The 16th Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Music Festival took place June 6 – 8, 2025,  at the Riverbend Park in Palisade, Colorado.  Headliners included Kitchen Dwellers, California Honeydrops, Brothers Comatose, Yarn, and the Lowdown Brass Band.  This year’s festival showcased 16 performers on two stages over three days.

Tunes, Tastes and Trails at the 2025 Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival

The Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Music Festival has been an annual tradition on Colorado’s Western Slope for the past 16 years. Located at Riverbend Park in downtown Palisade, Colorado, the town is renowned for its peaches, wineries, and bluegrass festivals.  

While we (Festy GoNuts) have resided in Colorado for over two decades, this was our first time attending the Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival.  Having been to the town once before, we were drawn to the idea of a relaxing weekend exploring the downtown, imbibing at the wineries, and frolicking in the river. 

Admittedly, the 2025 music lineup grabbed our attention.  With festival favorites like the Kitchen Dwellers and California Honeydrops topping the poster, we knew the entertainment would be top-notch.  The addition of some names further down the list – such as Magoo, Sicard Hollow, and Pressing Strings – sealed the deal.

For us, Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival was just as much about exploring the town as it was about enjoying the music.  The town boasts over 30 wineries and a 25-mile “Fruit & Wine Byway.”   After a quick breakfast at our riverside campsite on Saturday morning, we jumped on our bikes and headed into town.  The refreshing lavender and wine cocktails and a white wine flight at Ordinary Fellows were the perfect way to kick-start the day. 

If wine isn’t your thing, there are breweries, cideries, and distilleries aplenty in town.   Feeling a bit famished, we headed next door to the Peach Tree Distillers to grab a hearty lunch.  Of course, their unique handcrafted cocktails tempted us.  On a hot June day, the freshly mixed Peach Street Mojito hit the spot. 

If jumping in the river is more your game, the gentle Class 1 rapids are perfect for your SUP, inner tube, kayak, or even a relaxing float.  Parts of the Colorado River were moving quickly, but there certainly were some safe spots along the river’s edge to dip in to cool off.  We saw plenty of festival folks put their tubes in at Harvey’s Launch, located inside Riverbend Park.   

Palisade Cycle & Shuttle can hook you up with your rentals and a shuttle so you can do the full Palisade-to-Paliade 4-mile float. You can also grab bikes from them to get you mobilized for the weekend.  They are official festival partners. 

​Tips for Enhancing Your Palisade Festival Experience: 

🚲 Bring a Bike 

Getting to and from the campground is not a short walk, but it’s a quick ride along the riverside pathway. 

Bikes were also key to getting into town to check out the wineries, visit the Farmers Market on Sunday, and explore Palisade’s downtown area. 

😎 Bring Shade – and a Tube!

The western slope is HOT  – even in June.  A quick dip in the river was a great way to cool off during the day. Bring your PFD, your floating device – and get in and out at safe spots. 

🐶 Leave the Pup at Home

Pets aren’t allowed – and we can see why! It’s too hot to leave them at your campsite, so best to find a friend to keep them safe and happy. Without the dog, we were able to spend all day exploring Palisade and relaxing more at the festival!

🪩 Get Ready for Late-Night Jams

The music ends early on the mainstage, but the party keeps going in the campground. One of our favorite parts of the festival was the late-night picks (with the California Honeydrops stopping by on night 2!)

Returning for Bluegrass & Roots

We’re already counting our days until our next trip to Palisade, and obviously, a music festival is all we need to get us motivated.   We can’t believe it’s taken us so long to check out this iconic Colorado music festival, but we’re glad we finally made it to this annual music festival tradition in the Western Slope.

To learn more about Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival, visit their website: www.palisademusic.com/