‘Strawberry’ fields forever: Popular music festival hosts its autumnal celebration

With an impressive line-up of artists such as the Del McCoury Band, John McCraigie & The Collis Brothers, Big Richard, Painted Mandolin, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, and others the Strawberry Music Festival will once again take the stage for five days at the Nevada County Fairgrounds next week.

Jodi Barnett, general manager of Strawberry Music Festival, said this is the first year since 2018 that the fest has hosted both a spring and fall event. She added that the music is obviously the main draw, but the camping that many participants experience is a part of what makes Strawberry, well, Strawberry.

“There is music everywhere all the time,” Barnett said. “It’s going to be kind of the backdrop to your day.”

She added that the days at Strawberry start fairly early, especially for those who are camping on the grounds. The Breakfast Club, she called it, is a tradition at this point to engage concertgoers and to get a good start to what could be a long day of festing.

“It’s one of my favorite programs that starts your day with a full hot breakfast and there’s also continental options…to make it a really nice meal,” said Barnett. “There’s a stage with an open mic and anyone from camp can play for their breakfast. Those who perform in the morning as part of The Breakfast Club perform and then it’s also a Hog Ranch Radio broadcast.”

Hog Ranch Radio has been an entity of Strawberry Music Festival since 1985, serving as the voice of the campground while the festivities take place.

The atmosphere at Strawberry is communal, said Barnett, with each camper and attendee looking out for the other.

“Whatever is happening in camp, it’s just as much a part of the Strawberry,” Barnett said. “It’s part of the Strawberry philosophy that you give people what they need to be comfortable, and then their own creativity can flourish.”

There will also be yoga and stretching and some other mellow wake-up-your-day activities.

Of course, vendors of all sorts will be represented ranging from food options to goods and other wares.

“We try to limit it so there’s enough business for the different vendors to attend,” said Barnett. “They are a loyal part of our community but we have a sample of many different kids of foods—there’s Indian, there’s barbecue, hot dogs and sandwiches, pizza, an egg roll booth, there’s ice cream.”

Instead of spreading out merchandise vendors among multiple booths, Strawberry has taken a different approach.

“We don’t have lots and lots of tents,” explained Barnett. “Instead we have one big tent we call the Artisan Tent. All of the artisans are in that space and (we also have) an instrument seller called The Fiddle Guy. There’s a massage booth. Then we have our own t-shirt sales and we have a store that has a lot of things you might need in camp…and the Fairgrounds Foundation sells beer and wine.”

Strawberry Music Festival spent many of its years at Camp Mather from 1983-2013. Barnett said that atmosphere was like a family camp lending the festival its current personality.

While music is at the forefront, Barnett said that there is so much more to the Strawberry experience, no matter the age.

“There’s more audience participation than anything else,” Barnett said. “We offer workshops for art, including sketchbook and watercolor and photography. There’s nature programs for the whole family but really for the kids. (We have) the Insect Critter Hunt and a raptor show where they’ll bring a bard owl and/or a vulture, or a hawk over from the Shady Oaks Outdoor Education School.”

She continued: “Main stage entertainment is important but it’s not, in my opinion, more important than the other components or how comfortable you are in your camp. Being able to stay on site and getting that time with your friends and your family—community is really more what it’s all about.”

The 43rd Strawberry Music Festival will take place October 16 to 20 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit strawberrymusic.com.

WHAT: Strawberry Music Festival

WHERE: Nevada County Fairgrounds | 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley

WHEN: October 16-20, 2025