The time has come–another spectacular year of bluegrass, brews and big smiles under the wintery Colorado sky. WinterWonderGrass quickly established itself as a festival of good tunes, good people and great times. Last year we caught up with WWG creator, Scott Stoughton, to discuss his vision for the festival and how far they’ve come. Read the interview here. And this year they’ve added some seriously awesome treats for festivalgoers. Read on to see what we’re excited for at this year’s festival. And check out last year’s recap video below!

The Layers

Sure, a winter festival might sound a bit…cold. But one of the best things about this festival is throwing on your winter layers and hitting the slopes before an epic evening of music. Don anything from old school ski onesies and goggles to fun beanies and brightly colored jackets. Plus, the extra layers make hugs from friends, family and even strangers feel so much warmer–and puffier!

The Dancing

The dancing at WWG is unparalleled. It’s like dancing in a snow globe! Snowflakes dust the ground and swirl through air as the lights from stage illuminate them into millions of tiny, colorful crystals above your head and below your feet. Or if you’re feeling a bit chilly, head to one of the heated tents and kick of your shoes, because there’s nothing better than dancing barefoot to bluegrass.

Photo Taken From the WWG Website

Photo Taken From the WWG Website

The All-New Stage

Just added this year was a beautiful stage, crafted uniquely out of stone, which overlooks Nottingham Park and will remain a fixture year round. The amazing stage will get its first musical acts during WinterWonderGrass this year—talk about a christening!

The Kid-Friendly Activities

There aren’t many music festivals around today with as many kid-friendly activities as WWG. Kids can dance and play while parents are cradling a frosty brew just feet away, both enjoying the warming bluegrass notes coursing through their ears. This year, there’s also a kids tent, meaning parents sip their adult beverages while their kids hula hoop or get their faces painted. And the best part? Kids under 12 get into the festival FREE!

The Food

From taco and BBQ trucks to VIP catering courtesy of Avon’s VIN 48—a local restaurant with amazing food—there’s a delicious option to cater to whatever your craving may be. I suggest a nice handheld option, so as not to sacrifice precious dancing time while eating. Bottoms up!

Photo Taken From the WWG Website

Photo Taken From the WWG Website

The Drinks

Not only can you enjoy one of your favorite craft brews from local breweries like Crazy Mountain, Great Divide, Breckenridge Brewery, Oskar Blues, Odell Brewing, Bonfire Brewing and many more, but there will also be some amazing distilleries featured this year. So when you’ve had just about enough beer, you can wash it all down with a stiff whiskey drink.

festivalshot

Photo Courtesy of Showlove Media

 

The Heated Tents

The allure of a snowy festival can wear a bit once your toes start to lose feeling and your nose seems as if it may just snap off like an icicle from the side of a building. But have no fear! The heated beer tents are the perfect place to warm your appendages and fill up your festival cup. The tents also feature live music, so you don’t have to feel like you’re missing out on all the action. And this year the festival added the all-new Bonfire Lounge, a swankier destination for those seeking a warm place and a hot drink to sooth their chilly soul. The Bonfire Lounge will feature acoustic acts as well as an open forum where festivalgoers are encouraged to hop on stage and belt it out.

The Views

Where else can you stand next to a stage, grooving to some of the best live tunes around, turn 180 degrees and see the majestic snow-capped rockies in the background? Only in Colorado! As the sun dips beneath those purple-hued cliffs, you can’t help but have a little trouble catching your breath.

Photo Courtesy of Showlove Media

Photo Courtesy of Showlove Media

The People

Hands-down the WinterWonderGrass crowd are some of the most caring, friendly and passionate fans I’ve ever experienced at a festival. You can expect hugs and high-fives from strangers, the sharing of smiles, snacks and drinks and an all-around great attitude for life. These people want to dance, laugh and listen to some great tunes. But be warned, if you get between a bluegrass man and his beer, there might be some trouble. So share a smile and a laugh, but be polite and courteous!

Photo Taken From the WWG Website

Photo Taken From the WWG Website

The Music, Man

The reason we’re all here in the first place—the music! The artist lineup this year is incredible. Enjoy the musical stylings of bluegrass greats like Sam Bush Band, Leftover Salmon, Elephant Revival, The Infamous Stringdusters, Mountain Standard Time, Les Claypool’s Duo de Twang, Trout Steak Revival and many, many more. The strings will be plucked, the notes will be held, the barefoot stage jostling will be unparalleled. From the main stage, to the beer tents, surrounded by bales of hay and barrels of whiskey there are musical acts for everyone. Blues, rock, soul, every genre you could imagine. Just mosey around and let your ears find something that moves you.