Winona’s Boats and Bluegrass Festival featured in MN Star Tribune

In a recent MN Star Tribune article, writer Kim Hyatt argues that Boats and Bluegrass (and other regional, family festivals like Blue Ox Music Festival in Eau Claire, WI) is about community and culture as much as music. As the article states, “Boats and Blue Ox blend genres and generations. Both are billed as family-friendly. Kids get in for free and roam freely while checking out scheduled activities and programming centered around art and nature.” Co-director of Boats and Bluegrass Rebecca Sammis describes it as a whole feeling, and says it feels more like a family reunion than a festival.

The festival today: About 3,000 fans attend, and it sells out before the lineup is even announced. It began 22 years ago as a way to promote a former canoe outfitter. Founders Tom and Julie Fassbender handed it to Isaac and Rebecca Sammis seven years ago, when the couple were just 25. The Sammises met at Boats as volunteers, and the Fassbenders officiated their wedding. The festival now runs on nearly 300 volunteers.

The music and the scene: This is progressive bluegrass, not old-timey. Think tie-dye, Americana, jam bands and flatpicking in the vein of Billy Strings, who headlined in 2018. Many fans are musicians themselves. The real magic happens at nightly campfire jams, where people bring fiddles, banjos and upright basses, and headliners sometimes lead singalongs. Take a look at the terrific photo gallery in the article to get a better idea of the event!

A regional circuit: Boats shares much of its crowd with Blue Ox in Eau Claire, Wis., which drew 5,000 fans this June and was started by the band Pert Near Sandstone. The scene also includes newer events like Boogiedown in Yuba, Wis. Organizers say they support one another rather than compete. The article contrasts this with Live Nation’s dominance, noting these festivals are musician-led, volunteer-run and affordable. A weekend pass with 30-some bands runs under $300.

The biggest takeaway – this Winona festival is so much more than just listening to music. Isaac Sammis says the 3,000 attendees share values about music, being outside and taking care of each other, which he calls reassuring amid political discord.