Did you know Annapolis is home to a 2026 Event of the Year nominee from the International Bluegrass Music Association? That’s right! The Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival is right around the corner.
Taking place September 19 and 20 at Sandy Point State Park, the two-day festival is a vibrant celebration of music, community and conservation.
The festival was created with a simple goal in mind: Every jam heals the Bay. Baygrass promotes mental health awareness while supporting efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay. Its mission is to bring a unique, environmentally friendly music festival to Naptown while educating attendees and supporting the well-being of both the community and the Bay.
The festival partners with leading nonprofit organizations that connect attendees with information and resources through workshops, educational experiences, exhibits, vendor booths and more. Baygrass has also partnered with VA WAY, a nonprofit founded by Army veteran John Way that champions mental health awareness and advocacy.
The Music Lineup
If Noah Kahan, Mumford & Sons, or Jason Isbell have made their way onto your playlist, Baygrass might be your chance to venture a little deeper into the world of folk, roots and bluegrass. Today’s folk revival has helped bring banjos and roots-driven music back into the mainstream, while artists like those playing Baygrass have been stretching the boundaries of bluegrass for decades.
Headlining this year’s festival is Little Feat, the legendary American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1969. The group’s music blends blues, rock, funk, jazz and country.
Yonder Mountain String Band, which originated in Nederland, Colorado, will also take the stage. The band’s 2022 album, Get Yourself Outside, was nominated for a 2023 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.
Another highlight is Béla Fleck, an acclaimed American banjo player who has won 14 Grammy Awards and received 41 nominations. He’ll be joined by Sam Bush, a renowned mandolinist regarded as one of the originators of progressive bluegrass music.
Other artists include Mountain Grass Unit, Tophouse, Shadowgrass, Scythian, Sister Sadie, Fireside Collective and more.
Sustainability
Baygrass aims to reduce its environmental impact through a variety of sustainability initiatives.
Working with local food providers and vendors, the festival does not sell single-use plastic water bottles. Instead, water stations are available for guests to refill their own bottles. Aluminum cups are used for on-site beverages, and all food and beverage vendors are required to use certified compostable products.
In 2025, the festival recycled 24,000 oyster shells, allowing approximately the same number of new oysters to be planted and grown in the Bay. It also eliminated 18,000 plastic water bottles, served 500 pounds of invasive blue catfish, repurposed 369 empty liquor bottles and collected 50 cubic yards of compost and recycling.
KidZone
Baygrass is designed to be fun for the whole family, with a dedicated KidZone offering activities each day.
Saturday activities include ribbon crafts, sand art, paper plate ocean crafts and sailing shoe boats. Sunday features bubble-wrap jellyfish and octopus crafts, clay creations, sea-creature crafts made from recycled materials, nature-resist tie-dye and a little fiddle workshop.
Kids can also enjoy games such as ping-pong, cornhole, Frisbee and more.
Tickets
The Friday pre-party at Maryland Hall runs from 6:30 to 11 p.m., with tickets priced at $21.
Saturday general admission passes are $161 for adults, while a two-day general admission pass is $273. For kids ages 6-15, a Saturday pass is $48 and a two-day pass is $89. Children 5 and younger are free.
Annapolis Moms readers can save 10% on tickets by using code Moms10 at checkout.
On-site parking is free, and the festival offers a complimentary shuttle to and from the parking lot. Sandy Point State Park charges a $5-per-person, per-day facility use fee.
Looking to upgrade your experience? VIP passes include chef-prepared hot meals each day, dedicated parking and entrance, backstage VIP experiences, access to a hospitality pavilion, dedicated concert viewing areas, exclusive performances in the VIP Village, VIP bars with discounted prices, a $20 merchandise credit and more.
Saturday VIP passes are $317, while a two-day VIP pass is $609.
For a full overview of ticket options, head to their website!
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