Bluegrass Jamboree Returns, Supporting Music Education in Rural Oregon
The Tygh Valley Bluegrass Jamboree returns to the Wasco County Fairgrounds September 18–20, 2026, bringing three days of music, education and community activities to Tygh Valley. The 2026 performance lineup features David Mayfield Parade, Yoseff Tucker and The Bow Ties, Tuesday String Band, Thunder Ridge, Cantara Loop and Sweet Fern. The weekend will also include open jams and opportunities for players of all experience levels to join in.
The festival offers plenty of opportunities for young people to explore music in a fun, low-pressure setting. Kids can try a variety of bluegrass instruments, participate in singing classes and learn the fundamentals of bluegrass through beginner-friendly instruction.
Kids 18 and under receive free admission, making the Jamboree an affordable opportunity for families to experience live music together.
The music heard throughout the weekend supports a larger effort to bring music and arts opportunities to rural Oregon. Proceeds benefit the festival’s parent nonprofit, Shaniko Music Sanctuary, which uses the Jamboree to help fund local school programs, provide free instruments and create new opportunities for young people to learn and explore the arts.
Since the Jamboree began, Shaniko Music Sanctuary has raised over $10,000 for local music programs, bringing several free music performances to local communities and providing new instruments to music classes. The festival also helps expand access to instruments outside the classroom. An instrument lending library, supported by an annual donation drive at the Jamboree, provides bluegrass instruments for free checkout to residents with a Wasco County Library card. The collection currently includes instruments available through the Southern Wasco Library in Maupin.
Beyond the music, festival attendees can shop from local artisans and makers, enjoy food from a variety of local vendors and explore the area by e-bike, with rentals available at Gear Up Maupin (phone: 541.615.1624) throughout the weekend. These local businesses and activities add to the Jamboree's community focus and give visitors a taste of the South Wasco County culture.
Organizers are seeking additional instruments to expand the lending library and improve music accessibility for local children to get involved in the arts. Anyone with an instrument they'd like to share can contact info@shanikomusicsanctuary.com. Additionally, if you’d like to donate to the Rural Music Momentum, visit givebutter.com/RuralMusic to support the cause.
The Tygh Valley Bluegrass Jamboree is held at the beautiful Wasco County Fairgrounds in Tygh Valley. Weekend tickets are $70 and include dry camping, with Saturday-only tickets also available for $25.
Tickets, the complete schedule and additional information about camping, classes and the festival are available at tyghvalleybluegrass.com.
