Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance

The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance overtakes the Trumansburg Fairgrounds from July 16 through 19, 2026, drawing thousands of music lovers to this small village on the western shore of Cayuga Lake for four days of continuous performances spanning folk, roots, bluegrass, reggae, and world music traditions. Founded in 1991 by Jeb Puryear of the beloved band Donna the Buffalo, the festival has grown into one of the Northeast’s most anticipated summer gatherings while retaining the intimate, community-centered spirit that defined its earliest years. Four stages host more than 75 bands and performers, with music flowing from afternoon through night as festivalgoers move between acts, discovering new favorites alongside the headliners they came to hear.

What distinguishes GrassRoots from larger festivals is its emphasis on participation rather than mere observation. Morning yoga sessions unfold on dewy grass as the grounds slowly wake. Drum circles build throughout the day, drawing newcomers into rhythms that require no prior experience. Dance workshops teach everything from Cajun two-step to West African movement, skills that attendees carry onto the main stages when evening performances begin. The Happiness Parade on Sunday afternoon has become a festival signature, a joyful procession that embodies the event’s philosophy of collective celebration. The Leslie Puryear Community Stage, named for Jeb’s mother, anchors the programming with performances that highlight the festival’s deep roots in this community.

The village of Trumansburg, or T-burg as locals call it, wraps around the festival like a welcoming host. Main Street offers provisions and diversions between sets, from the elevated comfort food at Atlas Bowl, where tacos and inventive tater tots fuel late-night dancing, to the farm-to-table sophistication of Hazelnut Kitchen, where local ingredients translate into dishes that rival anything in nearby Ithaca. Falls Restaurant and Tavern has served the community since 1988, its breakfast plates fortifying hikers and festivalgoers alike. For something more refined, the Inn at Taughannock Restaurant overlooks Cayuga Lake, its American-Mediterranean menu drawing visitors from across the region to tables with water views that seem almost unfair in their beauty.

The surrounding Finger Lakes wine country presents its own temptations. Americana Vineyards welcomes visitors to its tasting room along the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, where award-winning wines pair with casual dining on scenic grounds. Frontenac Point Vineyard and Estate Winery offers panoramic lake views from its spacious deck, while Bet the Farm Winery specializes in small-batch wines that showcase the region’s distinctive terroir. Bellwether Hard Cider and Wine Cellars, located just north of Taughannock State Park, introduces visitors to the craft cider tradition that has flourished alongside the area’s vineyards. These establishments provide afternoon escapes from the festival grounds, opportunities to explore the landscape that shapes both the region’s agriculture and its creative culture.

The festival welcomes on-site camping for those who want full immersion, transforming the fairgrounds into a temporary village of tents and campers where neighbors share meals and music continues informally around firepits. Families find ample programming for children, couples discover romantic corners among the rolling hills, and pet lovers appreciate the welcoming atmosphere for four-legged companions. Artisan markets showcase regional craftspeople, while food vendors offer everything from wood-fired pizza to locally sourced fare that reflects the Finger Lakes’ commitment to sustainable agriculture.

To experience the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival at its fullest, consider booking a vacation rental on Lake.com, where lakefront properties along Cayuga and Seneca Lakes offer morning swims before the music begins and quiet evenings after the stages fall silent. Wake to mist rising off the water, explore wine trails between sets, and return each night to accommodations that capture the region’s unhurried elegance. Start planning your stay now on Lake.com.