After 25 years at the Plumas County Fairgrounds in Quincy, High Sierra Music Festival is relocating to the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, California. The fest will run July 2–5, 2026 and promises the same multi-stage programming — plus better hotel and transport options for attendees and crews. Read more on JamBase.
Nevada County Fairgrounds sits about 2.5 hours from the Bay Area, 90 minutes from Reno and roughly an hour from Sacramento. Organizers say the move gives the festival access to over 1,000 nearby hotel rooms, additional RV parks and more sustainable logistics while keeping staples like late-night Music Hall shows, Artist Playshops, Troubadour Sessions, Silent Disco and Sunrise Kickball intact.
“It’s been four losing years in a row. We’ve just run out of rope.”
— HSMF producer Dave Margulies (via The Plumas Sun)
Festival At-a-Glance
- Festival: High Sierra Music Festival
- Location: Grass Valley, California
- Venue: Nevada County Fairgrounds
- Dates: July 2–5, 2026
- Tickets: General admission and new VIP/RV/Hotel packages on sale now
Organizer Dave Margulies said the change was driven by pandemic-era declines in ticket sales and a need to restructure for long-term sustainability. Passes and upgraded FestivALL VIP options — including hotel shuttle packages and VIP viewing areas — are available now. Details: JamBase coverage.
Source: https://www.jambase.com/article/high-sierra-music-festival-new-location-2026