On the road again

Fall music festivals: more intimate. more comfortable. closer to home.

Leave behind the heat, the hype and the horde of the massive summer music and camping festivals.
Autumn is here, with music festivals that cater to those who prefer all that overblown hoopla
to be dialed down a notch or two. 

Pitch your tent. Spark your campfire. Put on your dancing shoes. There’s a festival just down the way.

STONE RIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL

Stone River Music Festival, the weekend campout and Oklahoma music showcase now in its fifth year, was not the result of any grand plan, years in the making. It was born with a simple, off-hand remark.

“Me and some friends were all out at my dad’s land in Chandler,” said Tulsa guitarist and bandleader Dustin Pittsley. “Somebody said, ‘You know, this would make a great place for a music festival.’ My dad heard that, and a couple days later he started building a stage, just for the hell of it. 

“We never actually decided to have a festival, but now we had a stage, and it just eventually progressed to a point that we said, ‘Well, I guess we’re doing this.’”

Pittsley invited around 15 Tulsa bands that first year, most of which generously waived their normal fees to get the event off the ground. A few hundred people showed up. Then a few hundred more the next year, and a few hundred more the next year. Last year’s fest drew around a thousand people, and Pittsley said he expects that number to rise by a few hundred this year, just like always. 

“It’s like a big family reunion,” said Pilgrim front-man Beau Roberson, who has performed at the festival each year since its inception. “A lot of us have played together for so long, but don’t get to see each other as much anymore for whatever reason. This is the time every year that we get everyone in one place.” 

That family-reunion vibe doesn’t apply only to the camaraderie among the musicians and patrons, Pittsley said. 

“The whole thing is very family-friendly,” he said. “Sure, there’s people drinking and having a good time, but nothing crazy is happening. We have the camping area sectioned off, so there’s a place for families and people who want a quiet place to camp. Then there’s the other side, where you’ll find the late-night campfire jams.”

The music kicks off on Friday around dusk and goes until about midnight. On Saturday, music starts at noon and goes until around 1 a.m.

“We start out with some acoustic or bluegrass type music, then it gradually gets louder and louder as the day progresses,” Pittsley said. “We’ll do a big family jam on Saturday night. It always turns into the biggest jam you’ve ever seen—20 people on the stage.”

To close out the festival on Sunday, Tom Skinner plays a gospel set from noon to 2 p.m., calling musicians onstage at random to sing songs with him. “It’s one of my favorite parts of the weekend, every year,” Pittsley said.

Stone River Music Festival

Sept. 19-21 | Chandler, Okla.

Lineup: Dustin Pittsley Band, Hosty Duo, Red Dirt Rangers, Don White, Paul Benjaman, Wink Burcham, Beau Roberson, Desi & Cody, Tom Skinner, Randy Crouch, and many, many more

Don’t miss: The “Family Jam” on Saturday night, featuring pretty much all the musicians—or as many as will fit on the stage at a time

Vibe: Family friendly campout. Bring chairs or blankets, bring a cooler, and bring a general attitude of fun, fellowship and music appreciation

Tickets: Weekend pass is $35; day passes start at $20

Travel time: About an hour

For your info: Don’t forget to bring cash. Food trucks and other vendors will accept cash only, and the nearest ATM is about three miles away. More info at stonerivermusicfestival.com

FALL FESTIVALS: THE BEST OF THE REST

Walnut Valley Festival

Sept. 17-21 | Winfield, KS

Lineup: Bill Barwick, Bettman & Halpin, Bluestem, The Boxcars, Roz Brown and many more

Don’t miss: The competitions. All weekend, Stage 4 features national and international championships in flat-pick guitar, mandolin, mountain dulcimer, old-time fiddle 

Vibe: ULTRA family friendly—as in, plenty of folks actually hold their family reunions at the festival. Arts, activities and more for all ages.

Camping: Yes, included with full festival pass

Tickets: Full festival (5-day pass) is $95 at the gate; day pass prices vary

Travel time: 2 hours 15 min.

For your info: See a full rundown of festival rules, activities, workshops and more at WVFest.com

Illinois River Jam

Sept. 19-20 | Tahlequah, OK

Lineup: John Moreland, Samantha Crain, Travis Linville, Electric Rag Band, Ramsay Midwood and many more

Don’t miss: John Moreland—perhaps Oklahoma’s greatest current songwriter—Saturday at 9 p.m.

Vibe: Celebration of songwriters; family friendly (kids under 13 admitted free); coolers and cookouts on the banks of the Illinois

Camping: Yes, included in ticket price

Tickets: At the gate—weekend pass $50, Saturday-only pass $30

Travel time: 1 hour 15 min.For your info: Call ahead to reserve an RV or electric spot. More at IllinoisRiverJam.com

Elektrik Prairie Music Experience

Sept. 25-27 | Stillwater, OK

Lineup: Waka Flocka Flame, Riff Raff, DJ Rhiannon and many more

Don’t miss: [Can we be honest here? We have no idea. Don’t miss a thing!]

Vibe: Indoor rave-type atmosphere, geared toward college kids who like to dance. Not a good destination for the family.

Tickets: Two-day passes start at $55

Travel time: 1 hour 15 min.

For your info: See a list of VIP parties, pre-parties, after-parties, side-parties and other related parties at elektrikprairie.com

Byrdfest

Sept. 26-27 | Ozark, AR

Lineup: Mostly tribute bands—The Schwag (Grateful Dead), Mom’s Kitchen (Widespread Panic), Moonlight Drive (The Doors), and many more

Don’t miss: The triumphant return of Schwag front-man Jimmy Tebeau

Vibe: Byrd’s adventure center is an 800-acre campground with a zip line and 3 miles of Mulberry River waterfront available for swimming and canoeing

Camping: Yes, included in ticket price

Tickets: $60 for the weekend or $35 for Saturday only

Travel time: 2 hours 45 min.For your info: Despite its hippie exterior, the organizers urge attendees to refrain the sale and consumption of drugs, so keep it clean out there. More at byrdfest.com

Groovefest

Sept. 28 | Norman, OK

Lineup: Tequila Songbirds, Nowhere Band, Culture Cinematic Space Dog and many more

Don’t miss: Frequent Tulsa visitors Kyle Reid and the Low Swingin’ Chariots

Vibe: A relaxing, family-friendly Sunday afternoon in the park. Groovefest is dedicated to raising awareness of human rights issues around the world, and will feature speakers and arts performers between music acts

Camping: Nope. One day only, last act goes on at 8 p.m.

Tickets: No tickets. Free for all.

Travel time: 2 hours

For your info: Learn about the history of Groovefest and the organizations it benefits at groovefest.org

Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival

Oct. 2-4 | Guthrie, OK

Lineup: Dailey & Vincent, The Cleverlys, Jeff Scoggins & Colorado, April Verch and many more

Don’t miss: Japanese bluegrass band Blue Side of Lonesome 

Vibe: Family friendly; kids 12 and under admitted free, and the Children’s Tent hosts crafts, performers from the main stage, a youth band competition and more

Vendors: Expect fair-type food (steak sandwiches, corn dogs, etc.)

Camping: Available on a first-come, first-serve basis

Tickets: $80 for all 3 days, $30-$40 per day; available at the gate

Travel time: 1 hour 45 min.

For your info: No pets allowed except service animals and pets contained in RVs; bring your own seating. More at oibf.com

Peace Love & Goodwill Festival

Oct. 4 | Oklahoma City 

Lineup: Delta Rae, Tony Lucca, Graham Colton, Charlie Mars and many more

Don’t miss: 10-year-old singer Olivia Kay

Vibe: Set up in the beautiful Myriad Botanical Gardens and Park in downtown OKC, the event aims to showcase the best in local and regional music, food, art and culture

Tickets: General admission is free, no ticket necessary, but Preferred and VIP tickets are available if you want some extra access

Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes

For your info: Learn more about all the musicians, chefs, artists and other participants at peacelovegoodwill.org 

Harvest Music Festival

Oct. 16-18 | Ozark, AR

Lineup: Yonder Mountain String Band, Trampled By Turtles, Railroad Earth, The Jayhawks and many more

Don’t miss: The haunting melodies and soulful rhythms of Colorado quintet Elephant Revival

Vibe: The biggest festival on this list, but still small enough to qualify as comfortable. Family-friendly, up to a point—in other words, you might see some folks giggling uncontrollably at nothing in the wee hours

Camping: Yes, included in ticket price. VIP and RV camping available

Tickets: Full pass is $145; day passes available

Travel time: 2 hours 15 min.

For your info: More at YonderHarvestFestival.com

PRO TIPS: FESTIVAL CHECKLIST

Beacons. Depending on the size of the fest, it’s best to stay visible. Mark your campground with a tall flag. And carry a noticeable item wherever you go (I prefer a large inflatable banana myself). Always find your home and your friends easily.

Toilet paper. Better yet—baby wipes. Enough said.

Gold Bond Medicated Powder. I’m not sure if this is a men-only thing. I just know I’d never go to a festival without it. In a pinch, corn starch is a fine substitute. 

Socks. Pack more than you need. Then double it. Of all the articles of clothing that could ruin your weekend in the event of nasty weather, socks win.

Always remember: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. I’ve done it. I’ve seen it. Happens every time. Someone gets so excited the first night, they party a little too hard and spend the rest of the weekend a sickly, buzzkilling blob of goo. Don’t be that person.