Lakes Bluegrass Festival
August 23 - 27, 2023
August 23 - 27, 2023
August 23 - 27, 2023
This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Five Wings Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
The Lakes Bluegrass Festival is funded in part by Sourcewell.
Future Dates
Mark your calendars for the future Lakes Bluegrass Festival Dates. (It's always the weekend BEFORE Labor Day weekend)
2023: August 23 – 27
2024: August 21 – 25
2025: August 20 – 23
The Lakes Bluegrass Festival Returning to Pine River in August for its 17th Year
Come see us at our beautiful new festival site!
The Lakes Bluegrass Festival presents nationally known, regional, and local bluegrass bands, that provide over 40 hours of professional main stage entertainment, hands-on workshops, jam sessions, a dance and more during a five-day musical event in picturesque Pine River, Minnesota. The event is hosted and sponsored by the Pine River Area Foundation (PRAF) a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The mission of the Pine River Area Foundation (PRAF) is to support, promote, and enhance the economic environment and quality of life of the greater Pine River area. Our vision is to enhance opportunities for artistic presentations, and growth in an under-served community, while celebrating diversity and encouraging cross-demographic collaboration.
The festival is held at the new Lakes Music and Events Park at 2591 N. Bluegrass Blvd SW, Backus, MN 56435, less than one mile north of the old location at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Pine River.
We have been coming to the festival for the past 4 years. We always tie our annual vacation at Gull Lake to the festival so that we are able to spend a couple of days of vacation listening to Blue Grass. Had we known about the festival prior to 4 years ago, we would have been front and center.
I have attended MBOTMA, SPBGMA and independent bluegrass festivals all around the state since 1982. I have also attended many out of state festivals in Wisconsin, Georgia, Florida and Bean Blossom, Indiana. Without question, this is the premier bluegrass festival in Minnesota. All of the Lakes Bluegrass Festivals have brought top rated bluegrass bands to our area. And this is one of the few festivals in Minnesota that features entirely bluegrass music.
Lakes Bluegrass festival, WOW, what a wonderful event. We have been attending the festival since it started 14 years ago and are excited for the coming years to come at our new events park. We come to the festival for fun, music, friends, entertainment and it is a lot closer than the festivals out east. Lakes Festival is smaller than some but is huge in entertainment with some of the best bands to offer. We have always been a fan of bluegrass music and have played in bands ourselves. There are many workshops during the festival teaching, instruments, vocals, songwriting and the tradition of Bluegrass music. We are trying to get the young people involved to carry it on. The festival is very family orientated. It also brings many people to the community and is a huge learning and financial impact to the area. Looking forward to our new site next year.
My wife and I come to the Lakes Festival to hear good Bluegrass music, to reconnect with old friends, and make new ones. And to jam in the campground. (I play banjo.) Also, events like this are the only ones I know of where the fans can actually meet and talk with the band members, at their merchandise table or elsewhere on the grounds.