High Sierra Music Festival
- Dates
- Jul 1 to 4, 2027
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Nevada County Fairgrounds
- Price
- Not announced
- Camping
- Available
- Last checked
- Nov 3, 2026
High Sierra Music Festival returns to Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, CA, Jul 1 to 4, 2027. Froligo tracks ticket prices, camping, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
High Sierra Music Festival is a four-day music festival that in 2026 was held at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, California. Its outdoor stages include the Main Stage, the Vaudeville Pavilion and the Far Out Amphitheatre, and late-night High Sierra Music Hall shows and Troubadour Sessions continue indoors after the outdoor music ends. The festival's program also includes a Family Village, parades and a band contest.
How it works
The outdoor stages run from about 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. each day, and late-night shows continue indoors afterwards, with entry to the High Sierra Music Hall a separate ticketed event. Camping is included with a camping ticket and is first come, first served, with early entry for FestivALL Pass holders. In 2026, day parking was $10 per vehicle, an Express Lot with shuttle for the weekend was $25 per vehicle, and a festival-long shuttle pass for off-site guests was $25. A festival wristband allows in and out privileges, and pets are not allowed, though service animals are welcome.
Who it suits
The festival offers kids passes for ages 5 to 12 and teen passes, with children aged 4 and under admitted free. It also has an ADA RV area, ADA parking and camping, and one companion allowed with ADA patrons in accessible viewing areas.
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Listen
No official playlist linked yet. Find High Sierra Music Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Getting there
Nearest airport SMF.
How do I get to High Sierra Music Festival?
By car
Most people drive to High Sierra Music Festival. The nearest major airport is SMF, 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 serves Grass Valley or Nevada City. The nearest Amtrak access point is Auburn station, ~23 miles south, reachable only via Nevada County Connects Route 5 (weekday bus, see above), there is no same-ticket through-booking between Auburn and the venue. Auburn itself is served by Amtrak Thruway motorcoach connecting into the Capitol Corridor rail network at Sacramento, not a direct long-haul rail platform.
Book / infoBy bus & public transit
Local fixed-route bus connecting Grass Valley/Nevada City to Auburn, CA (~23 miles south / ~52-minute trip, 26 stops), where it meets Placer County Transit, Auburn Transit, Sacramento Light Rail connections, and Amtrak Thruway motorcoach service. This is the only genuine scheduled bus service touching the venue's home towns, it is NOT a Sacramento-to-Grass Valley or SMF-to-venue connector; it only closes the Grass Valley-to-Auburn gap. Route 5 runs Monday-Friday only (no weekend service), so it only helps on a weekday arrival day, not for a typical Fri-Sun festival stretch.
Book / infoFestival shuttle
Nevada County Airporter runs on-demand door-to-door shuttle service between Nevada County (Grass Valley/Nevada City) and SMF, RNO, SFO, and OAK, 7 days a week (closed Thanksgiving/Christmas Eve/Christmas Day). This is the realistic fly-in option for attendees without a car, it is NOT operated or officially partnered with High Sierra Music Festival.
Book / infoSunrise Shuttle serves the greater Sacramento region including Grass Valley and Alta Sierra, with transport to/from SMF, SFO, and OAK. Also not affiliated with the festival.
Book / infoOfficial festival shuttle for attendees staying off-site (hotels/Airbnb/VRBO) and for camping attendees who want to get into town. NOT an airport shuttle, it runs between off-site lodging/downtown and the fairgrounds gates during the festival.
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
At SMF itself, Uber/Lyft pickup is confined to designated 'Ride App Pickup Zone' areas (3 of them) plus a regulated taxi stand, standard airport process, no curbside hailing. This covers the airport-local trip only
Book / infoTaxis 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.
🅿 Parking
Cost {'day_parking': '$10 per vehicle, paid upon arrival (no overnight parking)', 'express_lot_weekend': '$25 per vehicle for the entire festival weekend'}. Two separate vehicle staging/parking areas, assigned by vehicle pass type: Railway Field (11624 Auburn Rd, Grass Valley) and the Express Lot at Sierra College, Nevada County Campus (250 Sierra College Dr, Grass Valley, same address as the Main Box Office). No vehicle entry into the fairgrounds itself until gates officially open Thursday 8am; anyone arriving after 12pm Thursday is routed straight to the Main Box Office for check-in first, and no walk-in/cyclist entry is allowed before 10am Thursday either.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at SMF
If you are hiring a car, it is worth checking parking near the venue before you go.
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Where
Venue
The venue has its own page with capacity, accessibility and parking.
Camping & Accommodation
Is there camping at High Sierra Music Festival?
Yes, on site camping is available.
Camping site types 2
Included with all multi-day tickets on a first-come-first-served basis (no extra charge), matches the live file's camping.types 'car' entry. Car camping lets you park next to your tent. Shady Grove/Big Meadow areas are within walking distance of the stages, and Camp 70 accommodates both tents and RVs together.
On site RV camping includes full hookup sites and a limited 30 amp area known as Sierra Skies. Hookup prices are shown as add ons at checkout. Grass Valley RV Resort sits directly across the street with 148 paved full hookup sites, a pool, spa, showers and wifi, bookable on its own or through the festival's Grass Valley Resort RV family package.
Not camping? Where to stay
Budget stays 2
Mid-range hotels 2
≈ $138-190 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Book directTreat yourself 1
Where can I stay near High Sierra Music Festival?
Search all hotels near Nevada County Fairgrounds
Show hotels on a map
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Entry rules
Accessibility & comfort
The organizer does not publish accessibility details. Ask them directly before you travel about step-free access, accessible toilets, seating and anything else you need.
Pricing
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Quick answers
When is High Sierra Music Festival 2027?
Jul 1 to 4, 2027
Where is High Sierra Music Festival held?
Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, CA.