Where the Magic Happens

Bear Music Festival takes place at the Lair of the Golden Bear, a summer camp complete with cabins, dining halls, swimming pools, and hiking trails. You can choose a cabin at Camp Blue and party into the wee hours of the morning, or snag a spot at the quieter Camp Gold if sleep is something you happen to enjoy.

Picture this: an enormous yellow moon hanging in the sky, foregrounded by towering pine trees lit up like technicolor sentinels in the darkness. The sounds of music and laughter floating up from a rustic log-hewn lodge, and an inflatable flamingo drifting across the steamy surface of a swimming pool below. This is the magic of arriving at Bear Music Fest.

"Where the hell am I?" - This was the thought that kept scrawling through my mind as I stood there in the moonlight, taking in the singular scene that was the eve of Bear Music Fest."

Taking the scenic route from Camp Gold to Camp Blue, you'll discover a festival that's been thoughtfully designed as a summer camp, house party, and music festival all rolled into one. By the time you've spent three short days at the Lair, Bear Music Fest will already come to feel like home - a feeling shared by first-timers and returning attendees alike, a testament to the unique community this festival has cultivated since its beginning in 2016.

Not Just Another Music Festival

What truly sets Bear Music Festival apart is its deliberately intimate scale. Since its inaugural event in 2016, BMF has focused on musicians chosen for talent rather than fame. Here, you'll have the chance to see every act at least once over the course of the weekend.

The festival transforms the summer camp into a series of unique performance spaces, allowing for everything from energetic stage shows to intimate acoustic sets around campfires. One night, you might find yourself gathered with an all-ages crowd around a fire, immersed in the Q Brothers' captivating hip-hop adaptation of Othello.

A True Community Experience

BMF attracts people who are adventurous enough to trek out into the woods for a weekend and open-minded enough to be excited about a lineup of musicians they probably haven't heard of. These are people who long to find themselves sharing stories alongside fellow humans, away from screens and notifications.

The festival welcomes families with small children, friend groups in their twenties and forties alike, couples both newlywed and newly retired, solo travelers, and everyone in-between. There's no hierarchy of artists, guests, and staff; no posturing or judgment.

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Just good people finding connection.

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At BMF, you can discover your new favorite musician and share a meal with them later that night. You can strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you and know you're going to find something in common. You can sit in comfortable silence with new friends as you watch the sun set over the mountains.

Beyond the Music

While the music is not to be missed, BMF offers so much more.

Take time to hike over to a beautiful Alpine lake or participate in a songwriting workshop hosted by Music2Life.

Spend the evening enjoying live band karaoke or cruising around in the BMF shuttle bus (affectionately called "Bertha") singing with new friends.

Don't forget to print out important information before arriving—cell service is spotty, and your phone might meet with unexpected adventures. (It may or may not get run over by a golf cart.)

Looking Ahead

Bear Music Festival may have started in 2016, but it's already established a clear identity. We don't want to grow it size-wise—it's pretty good as is. Our vision is to make it more sustainable and potentially create another Bear Music Fest on the east coast, bringing the same intimate, special experience to new audiences.

This teeny little music festival in California has something really unique and special about it. The amazing connections between artists and audience in this intimate, small setting in the middle of nature is truly magical—like a dream come true.