There is no place like WinterWonderGrass. From February 21-23, 2020, the idyllic Steamboat Springs transformed into a nesting place for bluegrass and outdoor-lovers to congregate. Hosted at 6,700’ in the Rockies, WinterWonderGrass brought more than 25 bands and 20 local craft breweries together for a weekend that bursts at the seams with magic.The festival itself comes from humble beginnings. Like, teeny tiny parking lot humble beginnings. Since coming to fruition, yes, in a parking lot eight years ago, WinterWonderGrass now calls major ski resorts across the country home, always kicking off the 3-stop tour in Steamboat Springs. This most recent trip around the sun resulted in a beautiful lineup. Headliners included Greensky Bluegrass, Billy Strings and Margo Price. And with performances by Keller & the Keels, Della Mae, Travelin’ McCourys, Nikki Lane, Molly Tuttle, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Bluegrass Generals (Chris Pandolfi & Andy Hall of The Infamous Stringdusters), ALO, Lindsay Lou, Pickin’ on the Dead, Che Apalache, Cris Jacobs, Twisted Pine, Jon Stickley Trio, Meadow Mountain, Jay Roemer Band, Buffalo Commons and Bowregard, Andy Thorn, Jennifer Hartswick, Bridget Law, Pappy Biondo, and Will Mosheim, there was no shortage of special guests, either. This obscene amount of talent begged collaboration. More on that later.
Each day began by taking full advantage of Steamboat’s Champagne® Powder. The term was coined 70 years ago to describe the unique quality of Steamboat’s snow. Light and fluffy yet miraculously dry, Champagne® Powder offers skiers and riders alike an unforgettable on-mountain experience. And look out! You may just ride up the gondy with one of your favorite bluegrass musicians, or stumble into a pop-up show on the Sun Basher deck thanks to WinterWonderGrass. Next up, pack your reusable cup and head down to the festival grounds for free beer tasting from 2-5pm. As a part of WinterWonderGrass’ mission to be waste-free, each attendee is provided with a branded eco-friendly cup to use onsite. Additionally, Waste-Free Earth volunteers assist in sorting garbage, compost and recycling with the ultimate goal of diverting landfill waste. It works! In 2018, WinterWonderGrass kept 23,090 pounds of festival waste out of landfills.Now on to the music. Here are our highlights from the weekend:Public Picks: Pappy Biondo and Will Mosheim filled The Steamboat Grand with songs throughout the weekend, encouraging fans to bring their instruments for spontaneous group jams. Women of WonderGrass: The bluegrass circuit is notorious for male-dominated lineups, but WinterWonderGrass is determined to squash that. The festival highlighted some of our favorite women on the scene—Della Mae, Lindsay Lou, and Molly Tuttle—and appointed Margo Price to close down the house on Sunday. One of our favorite moments was watching Price share the stage with Billy Strings for a twangy rendition of Janis Joplin‘s “Move Over.”Growing, Together: WinterWonderGrass nurtures its talent, and Billy Strings is a prime example of just that. In previous years, Strings played at WWG’s smaller stages, which are typically reserved for up-and-comers. But this year, the band joined Greensky Bluegrass and Margo Price as headliners. The festival’s founder, Scotty Stoughton, acknowledged the milestone by giving the boys a warm introduction. 
Greensky Bluegrass closes down night one of WinterWondergrass. Pictured: Paul Hoffman on the mandolin.
“We are not about any one band, any one person – we are a collection of community-minded artists, brewers, snow riders and environmentalists focused on creating a pallet where all can explore, connect and thrive.”
From its impressive bill of talent to bold environmental initiatives, WinterWonderGrass is a special breed of festival that injects authenticity and community into every facet of the perfectly-curated experience. Indeed, there is no place like WinterWonderGrass. Ready to plan your trip for next year? Visit the WinterWonderGrass website to get started.