By Kate Bartlett
This July marks the 32nd annual Great Blue Heron Music Festival, a three-day event on their beautiful campgrounds in Sherman, NY. As tradition, the event takes place over July 4th weekend, this year on July 4, 5 and 6 in celebration of music, summer and community.
Julie Rockcastle, co-owner of Great Blue Heron Campground with her husband Steve, founded the festival in 1992 as a way to bring the community together with music. “I fell in love with my parents’ 200-acre property here in Sherman,” says Julie. “I knew it had potential, but I wasn’t quite sure what it would become.” Her friend, David Tidquist, was involved with the GrassRoots Festival in Ithaca and was looking to start a festival in this area. They started brainstorming, and hosted the first ever Great Blue Heron Music Festival in July, 34 years ago. This year’s event is dedicated to David and his Celebration of Life will take place during the weekend.
The event has always been a three-day celebration of music and community, but it has evolved and gained momentum over the years. This year’s festival features 4 stages, family fun activities, kids and teen tents with a full-program of activities (crafts, macrame, instrument making, gaga pit, and more) 10 food vendors and 24 craft vendors. Festival goers can buy single day tickets, or camp all weekend.
The festival attracts about 5,000 people every year, about half of which camp overnight, from local and far-ranging distances. “I’ve met incredible people from one town over, and guests who’ve traveled from Hawaii, California, Florida and Wyoming,” says Julie. “Some people return year-after year, and other’s come following a band. We attract an eclectic group of people of all ages; the festival spans generations. It’s beautiful to see music connecting people in that way.”
The campground provides a beautiful background for the festival, and is now open as a three seasons campground with numerous campsites, RV spaces and cabins available. Coming in 2026, the grounds will offer a bathhouse (now under construction) that will be complete with radiant floors, showers, toilets and sinks. “It’s something that we’ve had in the works for a while; a way to help improve the comfort of our guests.”
This year, 34 bands will perform on the main stages at the Great Blue Heron Music Festival, and 12 additional on the singer/songwriter Tiger Maple Stage. This stage’s “Maple Jam” is new this year, in an effort to showcase local talent in a more intimate setting on a smaller stage. 2025 brings new headliner acts: Andy Frasco & the U.N and Beats Antique, both traveling from California. “Andy plays a great show,” says Julie. “His funk/jam style brings a positive message with high energy. He really gets the crowd up and dancing. Beats Antique percussive, theatrical show features belly dancers for a unique, engaging experience.”
overnight, from local and far-ranging distances. The campground provides
a beautiful background for the festival, and is now open as a three seasons
campground with numerous campsites, RV spaces and cabins available.
Coming in 2026, the grounds will offer a bathhouse (now under construction)
An impressive vendor list includes 10 food and 24 craft and artisan merchants, both locally and from all over the country, offering a wide variety of goods. “We keep the vendor list fresh and interesting,” says Julie. “It adds a fun element to the festival, and we like to provide unique shopping and food experiences.” Food includes perogies, crepes, burgers, vegetarian options and more. Artisan vendors include jewelry, clothing, textiles & artwork.
This year, Julie is most excited about the music. “I always love the community this event brings,” says Julie. “It’s incredible meeting so many wonderful people, coming together in celebration of music; but this year I’m especially excited about the music. I’m going to be running around like crazy trying to take in all our incredible musicians. It’s going to be a blast.”
The Great Blue Heron Music Festival is a celebration of community, music, summer and the great outdoors. “The festival is about people gathering together, making friends while enjoying music. It’s about celebrating summer and nature, and sleeping out under the stars. It’s about spreading happiness and sharing time with one another, greeting each other with ‘Happy Heron.’ People are feeling good and experiencing the joy of the festival. It’s contagious.”
For more information, visit greatblueheron.com/ and follow on social media for updates.