thank you Northern California Bluegrass Society for donating tickets to Good Ol’ Fashioned Festival and The Center for the Arts  for donating tickets to Asleep at the Wheel, Ruthie Foster, Paul Thorn, and Infamous Stringdusters! 

*The Strawberry Way Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and contributions are tax-deductible for income, gift, and estate taxes. EIN 33-1584536.

Knock on wood. . . now! The weather for the Spring 2026 Strawberry Music Festival is looking great. Although the forecast for the festival is currently sunny days and zero chance of rain with highs in the 70s and 80s, weather in the Sierra can be unpredictable — we suggest packing accordingly!If you need any tips on what to pack to make the most of your Strawberry, make sure to check out our list below!

We have a wonderful group of Music Meadow concessionaires for Spring 2026. 

Sign up for a massage! Get your kid’s face painted! Get YOUR face painted! Check out the array of instruments for purchase — perfect for jumping in at the last minute on a camp jam! The Strawberry Massage Booth, High-Jinks Extreme Face Art Booth, and The Fiddle Guy are here to meet all your wants, needs, and more.

NEW FOR 2026: The Breastfeeding Coalition of Nevada County provides a shaded and sanitary private space for parents at their “Rock ‘N’ Relax” Lounge! Stocked with diapers and wipes, water, books, and cozy rocking chairs. 

Find out about our Music Meadow concessionaires here.

Let’s give a warm welcome back to our friends at the California Bluegrass Association! CBA has been doing amazing work for decades, supporting bluegrass, old-time, and gospel music across California, and we are pleased as punch to continue this partnership. 

Make sure to stop by the CBA booth while you’re at the Spring 2026 Strawberry Music Festival. Learn more about the nonprofit organization, chat with friendly folks, and make sure to get info about any impromptu camp jams. Psst. . . they’ll also have information about special sweepstakes and their annual Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival on June 18–21, 2026 — one of the highlights of the bluegrass calendar!