Sharing things you love with the people you love is one of life’s greatest joys. It kind of goes together like Chesapeake chicken and beef lo mein. Or bluegrass music and beachside views.
At Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival this past September, my family and I were treated to all of the above as fans from across the country gathered on the sunny shores of Sandy Point State Park to celebrate great music, awesome vibes, tasty food, and beautiful views.
As my first time attending, I didn’t know what to expect from the up and coming bluegrass festival. And while I was familiar with the venue, I was totally blown away by how they transformed it.
Day 1 – Smooth Entry, Guardians of the Bay, & Immaculate Shredding
Easy Entries & Friendly Staff
Driving into the grounds of Sandy Point State Park, we were greeted by waves from park officials and festival staff, happily pointing us along our way to the VIP lot.
Finding a spot within minutes, we packed up our wagon, loaded up our two y/o, and set off on our way to experience the magic of Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival.
Arriving at the gates/VIP check-in, we were met with no line and even more friendly faces who were just as excited as we were about our arrival at the festival. No box office drama to be found anywhere in sight, we were quickly given our credentials and welcomed onto the grounds.
Parent-Friendly Kidzone
First stop was sand castles at the Kidzone where the vibes were immaculate. Right on the water, with a great view of the stage, I joked (maybe one too many times) that the festival’s Kidzone was “parent-friendly.”
Being able to sit down in a non-crowded area where the little ones could play while Mom & Dad still could enjoy the music was everything you could ask for in a place like that.
Guardians of the Bay
One of the first things that really stuck out to me about this festival, which I have never seen before in my life, was the staff referred to as “Guardians of the Bay.”
At every trash site around the festival, there were staff members who made sure patrons were throwing their stuff in the right bins – recycling, compost, and waste. If someone accidentally threw something in the wrong bin, I kid you not, these heroes would reach into the trash, pull out the item, and put it in the right bin. This festival and its staff care about the bay/environment so much that they would literally dig through trash to protect it. Incredible!
It was truly touching, especially as someone who lives in the area and grew up close to the bay all my life.
Kitchen Dwellers > Greensky Bluegrass
As for the music on day one, the hours from 6-10:30 were without a doubt my most anticipated block of music for the weekend
Starting up when the sun started heading down, Kitchen Dwellers opened up their set with a screaming rendition of “Seven Devils.” Moving through classics new and old, we made our way backstage to the VIP area, where the festival treated us to a buffet and complimentary drinks.
After soaking up the last bits of sun on the beach and a few more sand castles, we settled in for Greensky Bluegrass who threw down a beautiful set. A little less lights out than when I saw them last, at The Metropolitan Opera House in Philly in 2022, the set was just tame enough for the family-friendly environment of the festival.
While it was great to hear some of my favorite tracks, getting to see my daughter enjoy her first proper laser-light show was the highlight of the evening.
Heading out a few minutes before the set ended with a very satisfied yet very sleepy two-year-old, our exit was just as easy as our entry, with no lines or traffic holding us up.
Day one was a complete success.
Day 2 – Cold Pours, Grateful Ball, & Thai Food
Great Beer, Better Views
After having such a great experience on day one, our excitement upon returning to the festival on Sunday was at an all-time high. Now that we knew the grounds, the sweet spots, and what places we wanted to hit, it was easy to map out our day.
One of the stars of the weekend for me was undoubtedly Dewey Beer Co. Whether it was chilling beachside, checking out the bay bridge, or hanging out upfront at the VIP viewing area, the complimentary IPAs I was sipping on were insanely clutch. If you get a chance to try a draft of Swishy Pants, don’t miss it!
Making cold beer even cooler, guests were encouraged to reuse their cups to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics.
The Grateful Ball on the Beach
Feeling herself in her first official hand-dipped tie-dye dress, the little one led us to the beach to enjoy the beginning of the good ol’ Grateful Ball.
Ripping a few of my favorites like “Franklins Tower,” “Brown-Eyed Woman,” and “Scarlet Begonias,” the string-shredding spectacle was special beyond belief.
Making our way to the back of the festival, we hunkered down for some cornhole yoga and more great views.
One of the best parts of the festival was that the layout allowed you to see a view of the bay virtually anywhere you were, so every spot you sat at was awesome.
The performance ended up being one of my favorite sets of the entire festival, and I haven’t stopped watching back footage ever since.
Chicken Satay Salutations
While we tried tons of great food at the festival, including Chesapeake chicken and beef lo mein at the VIP buffet, fresh-squeezed lemonade, coal fire pizza, and grilled oysters, the savory star of the festival, as far as cuisine goes, was the chicken satay from Thai Paradise.
So good, in fact, that we’ve ordered the dish at least once a week since the festival passed! Thank you Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival for showing us our new favorite restaurant and dish.
Real Initiatives, Real Results
While there was no denying the fun that was had over the course of two days at Sandy Point State Park, I was curious about the results from the festival’s eco-friendly initiatives.
In conversations with organizers, we were told some impressive numbers.
- Over 25 cubic yards of compost
- Over 25 cubic yards of recycling
- Over 369 liquor bottles (30 boxes!) to be repurposed (even better than recycled)
- Over 24,000 oyster shells recycled = 240,000 oysters planted back into the Chesapeake Bay by one of Baygrass’s non-profit beneficiary partners — Oyster Recovery Partnership.
- Each adult oyster is estimated to filter 50 gallons of water per day, so the oysters eaten by attendees of the festival have the potential of cleaning 12 million gallons of water per day!
- 8933 liters of water went through the 6 filtered water stations (converts to 18,000 plastic bottles eliminated)
- A portion of all revenues generated by the Annapolis Baygrass Music festival is donated to three non-profit beneficiary partners to support their conservation work. These organizations are: Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Oyster Recovery Partnership, and the Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy. This year, the festival generated donations of over $31,000.
Being a part of a festival that truly makes a positive impact on the world was an experience in itself, and knowing that everyone who attended helped contribute was deeply unifying.
As Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival continues to grow, we can’t wait to see the benefits they provide for the community and experiences they have for attendees grow as well.
Signing off a little earlier on Sunday, right around 7:30, Annapolis Baygrass Festival delivered an experience that will bring us back for years to come.
Keep up with everything the festival has going on in the links below, and keep an eye out for announcements in the coming months!
Follow Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Sharing things you love with the people you love is one of life’s greatest joys. It kind of goes together like Chesapeake chicken and beef lo mein. Or bluegrass music and beachside views.
At Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival this past September, my family and I were treated to all of the above as fans from across the country gathered on the sunny shores of Sandy Point State Park to celebrate great music, awesome vibes, tasty food, and beautiful views.
As my first time attending, I didn’t know what to expect from the up and coming bluegrass festival. And while I was familiar with the venue, I was totally blown away by how they transformed it.
Day 1 – Smooth Entry, Guardians of the Bay, & Immaculate Shredding
Easy Entries & Friendly Staff
Driving into the grounds of Sandy Point State Park, we were greeted by waves from park officials and festival staff, happily pointing us along our way to the VIP lot.
Finding a spot within minutes, we packed up our wagon, loaded up our two y/o, and set off on our way to experience the magic of Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival.
Arriving at the gates/VIP check-in, we were met with no line and even more friendly faces who were just as excited as we were about our arrival at the festival. No box office drama to be found anywhere in sight, we were quickly given our credentials and welcomed onto the grounds.
Parent-Friendly Kidzone
First stop was sand castles at the Kidzone where the vibes were immaculate. Right on the water, with a great view of the stage, I joked (maybe one too many times) that the festival’s Kidzone was “parent-friendly.”
Being able to sit down in a non-crowded area where the little ones could play while Mom & Dad still could enjoy the music was everything you could ask for in a place like that.
Guardians of the Bay
One of the first things that really stuck out to me about this festival, which I have never seen before in my life, was the staff referred to as “Guardians of the Bay.”
At every trash site around the festival, there were staff members who made sure patrons were throwing their stuff in the right bins – recycling, compost, and waste. If someone accidentally threw something in the wrong bin, I kid you not, these heroes would reach into the trash, pull out the item, and put it in the right bin. This festival and its staff care about the bay/environment so much that they would literally dig through trash to protect it. Incredible!
It was truly touching, especially as someone who lives in the area and grew up close to the bay all my life.
Kitchen Dwellers > Greensky Bluegrass
As for the music on day one, the hours from 6-10:30 were without a doubt my most anticipated block of music for the weekend
Starting up when the sun started heading down, Kitchen Dwellers opened up their set with a screaming rendition of “Seven Devils.” Moving through classics new and old, we made our way backstage to the VIP area, where the festival treated us to a buffet and complimentary drinks.
After soaking up the last bits of sun on the beach and a few more sand castles, we settled in for Greensky Bluegrass who threw down a beautiful set. A little less lights out than when I saw them last, at The Metropolitan Opera House in Philly in 2022, the set was just tame enough for the family-friendly environment of the festival.
While it was great to hear some of my favorite tracks, getting to see my daughter enjoy her first proper laser-light show was the highlight of the evening.
Heading out a few minutes before the set ended with a very satisfied yet very sleepy two-year-old, our exit was just as easy as our entry, with no lines or traffic holding us up.
Day one was a complete success.
Day 2 – Cold Pours, Grateful Ball, & Thai Food
Great Beer, Better Views
After having such a great experience on day one, our excitement upon returning to the festival on Sunday was at an all-time high. Now that we knew the grounds, the sweet spots, and what places we wanted to hit, it was easy to map out our day.
One of the stars of the weekend for me was undoubtedly Dewey Beer Co. Whether it was chilling beachside, checking out the bay bridge, or hanging out upfront at the VIP viewing area, the complimentary IPAs I was sipping on were insanely clutch. If you get a chance to try a draft of Swishy Pants, don’t miss it!
Making cold beer even cooler, guests were encouraged to reuse their cups to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics.
The Grateful Ball on the Beach
Feeling herself in her first official hand-dipped tie-dye dress, the little one led us to the beach to enjoy the beginning of the good ol’ Grateful Ball.
Ripping a few of my favorites like “Franklins Tower,” “Brown-Eyed Woman,” and “Scarlet Begonias,” the string-shredding spectacle was special beyond belief.
Making our way to the back of the festival, we hunkered down for some cornhole yoga and more great views.
One of the best parts of the festival was that the layout allowed you to see a view of the bay virtually anywhere you were, so every spot you sat at was awesome.
The performance ended up being one of my favorite sets of the entire festival, and I haven’t stopped watching back footage ever since.
Chicken Satay Salutations
While we tried tons of great food at the festival, including Chesapeake chicken and beef lo mein at the VIP buffet, fresh-squeezed lemonade, coal fire pizza, and grilled oysters, the savory star of the festival, as far as cuisine goes, was the chicken satay from Thai Paradise.
So good, in fact, that we’ve ordered the dish at least once a week since the festival passed! Thank you Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival for showing us our new favorite restaurant and dish.
Real Initiatives, Real Results
While there was no denying the fun that was had over the course of two days at Sandy Point State Park, I was curious about the results from the festival’s eco-friendly initiatives.
In conversations with organizers, we were told some impressive numbers.
Being a part of a festival that truly makes a positive impact on the world was an experience in itself, and knowing that everyone who attended helped contribute was deeply unifying.
As Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival continues to grow, we can’t wait to see the benefits they provide for the community and experiences they have for attendees grow as well.
Signing off a little earlier on Sunday, right around 7:30, Annapolis Baygrass Festival delivered an experience that will bring us back for years to come.
Keep up with everything the festival has going on in the links below, and keep an eye out for announcements in the coming months!
Follow Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
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