Big Bear Lake, CA

Big Bear Yoga Festival

ConfirmedOct 2 to 4, 2026
Dates
Oct 2 to 4, 2026
Status
Confirmed
Venue
Big Bear Performing Arts Center & City Hall
Price
$149 to $189
Camping
Available
Last checked
Sep 2, 2026

Big Bear Yoga Festival returns to Big Bear Lake, CA, Oct 2 to 4, 2026. Froligo tracks current ticket prices, camping, attendee feedback and travel details.

What it stands for

The festival calls itself the longest-running yoga festival in Southern California and runs as an educational initiative of the LEAFS for Wellness Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated, in its words, to empowering the community with tools for balance, resilience and recovery. The site carries a land acknowledgement, publishes teaching resources, and each year organizes the program around a chakra theme; 2026 is Vishuddha (the throat chakra), with voice, mantra and self-expression threaded through the schedule

Worth checking before you go. San Bernardino National Forest fire restrictions are in effect June 9 through November 30, 2026: campfires and charcoal fires are allowed only in Forest Service provided fire rings or BBQs in designated recreation sites, and smoking is limited to enclosed vehicles or buildings. This covers the Serrano, Pineknot and Barton Flats campgrounds the festival suggests. Check current restrictions and any closure orders before a camping trip, and check mountain road conditions (Caltrans QuickMap) before driving up.

Checked 2026-09-02. Conditions change; recheck before you travel.

The experience

What's special

A mountain yoga festival in Big Bear Lake, California, now in a Friday-to-Sunday format around a Saturday main day at the Performing Arts Center and City Hall. Saturday runs about 60 sessions across five themed blocks (Inspiration, Expansion, Connection, Transformation, Celebration), mixing Kundalini, Yin, Hatha, Vinyasa and vocal yoga with kirtan, live handpan, a drum circle, forest bathing, craft sessions and short guided walks to outdoor class spots at the Boulders. The night closes with the After Glow yoga dance party and a three-hour InnerPeace soundbath, Sunday adds a hike, yoga and catered brunch at Pine Knot, and kids 17 and under attend free on Saturday. The 2026 theme is Vishuddha Chakra: Speak Your Truth

What people love

Attendees highlight welcoming classes, a lovely atmosphere and the live music, set against the fresh mountain air of the San Bernardino Mountains

Last time around

The 2025 festival ran as a single main day on Saturday, October 4, 2025 (9am to 11pm) at the Performing Arts Center and City Hall under the theme Anahata Chakra: Love is all around me, with yoga classes, guided activities, live music and the Vendors and Creators Villages

How attendees rate it

Based on attendee reports online
Overall

Drawn from public attendee reports and reviews, read by a person. Member star ratings will show here once enough people who went have rated it.

Outdoor class in tree pose among Jeffrey pines at Big Bear
Big Bear Yoga Festival official site

The practice

Who it's for

all levels. Everyone is welcome, with beginning, easy and introductory classes for those new to yoga alongside a wide range of classes for more experienced practitioners. Most Saturday classes run 45 to 75 minutes; several class descriptions promise modifications throughout, and some (the Kundalini workshops) provide handouts with accommodations for Deaf and hard-of-hearing participants

Kundalini

Breathwork, chanting and repeated movements aimed at energy and focus more than a workout.

Yin

Long, passive floor holds that reach deep tissue. Slow, quiet and meditative.

Hatha

Slower, foundational postures held breath by breath. The classic starting point.

Vinyasa

Flowing sequences that link breath to movement. Expect to move and sweat.

Bhakti
Yoga Nidra

Guided lying-down meditation on the edge of sleep. No movement at all.

gentle flow
Somatic Soul Flow

Slow, exploratory movement focused on how it feels rather than how it looks.

Vocal Yoga
Buddhi Yoga
Soul Yoga

Beyond the mat

  • meditation
  • guided meditation
  • sound healing
  • soundbath
  • kirtan
  • mantra and chanting
  • pranayama
  • breathwork
  • Ayurveda
  • Tai Chi
  • forest bathing
  • drum circle
  • expressive writing
  • art therapy
  • hiking
  • live music
  • handpan
  • vegetarian cooking
  • crafts (suncatchers, origami, God's Eye weaving)
  • kids yoga and family activities
  • wellness talks

Styles named as the festival itself describes them.

Accessibility & comfort

What the organiser or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.

Disability accessNeither the festival FAQ nor the venue publishes an ADA statement, but the main venue is the city's Performing Arts Center, an indoor municipal facility, with additional outdoor class areas under the pines. The festival's lodging list specifically flags Big Bear Frontier as the service animal friendly hotel option. Attendees with mobility needs should contact the festival through bigbearyogafestival.com before booking outdoor-heavy schedules
Shade & heatOutdoor class areas sit under pines (Happy Trails Under the Trees, Eagle's Nest) with indoor rooms available; October mountain sun can still be strong, and the FAQ advises hats and sunscreen
AgesAll ages welcome
ChildrenChildren are welcome; kids 17 and under attend free on Saturday with a paid, supervising adult
Standing practitioners mid-class at a Big Bear Yoga Festival indoor session
Big Bear Yoga Festival official site

Schedule

Friday1
7:30-9:30pmFriday Night Big Bear Welcome CelebrationLocal businesses, wellness teachers and creative partners
Saturday59
9-9:45amOpening CeremonyLeeza Villagomez, Joss Jaffe, RDM Studio; host Robin Bradley
9-9:45amSpecial SuncatchersStaff
10-10:45amDevi Flow Workshop: Performance, Kirtan and Dance WorkshopNilanjana Banerjee of RDM Studio, with kirtan singer Katia
10-11:45amKundalini Workshop, The Science of MantraMelissa Warwick (Dass Akal)
10-11:45amAyurveda and Yoga AwakeningDr. Christie Smirl
10-11:45amTai ChiMichael Taber of AstroTaber
10-11:45amFollow The Wisdom Of Your Heart & The Voice Of Your SoulChristine O'Hara
10-11:45amGuided Painting Art Therapy & YogaAmanda Carlin
10-11:45amSpecial Affirmation ArtStaff & Nova
10-11:45amForest Bathing Nature-Based MeditationBig Bear Retreat Center
10-11:45amVocal ActivationJoss Jaffe
11-11:45amVinyasa Flow with MusicCathleen Coombs
12-12:45pmThroat Chakra Yin Yoga: The Unspoken VoiceAmy Madrid
12-12:45pmBlue Chakra Yoga ClassNova
12-12:45pmBasic Mind, Body, Spirit IntegrationMichael Garrity (Swami Turiyananda Saraswati)
12-12:45pmVegetarian CookingElizabeth Peregrina
12-12:45pmHarmonium + Kirtan WorkshopKamini Natarajan
12-12:45pmHatha Fascia FlowGeorgina Meister
12-12:45pmEmbodied Awareness Through PranayamaBlanca Guevara-Wright
12-12:45pmLive Handpan MusicSergio Arellano
12-12:45pmSpecial Leaf RubbingsTheresa Bondurant
1-1:45pmSomatic Soul FlowLeeza Villagomez
1-1:45pmKirtan: Live MusicKamini Natarajan
1-1:45pmChakra RadianceJanet Grace Nelson
1-1:45pmLive MusicAlec Johnson
1-1:45pmSacred Sound Awakening, Mantra Meditation JourneyMadhuri Pura Prabhu
1-1:45pmA Journey Through the Chakras with Yoga NidraMichelle Soth
1-1:45pmIntro to Expressive WritingVanessa Poster
1-1:45pmIntro to Ayurveda & Creating CeremonyChristie Smirl
1-1:45pmAfternoon Tea & MeditationLa'Toya Berthil
1-1:45pmSpecial God's Eye, Ojo de DiosAllison
2-3:15pmVocal YogaAmanda Restivo
2-3:15pmBeing the Magic: When Your Vibration Becomes RealityAshley Yau
2-3:15pm13 Moons, a Yin & Hatha FlowReina Prado
2-3:15pmDrum CircleEveryone's welcome + Alec Johnson
2-3:15pmSoul Yoga: Unlock Divine Abilities, Ignite Self-Healing, Magnetize AngelsSoul Doctor Juleannji
2-3:15pmYoga Asana, Slow Down your mind to connect to the Earth + YourselfAmanda Carlin
2-3:15pmOrigamiMichael Taber of AstroTaber
2-3:15pmHatha Yoga Flow with Permaculture, Restorative Gardening & AyurvedaLily Flordeliza & Devina Horvath of Flint and Fern
2-3:15pmThe Art of Attention: A Mindful Hike + Yoga PracticeMichelle Dowd
2-3:15pmBhakti YogaJoss Jaffe
2-3:45pmWriting to HealVanessa Poster
3:30-4:45pmChant Camp: An Introduction to MantraLeeza Villagomez of YogaDen
3:30-4:45pmVoice Of Love: Channeling the Treasures & Pleasures of Your Unconditional LifeDr. Robin Bradley
3:30-4:45pmSacred CircleKatie Felt
3:30-4:45pmSpecial Mini JournalsAllison
3:30-4:45pmPure ReleaseJeannette Ali
3:30-4:45pmAngel Painting ExperienceJanet Grace
3:30-4:45pmTemple Bhajan BandTemple Bhajan Band
3:30-4:45pmHow to Surf the Tsunami of Societal ChangeRachel Heslin
5-5:45pmGentle Flow & Let It Go YogaRobbie B of Carin Yoga
5-5:45pmKundalini Yoga to Awaken the Throat ChakraMelissa Warwick (Dass Akal)
5-5:45pmDecorate a HatConni
5-5:45pmGentle Heart Chakra Flow with Live Handpan MusicTara Swoboda, music by Sergio Arellano
5-5:45pmElevation and Vibrational AlignmentKirpal
5-5:45pmSitting by the Fire: From Asana to Sacred SpaceHealing Queen
5-5:45pmHeart Opening Meditation with SoundRebecca Reyes
5:30-9:30pmAfter Glow Yoga Dance PartyIndy Rishi Singh (Cosmic MC), Waking Seed, Jeanne Iridescent (Buddhi Yoga), Chelsea Cano (Goddess Dance and Yoga), Joss Jaffe, Sacred Sounds of the Himalayas
6-9pmInnerPeace Life Experience: Mental & Physical Detox Through SoundInnerPeace (Olga and Larry)
Sunday1
11amSunday Hike, Yoga & Picnic BrunchWith Jamie and Nancy

What it costs

Day Festival: Saturday 9am-5pm$149regular; super early bird $129 closed May 3, tier 2 $139 closed Jul 31
Saturday Festival + After Glow, 9am-9pm$189regular; super early bird $169, tier 2 $179, both closed
Friday Night Big Bear Welcome Celebration, 7:30-9:30pm$59regular; super early bird $49 closed
Kids Ticket (17 and under)$0free on Saturday with a paid, supervising adult
Special Package: Friday + Saturday + Sunday Hike, Yoga + Brunch$299Friday welcome event, Saturday festival with After Glow, InnerPeace Life Experience and Sunday hike, yoga and brunch. Early-bird tiers $279/$289 closed May 3 and Jul 31.
Family Pass: 4 adult tickets$319Kids 17 and under attend free all day Saturday. Super early bird $309 closed.

Stay packages

California Sisters Big Bear Yoga Festival Retreat via Zeffy.

Festival retreat cabin, twin bed or twin bunk$350-$400
Festival retreat cabin, queen room$500 single / $750 for two
Festival retreat cabin, private king room for two$900-$950

Add-ons

Special Sunday Hike, Yoga & Picnic Brunch add-on, 11am$129
A person standing at the end of a wooden jetty at dawn, arms low and open, facing mist over a calm lake and hills.
Library image, not a photo of this festival. Photo: Kintianua. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

What to bring

A full weekend of practice is easier with your own kit. What earns its place in the bag:

Four rolled cotton yoga mats in pink, yellow, blue and blackYour own mat

Rentals sell out and shared mats are thin. Bring a grippy, cushioned mat you trust for a full weekend of practice.

Shop options
Folded grey knitted blanketA blanket

Warmth for savasana and meditation, and a folded lift for the hips in seated poses.

Shop options
Meditation Cushion
Four reusable water bottles in a rowWater and electrolytes

Vigorous flows plus dry, high-altitude air dehydrate fast.

Shop options
Stack of folded flannel shirts in blues and greensWarm layers

Studios and shade run cool between sessions even when the sun is hot.

Shop options
Recovery and comfort. A mountain-town festival at roughly 6,750 feet, with warm days, chilly evenings and dry air: layers, sunscreen, a refillable bottle and steady hydration matter more than usual. The day is long (9am to 9:30pm with the After Glow) but mostly gentle; restorative options are built in, from Yin classes and yoga nidra to the three-hour InnerPeace soundbath reset, and coat check can hold your extra layers and mat between sessions

Shop links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.

Photos: “Grey knitted blanket” by Hannah Clover, CC BY-SA 4.0. via Wikimedia Commons; “Flannels 5” by Louis Beche, CC BY 2.0. via Wikimedia Commons.

Teachers & presenters

Joss JaffeDub Mantra
Kamini NatarajanKirtan and harmonium workshop; Kirtan live music
Sergio ArellanoLive handpan music
Alec JohnsonLive music; Drum Circle
Temple Bhajan BandKirtan at Eagle's NestIndy Rishi SinghCultivating SelfWaking SeedAfter Glow: Rafi, Tachi, Amy and Vivian
Sacred SoundsSacred Sounds of the Himalayas
Leeza VillagomezYOGADEN Health SpaNilanjana BanerjeeRDM Studio
Dr. Robin BradleyOpening Ceremony host; Voice Of Love
Melissa Warwick (Dass Akal)Golden Vibrations

Plus the rest of the 59+ teachers, practitioners and speakers across the weekend.

Getting there

Nearest airport Ontario International (ONT), about a 90 minute to 2 hour mountain drive; Big Bear City Airport (L35) is general aviation only.

How do I get to Big Bear Yoga Festival?

By car
Drive from Ontario International (ONT) or the LA basinabout 1.5 hours from ONT in clear conditions, longer with mountain traffic

Ontario International is the nearest major airport, roughly 60 miles away; the usual route is I-210 to Highway 330 through Running Springs, then Highway 18 into Big Bear Lake, with Highway 38 via Redlands as the gentler alternative. The organizer advises always checking road conditions before traveling (Caltrans QuickMap at quickmap.dot.ca.gov, or Traffic and Chain Controls in the Big Bear Lake 365 app); mountain grades, weekend traffic and early season weather can stretch the drive well past the clear-conditions time

Most people drive to Big Bear Yoga Festival. The nearest major airport is Ontario International (ONT), about a 90 minute to 2 hour mountain drive; Big Bear City Airport (L35) is general aviation only, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.

By train

No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.

By bus & public transit
Mountain Transit Route 5 Off-The-Mountain (San Bernardino to Big Bear)about 1 hour 40 minutes from the San Bernardino Transit Center · $10.00 one way between San Bernardino and Big Bear

Public bus between the San Bernardino Transit Center (connections to Metrolink trains from Los Angeles, Omnitrans and Greyhound) and Big Bear, arriving at the Community Garden stop on Fox Farm Road about a mile from the venue. Runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday only, twice a day (leaves San Bernardino 10:15 am and 3:05 pm, arrives Big Bear 11:53 am and 4:43 pm), so it works for a Friday arrival but there is no off-mountain bus on Sunday for the trip home. Local Mountain Transit routes circulate within Big Bear daily

Book / info →
Taxi & rideshare

Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.

🚙 Car hire

Compare car hire at Ontario International (ONT), about a 90 minute to 2 hour mountain drive; Big Bear City Airport (L35) is general aviation only

Search car hire →

Live price search coming soon.

Where

Venue

Big Bear Performing Arts Center & City Hall

Two people practising acroyoga on the grass in a park, one balanced above the other on their raised feet.
Library image, not a photo of this festival. Photo: charliellewellin. CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Camping & Accommodation

Where can I stay near Big Bear Yoga Festival?

Budget stays 1
The Burgundy (formerly Black Forest Lodge)

41121 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, on the main boulevard near the Village. The property rebranded from Black Forest Lodge to The Burgundy in 2026; the festival FAQ's 15 percent YOGAFEST code (October 2 to 6) was issued under the old name, so confirm the code still applies when booking

Book direct →
Mid-range hotels 2
Sessions Retreat & Hotel

41421 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, about a mile east of the Performing Arts Center on the same boulevard. Festival partner: code YOGAFEST gives 15 percent off stays October 2 to 6, 2026

Book direct →
Chateau Big Bear Boutique Hotel, BW Signature Collection

42200 Moonridge Road, Big Bear Lake, in the Moonridge area a short drive east of the venue, near the zoo and Bear Mountain. Named on the festival's own lodging list (as Best Western)

Book direct →
Luxe hotels 1
Holiday Inn Resort The Lodge at Big Bear Lake

40650 Village Drive in the Village, walkable to shops and restaurants and a short distance from the Performing Arts Center. Full resort with indoor pool and spa services

Book direct →
Airbnb & private camping
Airbnb

Big Bear Lake is one of Southern California's largest cabin rental markets, and early October sits between the summer and ski peaks, so festival weekend inventory should be broad. Cabins near the Village or along Big Bear Boulevard keep you within a few minutes of the venue; Moonridge and Fawnskin add a short drive

Search Airbnb →
Hipcamp

The organizer's suggested campgrounds are the public ones: Serrano near Fawnskin (largest, RV sites, reservable on Recreation.gov), Pineknot by the Village, and Barton Flats about 30 to 40 minutes out. Hipcamp adds private land options around the valley. October nights at 6,750 feet regularly drop near or below freezing, and forest fire restrictions (in effect through November 30, 2026) limit campfires to Forest Service provided rings in designated areas

Search Hipcamp →

Pricing

2026 pricing
$149 to $189 per person
Price history and tiers
Regular pricing live on the official Zeffy checkout as of Sep 2, 2026 (both early-bird tiers have closed): Saturday day festival $149, Saturday festival + After Glow evening $189, Friday welcome celebration $59, Friday-to-Sunday Special Package $299, Family Pass (4 adults) $319, Sunday hike/yoga/brunch add-on $129. Kids 17 and under free on Saturday.
$149 Day Festival, Saturday 9am-5pm (super early bird $129 closed May 3, tier 2 $139 closed Jul 31)$189 Saturday Festival + After Glow, 9am-9pm (super early bird $169, tier 2 $179, both closed)$59 Friday Night Big Bear Welcome Celebration, 7:30-9:30pm (super early bird $49 closed)$299 Special Package: Friday + Saturday + Sunday Hike, Yoga + Brunch (super early bird $279, tier 2 $289, both closed)$319 Family Pass, 4 adult tickets (super early bird $309 closed)$129 Special Sunday Hike, Yoga & Picnic Brunch add-on, 11am$0 Kids Ticket, 17 and under free on Saturday with a paid, supervising adult
A guide only. Prices change, so confirm the current price on the official ticket page before you buy.

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