ESTES PARK
Snowygrass, “Estes Park’s very own music festival down by the river,” returns, July 20-21, to Baldwin Park and Snowy Peaks Winery. The event—presented by local artist and musician Nadine Sekerez’s Upstream Enterprises—features local bluegrass and Americana bands, food vendors, artists and artisans, kids activities along with wine and beer. It’s dog-friendly and, according to organizers, banjo players are welcome, too.

Founded in 2016 by Candice Mohr of Snowy Peaks Winery to highlight their 10th anniversary, the festival continues to grow and evolve in its third year. The two-day event now features both free and ticketed concerts along with pre- and post-show music events.

Bluegrass band The Pickersons kick off the festival Friday afternoon with a free performance from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in The Backyard at Snowy Peaks Winery. Wine will be available. A ticketed concert across the street in Baldwin Park features performances by Masontown and The Lonesome Days at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25, including taxes and fees, and available in advance online or at the show. The grassy setting by the river is perfect for low-backed chairs and blankets. Oskar Blues beers will be available.

On Saturday, Baldwin Park, 271 Ivy St., hosts the Snowygrass Free Admission Day featuring a full day of music and the bringing together of commerce, non-profits, families, animals, craft beverages, art and music. Kids activities and a fiddle dance start the day at 10 a.m. Dahlby & Nadine with Tom Nugent perform at 11 a.m. followed by Jay Roemer at noon and The Cody Sisters at 1 p.m. Ran Off the Rooster takes the stage at 2 p.m., The Flyin’ As are at 3 p.m. and The Blue Canyon Boys headline at 4 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 per adult to benefit the Estes Park Pet Association and The Learning Place.

The Blue Canyon Boys are equal parts purists and innovators when it comes to bluegrass: they stay true to the form’s roots while constantly re-imagining their relationship to tradition. The result is a toe-tapping mix of haunting standards, genre-bending arrangements, and catchy original numbers—all built on the bedrock of their collective bluegrass mastery.

Oskar Blues Beer, Snowy Peaks Wine and local whisky will be available for purchase with proceeds from sales benefiting the Estes Arts District. Food from Two Chicks Wings & Henhouse and Roaming Rations will also be available for purchase. Artists, artisans and others will showcase their products.

There will be a free post-festival performance by House with a View at The Barrel, 251 Moraine Ave., July 21 at 5:30 p.m.

To learn more, find the latest information or to purchase tickets, visit snowygrass.com. For questions, call 832-758-5913 or e-mail nadinesartandmusic@gmail.com.

Photos courtesy Snowygrass Festival

Originally published in the July 2018 issue of the MMAC Monthly