The Strawberry Music Festivals are a five-day, family-friendly campout with live music featuring nationally recognized touring acts and up-and-coming performing artists. Since our first festival in 1982, Strawberry has become a close-knit community of music lovers whose collective ethos is rooted in kindness, cooperation, and consideration, coined as “The Strawberry Way.”
Set on 100 acres of conifer forest, Strawberry is held at the beautiful Nevada County Fairgrounds where camping is made comfortable by gentle terrain and ample amenities. Programming includes a wide variety of activities and entertainment for all ages and abilities. We are excited to see you at our upcoming festival!
What to Expect
- The Strawberry Way is kindness, cooperation, and consideration
- Over 20 acts on the Main Stage and many more performances at several additional stages
- Friday and Saturday late night at Amy’s Orchid Lounge
- Audience participation at the Band Scramble and The Breakfast Club
- Workshop performances by Main Stage artists
- The Sunday Morning Revival
- Legendary camp jam culture
- Hog Ranch Radio — pirate broadcast of performances and important information
- Music, movement, art, and nature workshop
- Three full days of children’s activities and entertainment, including special programming for teens
- Shopping opportunities include original artisan wares, delicious cuisine in the Food Court, and one-of-a-kind festival merchandise
- Magical musical moments
- Family-friendly and inclusive atmosphere
- Smiling, laughing, and fun!
Please join us this season with your instruments and radio in tow, ready to laugh, play, sing, dance, eat, and be entertained!
Camping
The Nevada County Fairgrounds is a beautiful outdoor setting, on nearly 100 acres of meadow and conifer forest. There is a lot of great space to camp, for groups large and small, as well as nice scenery to explore. Camping is made comfortably by the gentle terrain and amenities which include easy access to potable water, permanent restrooms, shower facilities, and garbage/recycle service. Spring weather can be unpredictable at 2500′ elevation, so it is best to be prepared for any kind of weather. See our What to Pack List for a complete inventory of items to make your camp experience comfortable. Numerous trails and paved roadways make it easy to get around.
Strawberry is a close-knit, multi-generational community of music lovers. Settling in and living a family-friendly camp life for multiple days is what allows so much of the magic to happen. Many of our best traditions take place in the campgrounds!
- Dry camping with any size/type vehicle is included in the price of a camping ticket
- Camping is first come, first served. But worry not, there is plenty of space for everyone to have a nice camp site.
- Saving space is not allowed. Items used to save space, such as roes, tarps, and chairs, etc., will be removed by staff. You can, however, set up your camp to accommodate those who are yet to arrive. Please do not use more space than necessary for your group.
- Do not park unneeded vehicles on nice ground for camping. Please be considerate of others and park extra cars in one of the designated parking areas.
- As campers arrive throughout the festival, please make them feel welcome. Make space for newcomers in your neighborhood.
- Staff is available to help you find a place to camp. Just ask for Camping Assistance when you arrive.
- Fires and charcoal cooking are not allowed. Off ground camp stoves (propane, white gas, or butane) are OK. Please keep your cooking space clear of flammable material.
- Put away alcoholic beverages when your camp is unattended.
- Quiet generators are allowed to run from 10am–2pm daily. We reserve the right to request you to turn off your generator if it is causing a disturbance.
- Please keep your site clean and move refuse to garbage/recycle regularly. It is The Strawberry Way to leave the festival grounds in better condition than when we arrived.
- No motorized vehicles. (Golf cart use is restricted to staff.)
- No bicycles, skateboards, skates, or scooters on the Music Meadow or in the Food Court.
- The speed limit in camp is 5MPH.
- Keep all access roads clear to traffic and observe all festival boundaries. Strawberry Music Inc. reserves the right to tow vehicles at owners expense.
- All festival campers must exit the grounds by 10:00am on Monday.
Compost Bins
From offering festival-wide recycling services and working to eliminate the internal use of single-use plastic, we are always working to make Strawberry more environmentally sustainable.
In this pursuit, we have added a new service — compost bins will be available to dispose of green waste this year! There are 5 different stations, and station locations can be found on the festival map. Please refer to the signage at each station regarding what can and cannot be placed in compost bins. Unfortunately, items such as compostable bags and cutlery are NOT accepted as compost by Waste Management.
Please also refer to the graphic here for information on what is accepted (Organics). We are unable to sort compost at this time, so please help us keep bins from being contaminated with unacceptable materials and sent to the landfill. If you are not sure an item can go into the bins, please err on the side of caution. Let’s work together to ensure this service is successful!
Just remember: When on needles and pins, don’t place it in the bins!
Medical & Safety
Medical staff is available to help with basic first aid needs from Thursday through Sunday during the Spring Festival and Friday through Sunday during the Fall Festival. The Medical Tent is open at 8:00am each morning until 11:00pm each evening. When the Med Tent is closed, 24-hour emergency assistance is available at the Command Post. In the event of an emergency, there is a hospital nearby. In severe cases, EMT’s are on site and an ambulance can be dispatched immediately. If you see someone who needs medical assistance at the festival, please go to the Med Tent, the Command Post, or find a Staff member with a radio.
Our Safety Crews are based at the Command Post 24-hours daily to keep folks safe throughout the festival. Safety Crews can also be found throughout the festival grounds wearing Security/Safety vests and hats. If you witness disruptive behavior, suspicious activities, violence or abuse of any kind, or situations that are unsafe, please alert Security Staff at the Command Post immediately.
Strawberry Stroll/ Music Meadow Seating
What’s the Strawberry Stroll, you ask? It’s that special time in the morning when you can line up to place your chairs in the Music Meadow. Here are some guidelines for the stroll …
- NEW FOR SPRING 2025: The location and times of the Stroll have changed.
- Spring: The line will be located ON the Music Meadow and can only be entered from the South Gate (Near the Med Tent). Attendees may begin to line up at 2:00pm on Thursday and at 4:00am on Friday–Sunday. Staff will be available to assist you during the Stroll.
- One line will split into two at the front, and a coin toss will determine which group goes first.
- Days and times for the Fall are coming soon.
- You must be personally present in line. Please do not leave your chairs unattended.
- You may bring a maximum of FOUR chairs. No blankets or high back chairs are allowed in the Stroll Seating area.
- Stroll Seating is first come, first served. Please do not disturb someone else’s chair.
- All chairs in the Stroll Seating Area must be no more than 32″ from the top of the chair to the ground and must be 10″ or less from the back of the seat to the ground. No chaise lounges or hook back chairs.
- Any chair that is not occupied is open for use by anyone until the owner arrives. If you do not want your chair used, please take it with you when you leave the seating area.
Merchandise and Services
There is a wide range of merchandise and services available at the festival.
The Food Court
The Food Court features a wide variety of delectable foods. Offerings include pizza, pasta & salad, vegetarian dishes, Mexican food, Greek food, BBQ, desserts, and more! Also available are an assortment of hot & cold beverages, including coffee & espresso drinks, smoothies, and juices.
Strawberry Way Station
The new Strawberry Way Station is a multi-purpose tent for shaded seating. It is located near the Beer & Wine Pavillion and the Food Court.
Beer & Wine Pavilion
Located just inside Gate 5, the Beer & Wine Pavilion is run by Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation volunteers. Non-alcoholic beverages are also available.
Strawberry T-Shirt Booth
Each festival showcases a unique Strawberry T-Shirt design. Come visit the booth to see one-of-a-kind festival artwork on a variety of styles and colors. The T-Shirt Booth opens at 3:00pm on Thursday, so stop by early to ensure availability of preferred colors and sizes.
Strawberry Merch Tent
If you like what you see at Strawberry, take it home with you! The Merch Tent sells t-shirts, hats, CDs, vinyls, and more from an assortment of performers, including most Main Stage acts. In addition, some Main Stage musicians will visit the booth following their set to sell merchandise and sign CDs.
Strawberry Preserves
You never know what you will find at the Strawberry Preserves. Created to feature classic past festival t-shirts, the Preserves has evolved into a festival-needs marketplace. If you need it, it is likely the Preserves will have it, stocking everything from toys, jewelry, sundries, and much more.
Strawberry Way Cafe
Where do you go when you are thirsty? The Foundation Station serves water, assorted juices, soda, and lemonade.
Strawberry Artisans
The Strawberry Artisans tent features some of the finest arts and crafts throughout the West. Hand-crafted jewelry, fiber arts, glassware, photography, pottery, many modes of wearable art, and strawberry-themed gear galore.
Strawberry Massage & Acupressure Therapists
What vacation is complete without massage/acupressure? Treat yourself to this relaxing therapy while listening to the Main Stage music in the background.
Strawberry Face Painter
Fun for children and adults, the Face Painter at Strawberry has a design for everyone! It’s just not a festival without face painting!
Jamming
The musical experience is in no way limited to the stages. Musicians of every level get together to “jam” at camps all around the festival. These range from informal gatherings of friends and neighbors to performances by professional musicians. The public is welcome to come and listen as long as the audience remains respectful of the musicians and the camp hosting the jam.
What to Pack
- Your physical TICKETS
- Tent
- Shade canopy
- Ground cover
- Mattress/sleeping pad
- Bedding or sleeping bag & pillow
- Flashlight
- Camp stove
- Camp lantern
- Camp table
- Camp chairs
- Face covering (worn over the face and nose to prevent transmission of COVID-19)
- Water jugs/wagon (for carrying water back to camp)
- Spray bottle (great for keeping cool on warm days)
- Clothing for warm days and cool nights
- Sunhat
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle/mug, plate & utensils (for re-use in camp and at the Food Court)
- Portable FM Radio (for listening to Hog Ranch Radio in camp)
- Rain gear (Just in case)
- Soap and towel
- Ear plugs
- Cup or container for drinks (no glass is allowed on the Music Meadow)
- Wagon (very handy for hauling gear and sleeping kids back from the Music Meadow)
- Musical instruments (for jamming with friends and neighbors)
Conservation
Water Conservation:
The Nevada County Fairgrounds has an adequate water supply. Due to extreme drought conditions in California, it is very important to conserve water. Please read the posted signs and observe the “Strawberry 3-Minute Shower.”
Recycle:
Over the years, Strawberry has developed a comprehensive recycling program intended to decrease the amount of trash entering landfills. We continue to evaluate additional options and evolve our recycling program. Please make use of all of the recycling options available and, wherever possible, keep your mug, plate, and utensils for reuse during the festival. Thank you for your work and for incorporating recycling into your daily routine.
Re-Use:
We are eliminating the sale of and internal utilization of single-use plastics at the festival and need your help to make this happen. Bring your own plate, cutlery, cup, and/or water bottle for in camp and at the Food Court. There are filling stations, drinking fountains, and potable water spigots throughout the camp.
Directions
Use the Hwy. 49 off-ramp in Auburn. Proceed north on Hwy. 49 toward Grass Valley, approximately 25 miles. In Grass Valley, take the first off-ramp, McKnight Way. Turn left on McKnight and proceed over the freeway, past the shopping center on the left. Turn right on Freeman Lane, past another shopping center on the left. Freeman Lane will turn into McCourtney Road at the second 4-way stop sign. Continue straight on McCourtney Road until the Nevada County Fairgrounds appears on the right, approximately 2 blocks. All ticket holders enter through the Gate 1 entrance.
Traveling on Hwy. 80, heading West from Reno:
Hwy. 49 off-ramp in Auburn, head north to Grass Valley. Or, for a scenic and mildly curvy shortcut, take the Hwy. 20 off-ramp to Grass valley, just after the Eagle Lakes Road off-ramp on Hwy. 80. Travel time on Hwy. 20 is approximately one half hour. Stay on the highway through Nevada City and Grass Valley. Do not get off the highway when Hwy. 20 takes off west towards Marysville. Stay on the highway until it becomes Hwy. 49. At that point, use the same directions as above after taking the McKnight Way off-ramp.
Traveling on Hwy. 20 heading east from Marysville:
Take the McCourtney Road/Fairgrounds exit off of Hwy. 20 just before entering Grass Valley. Turn right on McCourtney Road until the Nevada County Fairgrounds appears on the right, approximately 1 block. All ticket holders enter through Gate 1 entrance.
Cell Phone Service
While we hope that you will choose to unplug at the festival, most cell phones do have coverage at the Fairgrounds. Please be considerate of others, as well as performers, and turn off your phone while in performance seating areas. You may take photos, but please disable the flash and distracting lights.
