The 3rd annual WinterWonderGrass Festival attracted thousands of fans to North Lake Tahoe, March 30th- April 2nd for the sold out three day music and brews festival. With bluebird powder days giving way to snowy winter nights, fans gathered to watch their favorite bluegrass bands play into the California sky. The festival has created a sense of community with fans returning each year traveling from over 40 states to see more than 30 world-renowned bluegrass acts. .
WinterWonderGrass had an incredibly positive and powerful impact on the community North Lake Tahoe community, having supported several different NPO’s and donating over $14,000. Several direct local charitable partners were Tahoe Food, The Shane McConkey Foundation and Arts for the Schools. WinterWonderGrass also hosted a food drive in partnership with Imperfect Produce during the festival and donated over 1,000 pounds of food to Project Mana feeding over 120 families in the North Lake Tahoe Basin.
Every year the festival puts a large focus on sustainability. There were no single-use plastic bottles on site, and nearly all products were compostable. Each fan received a stainless steel Klean Kanteen commemorative mug to offset to use of plastic cups and contribute to the zero waste efforts. WinterWonderGrass diverted over 16,866 pounds away from landfills and into composting, recycling and donation initiatives.
“We've cultivated an incredibly grateful, high-intentioned community of festival goers which I think is leading the charge beyond any other event I know of, and that's because of the people. We see this as more than a music festival, it’s a gathering of high-spirited, humble and dedicated artists, attendees, staff and crew. Collectively, we have once again raised the bar of what an inspired and thoughtful community gathering can deliver.” says founder Scotty Stoughton
The WinterWonderGrass team is looking forward to returning to Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows 4th of July weekend with the Freedom Fest featuring the WinterWonderGrass Allstars, The Lil’ Smokies, Bonfire Dub with Bridget Law from Elephant Revival and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. The WinterWonderGrass Allstars will perform an on mountain tribute set to the 1991 Gold Coast Revival show from Jerry Garcia and David Grisman.
WinterWonderGrass founder and singer / songwriter Scotty Stoughton makes his live performance debut in Tahoe with his band Bonfire Dub. Bonfire Dub has toured for the past nine years and plays a deep and powerful blend of roots music with rich melodies, featuring down tempo, acoustic laced and electric driven reggae, folk and Jamaican dub. Bonfire’s lyrical repertoire is inspired from eastern philosophy, indigenous struggles, political injustice, international relief efforts and a deep respect for the soul of love and the balance of nature.
Sunday, July 2nd WinterWonderGrass presents the Freedom Festival All-Star After Party with music by The Grant Farm, Bonfire Dub with special guest Bridget Law from Elephant Revival and more. The WWG After Party will be at the Plaza Bar in Squaw Village from 9 pm-12 am. This show is free and limited to 21 and over.
WinterWonderGrass returns to Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadow April 6-8, 2018 and looks forward to calling North Lake Tahoe home for many years to come. For more information on the festival visit www.winterwondergrass.com
