NEWSLETTER
A joyous celebration filled with music & dance, surrounded by the beauty of nature!
Tickets Available at GreatBlueHeron.com
Sherman, N.Y. - 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.
Location Notes:
Sherman, NY, located just outside of Jamestown, is 30 minutes east of Erie, about 90 minutes southwest of Buffalo, around 2 hours northeast of Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown, about 2.5 hours north of Pittsburgh, a little over 3 hours west of Ithaca, and a little over 3 hours north of Wheeling and Morgantown WV—making it an easy detour or destination for folks throughout western New York, northeastern Ohio, and northern West Virginia. The festival is located at 2361 Waits Corners Rd., Sherman, NY, United States, New York 14781.
Other Amenities & New This Year: Bathhouse Upgrades
Festival-goers will find a significant new amenity awaiting them in 2026: a newly constructed bathhouse featuring four private shower units, sinks, and flush toilets with full plumbing and an outdoor sink station will be available for dishwashing throughout the weekend.
“We’re looking forward to helping our guests be more comfortable,” explains Rockcastle. “It’s simple, but these simple things make a big difference.”
The Heron is a campground with safe, chlorinated drinking water, and along with the new bathhouse, there are ample porta-john facilities. Firewood and ice are for sale at the festival. Proceeds go back to the land for equipment and facility upgrades.
The Heron Farm Store is located near HQ and the Main Gate. The store is stocked with frozen meats, including grass-fed beef, heritage pork, and organic pastured chicken. There are also soups, dips, honey, maple syrup, and sometimes fresh shiitake mushrooms! Attendees can purchase burgers for their camp dinners or stock up on their way home. The farm uses regenerative and organic practices.
Recycling and waste management are high on The Heron’s list of priorities. Patrons are asked to help by sorting at the Rainbow Recycling stations, not bringing glass, “leaving no trace” behind, and bringing reusable containers to help keep this festival as sustainable as possible!
The 33rd Great Blue Heron Music Festival Lineup
Ripe • The Dip
Donna The Buffalo • Moontricks
Big Something • Bombargo
Pixie & The Partygrass Boys • Driftwood • Sneezy
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad • Sun King Warriors
The Steel Wheels • Hot Like Mars • Daniel Rodriguez
Mosaic Foundation • Smilo & the Ghost • PA Line
Root Shock • Buffalo Zydeco • Surfing For Daisy
Folkfaces & Friends • The Medicinals • Mo Mojo • Richie Stearns
Tony Camm & The All-Stars Of Funk • The Fitzkee Brothers
Funknut • Double Tiger • Lua Flora
Logan B & The Dirty Leaf • Fuzzy & The Rustbelts • Tyler Wescott
Bill Ward & The Allstars • Tiger Maple String Band
Slyboots Circus • Eastern Boys In Western Shirts • Sawa Sawa
Jackson Cavalier • Tsavo Highway • Johnny Hart & The Mess
Act Casual • Flying Object • Yetsu • Summer & Eric
The Sugar Packets • River Glen • Proper Philth
Tickets and further information: GreatBlueHeron.com
Farm store, lodging, and event info: theheron.org
###