The 33rd Annual Great Blue Heron Music Festival: 48+ Artists, 4 Stages, 4 Days over 4th of July Weekend 2026

The 33rd Great Blue Heron Music Festival takes place Thursday-Sunday, July 2–5, 2026, at the Heron Farm & Event Center in Sherman, New York.  Headliners include Ripe, The Dip, Donna the Buffalo, Moontricks, Big Something, Bombargo, Pixie & the Partygrass Boys and MANY more!  TICKETS/INFO

Festy GoNuts’ Take:

A festival lasting for 33 years is doing something right.  In the case of the Great Blue Heron Music Festival, they may just be doing everything right!

First, there’s the lineup.  Heron consistently brings in a HUGE roster of artists spanning genres from funk, folk, rock, and blues to old-time mountain music, reggae, and electro-afrobeat.  And some unique blends of all of these!

Then there’s the festival grounds – Heron Farm is a beautiful oasis in Sherman, NY. Open fields and shaded woods offer diverse camping in all shapes and sizes.  400 acres of trails offer extensive hiking opportunities. Then there’s the spring-fed, lifeguard-protected swimming pond and beach, making this a 4th of July Party with all the staples.

4 stages host music throughout the grounds – ranging from the main David’s Stage to the intimate Tiger Maple Stage, the woodland Dragon Stage; and the legendary Dance Tent that keeps the party going all night long.

And then there’s the people of Blue Heron – the Tribe.  Families have been enjoying this fest since 1992, growing along with the fest in its 33 years.  Heron is a community – a reunion, and a place for connection that extends beyond the music.

Add in amazing food and drink, instrument workshops, dance lessons, late-night drum circles, an open mic, and dedicated programming for younger children and teens, and it’s easy to see why Great Blue Heron Festival is truly a destination for everyone, and a 4th of July Celebration that should be your new tradition!

Happy Heron!

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From Great Blue Heron

Compliments of Dreamspider Publicity:

The 33rd Annual Great Blue Heron Music Festival
July 2–5, 2026 | Sherman, New York

A joyous celebration filled with music & dance, surrounded by the beauty of nature!

Tickets Available at GreatBlueHeron.com

The Heron Farm & Event Center, Sherman, NY – The Great Blue Heron Music Festival returns for its 33rd year over Independence holiday weekend, Thursday-Sunday, July 2–5, 2026, at the Heron Farm & Event Center in Sherman, New York. This year’s lineup features 48+ artists across four stages, with a program that leans into funk and groove—with old-time mountain music crashing into reggae and funk melting into electro-afrobeat—while weaving together fan favorites and exciting new names, including Ripe, The Dip, Donna the Buffalo, Moontricks, Big Something, Bombargo, Pixie & The Partygrass Boys, Driftwood, Hot Like Mars, Daniel Rodriguez, Mosaic Foundation, Smilo & the Ghost, PA Line, Root Shock, Buffalo Zydeco, Surfing For Daisy, and more!

A summer tradition since 1992, the Great Blue Heron Music Festival is an annual family-friendly celebration that brings thousands of music lovers to the rolling hills of Western New York each July. The festival is host to a wide variety of live original music plus instrument workshops, dance lessons, late-night drum circles, an open mic, and dedicated programming for younger children and teens running throughout the weekend. The Great Blue Heron Music Festival fills four days and nights with fun, free-spirited, friendly people who come together each year as a community united by music.

“One very unique thing about Blue Heron is how many different generations of people attend our festival,” says festival owner Julie Rockcastle. “It’s a very family-friendly event! Over 400 children are here during the weekend along with their parents and, oftentimes, grandparents, too! We believe the magic of this place stems not only from the partnerships made in 30+ years, but also it’s taken hundreds, maybe thousands, of volunteers, plus family and friends, to make this event thrive for so many years. Thank YOU for celebrating with us along this incredible journey!”

The Heron offers camping out among the breezy fields and shady woods that grace the property, and there is a vast system of trails throughout its 400 acres for hiking. There is a spring-fed, lifeguard-protected swimming pond, referred to by some as the “mystic waters,” which is an extra bonus on a hot summer day. Visitors can also participate in yoga, meditation, and wellness programming in the Revival Tent; browse food and craft vendors; and enjoy local beer, wine, hard cider, slushies, and other beverages in The Heron’s Keg Room.

Camping opens Thursday, July 2nd, alongside an official Kickoff Party (aka Prefest Barnapalooza Hoedown) at the PFM Barn, featuring Folkfaces, Eastern Boys in Western Shirts, and more. The event is free to all, and a food truck will be on site.

Weekend tickets are on sale now for two-, three-, and four-day passes, with upgrades available for RV and vehicle-side tent camping. One-day tickets are available for Saturday and Sunday. All tickets include free Red Lot parking and walk-in tent camping in the woods. Full details at greatblueheron.com.

More about the Music & Schedule:

The eclectic Great Blue Heron Music Festival lineup is spread across four stages throughout the weekend—including David’s Stage, located in the heart of the festival and named for co-founder David Tidquist; the intimate Tiger Maple Stage, with daily musician-led instrument workshops, an evening Maple Jam showcasing regional and national touring artists, and midnight drum circles on Friday and Saturday; the magical and immersive woodland Dragon Stage; and a big-top Dance Tent that swings through the night.

Friday, July 4th

Friday is headlined by The Dip, the Seattle-bred rhythm and blues outfit with precise arrangements, deep grooves, and a three-piece horn section that has earned them one of the most devoted live followings in the country. They’re joined by Big Something, the North Carolina jam rock powerhouse known for their high-energy sets and genre-spanning sound; and Canadian-based Bombargo, who drops a vibrant splash of soul over their distinctive “vintage-pop” sound, with music industry icon Sir Richard Branson saying of them, “I haven’t seen this type of energy since The Rolling Stones!” Also on Friday: the beloved reggae-rock collective Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad makes their return to the Heron with their signature wall of sound, as does the heartfelt folk-rock of Binghamton favorites Driftwood, a perennial crowd favorite whose story-driven songwriting has made them a Heron institution. Donna the Buffalo will do a late-night dance tent takeover as their alter-ego, Buffalo Zydeco.

Saturday, July 5th

Saturday is anchored by Ripe, the Boston-born, funk-pop, alt-rock collective whom People Magazine described as a “former ‘party band,’ all grown up” in a recent feature. Joining them is the inimitable Donna the Buffalo, the Finger Lakes-rooted roots-rock institution that has served as the Heron’s unofficial house band for decades, performing multiple sets over the weekend; Western Canada’s Moontricks—the duo behind some of the most hypnotic, campfire-ready electronic folk in recent memory—makes what is sure to be a highly anticipated Heron debut. Funk and groove continue with the infectious Sneezy, the Chicago-based outfit whose tight, joyful style and wild stage antics expand a concert into a true show. Pixie & the Partygrass Boys bring their high-spirited bluegrass energy to keep the dancefloor moving well into the night. Both Sneezy and Hot Like Mars—another Chicago-based funky, soulful rock export—will be the late-night party bands until 4am at the Dragon Stage and Dance Tent.

Theme Night: Red After Dark begins at 7pm Saturday and goes through the night. Everyone is encouraged to wear red—it could be something simple or a full-on costume—and be part of the art as the sun starts to set, the lights shift toward red, and the evening takes over. The festival’s creative director, Todd Wagner, says, “Red is the color of love. Of fire. Of that feeling when a song hits you somewhere deep and you don’t totally know why. It’s passion, it’s warmth, and it’s the sky doing something unbelievable right before dark. It’s all of us together.”

Sunday, July 6th

Sunday closes the festival with Sun King Warriors, featuring members of the legendary Pittsburgh roots-rock band Rusted Root—bringing a percussive, world-music-infused power that makes for a fitting, celebratory close to the weekend. Donna the Buffalo once again takes the stage, as well as Americana-grit folk band from Erie, Smilo & the Ghost—whose soulful, introspective songwriting has developed a loyal following.

This year’s programming reflects a deliberate embrace of groove-centered music across all stages and all days. Alongside the headliners, the bill includes Tony Camm & the All-Stars of Funk, Root Shock, Mo’ Mojo, Mosaic Foundation, Surfing for Daisy, The Steel Wheels, The Medicinals, Tiger Maple String Band, Sawa Sawa, Folkfaces & Friends, Richie Stearns, Tyler Westcott, Johnny Hart & the Mess, The Fitzkee Brothers, Tsavo Highway, PA Line, Flying Object, and many more—representing one of the most eclectic and funk-forward lineups in the Heron’s history.

The 33rd Great Blue Heron Music Festival Lineup