Nelsonville Music Festival
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| Nelsonville Music Festival | |
|---|---|
| Genre | soul, acoustic, country, folk, psychedelic, bluegrass, jam bands, rock and more |
| Location(s) | Nelsonville, Ohio United States |
| Years active | 2005–2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Founders | Stuart's Opera House |
| Website | Official website |
The Nelsonville Music Festival is an annual four-day music festival located at Snow Fork near Nelsonville, Ohio. The event in Southeastern Ohio takes place in July and features a variety of musical genres and includes local, regional, national and international artists. The weekend celebration includes local food and artisans as well as a campground for both primitive and RV camping. The festival also provides activities for children and strives to be environmentally friendly.[1][2][3]
The first Nelsonville Music Festival was held on July 23, 2005 on the square in the downtown Nelsonville Historic Arts District in Nelsonville, Ohio.[1] The first event included six bands and a crowd of around 750 people,[4] as well as artisans from the region. The festival is produced by Stuart's Opera House, a historic non-profit theatre. All proceeds of the event go towards keeping Stuart's Opera House in operation.[5] The festival was started as an opportunity to bring more people to Nelsonville and served as revitalization of the arts district.[4] The second and third year, the festival was held in a field behind Rocky Boots, a popular shoe outlet headquartered in the town.[1] After three years as a one-day event, the festival was expanded to become a three-day event and was moved to the Historic Village of Robbins Crossing at Hocking College. The festival has since added a fourth day and expanded to feature more than 60 bands and a crowd of upwards of 7,000 in 2014.[2]
Features
Stages
Performance areas include the Main Stage, the Porch Stage, the Boxcar Stage, the Camp Stage and the No-Fi Cabin, which is located inside of a small, historic, one-room schoolhouse with no electricity.[4] The performers at the No-Fi Cabin play acoustic sets for a small audience of less than 100 people.[2]
Vendors
Vendors at the event include local and regional artisans, food, and workshops. There is a food court on site, as well as a beer garden.[6] Locally grown organic food is available as well as handmade drums, jewelry, art, and soap.[4] Students of Hocking College have the opportunity to sell their own artwork and crafts.[3]
Environmentalism
Partnered with Rural Action, the festival strives to be zero waste by implementing recycling, composting, and education.[2] Reusable cups are available for one dollar, which can be used for beer or free water. Attendees can refill their water bottle or cup at a provided station equipped with a water filtration device.[3][4]
Children's activities
The festival offers free passes to children 12 and under. Teens 13-17 can purchase a discounted ticket. There are numerous activities available for children, including an area for children to listen to and create their own music and musical instruments, and puppets for a puppet parade. There is a kids stage which features workshops and performances all three days of the festival and a project for a community mural.[2][4]
Volunteers
Anyone over the age of 18 may volunteer to work at the festival, though there is currently a waiting list. Eight hours of volunteering will earn a weekend pass to the festival. Volunteers may work in several areas, including: admissions, art vendors, camping, recycling, merchandise, volunteer check-in, ground control, greeter/information area, floaters, and more. [6]
