Wintergrass 2024 Festival FAQ
What is Wintergrass?
Wintergrass is an indoor, four-day, family-friendly bluegrass, Americana, roots, and acoustic music festival held in Bellevue, WA at the end of February. The festival features concerts and dances on four different stages, music education programs for kids and adults, workshops, impromptu jams, and a chance to reconnect with and make new friends. It’s an arm-wide open event. If you love music, we love you. Period.
Where is Wintergrass Located?
Wintergrass takes place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel located at 900 Bellevue Way NE in Bellevue, WA. The Hyatt has plenty of jamming space and room for four stages. Rooms at the Hyatt generally sell out months in advance.
How many days is Wintergrass?
Wintergrass is a four day event. People begin gathering for the weekend as early as Wednesday night and stay through Monday.
When do I get my ticket?
Humanitix is the Wintergrass ticket vendor. You will receive a receipt from Humanitix immediately after you purchase your ticket. Your receipt can either be printed or downloaded to your phone. We’ll scan you in at festival registration. If you lose or forget your receipt we can easily look you up. In fact, really do not worry about either a download or a printed ticket. Looking you up takes seconds.
Click here to view Humanitix tickets.
What are workshops / intensives (and do I have to pay extra)?
Festival workshops are those happening on Friday and Saturday and are included in the price of admission. They cover a variety of topics and are designed for all levels of ability. Workshops are generally an hour in length.
Intensives are in-depth workshops with limited capacity and are held on Thursday. In 2025 a wide array of full day and half day Intensives will be available. The cost for each three hour session is $65. Intensives are not included in the price of a festival ticket.
What is your refund policy?
Wintergrass will not issue any refunds for any reason in 2025. However, if you cannot use your ticket for any reason, you may resell the ticket within the Humanitix platform by clicking this link: https://tixel.com/music-ticket
This is the ONLY way to ensure you and your new ticket buyer are assured of a safe, legitimate transaction. You do not have to contact the festival. Using the Tixel link makes sure you are selling a legit ticket and the buyer is buying a legit ticket without inflating prices and adding ridiculous fees. Both the festival and Humanitix are looking out for you.
If I don't use my ticket for this year, can I "roll it over" to use at next year's festival?
No.
Where are the events located?
Wintergrass 2025 will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
As always, workshops, dances and shows will take place at four stages and multiple meeting rooms at the Hyatt.
Click here to see a floor plan of the Hyatt Regency’s function spaces.
What times are the shows?
Festival registration opens at 8:30am on Thursday for the Youth Education program. NEW this year: Intensives start at 10 am on Thursday. Morning Intensives are 10-1 pm. Afternoon Intensives are 2-5 pm. Shows begin at 5:30pm on Thursday. Workshops begin as early as 8:30am on Friday. Shows begin on Friday on the Grand and Evergreen stages around 1:00pm and on the remaining stages after 6pm. Workshops start as early as 8:30am on Saturday, with shows on most stages starting up as early as 1pm. Shows start at 10:30am on Sunday and end by 5pm.
What type of music is played at the Festival?
While Wintergrass is primarily a bluegrass music festival, you’ll hear plenty of other styles of acoustic music including Americana, roots, 0ld-time, Swedish polskas, Quebecois, Gypsy jazz, Celtic and many more types of acoustic string music. Jam sessions reflect the diversity of styles with young and old alike participating in every nook and cranny. Don’t be shy! Don’t leave home without your instrument. The festival maintains a convenient Instrument Check room so that you can safely stash your instrument while you enjoy shows.
Do you have Reserved seating?
Seating is first come, first served. There is one small reserved seating section in the Grand set aside for patrons who donate $3500 or more each year.
Where do I park and how much does it cost?
Hyatt self-parking is free on weekends or if you leave after 8PM on a weekday. If you stay at the hotel you will be charged $20 per day for parking. The best info on parking in Bellevue is at the Parkopedia Web Site. This link will show you parking lot locations and fees close to the Hyatt.
I've never been to Bellevue before. Where can I get information on the city?
Here are two fine resources for info about Bellevue:
Are there any good restaurants in the area?
There are a lot of restaurants within easy walking distance of Wintergrass. Really, a lot. Many of them serve food well past midnight. Almost all also do take-out or delivery. There are also several great grocery stores all within blocks of the hotel. Bellevue is a very busy place. We suggest making dinner reservations before you even arrive in town.
What is your COVID policy?
In 2025 we will continue to abide by King County and CDC recommendations at the time of the festival. We all know COVID has been a slippery little devil, so we will continue to pay attention. We’ll be as generous and open as health recommendations allow.
Wintergrass is a production of Acoustic Sound, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. EIN: 91-2103544
all photos copyright Maria Camillo