www.greatblueheron.com

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.

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!

Tickets and further information: www.greatblueheron.com

Farm store, lodging, and event info: theheron.org