Bear Valley, CA…This gorgeous annual summer event founded in 1968 celebrates a wide-range of music genres and artistic styles. Want to attend an opera performed with a fully symphony orchestra, groove to 70’s disco inferno, or don your kilt for a lively jib to Highland bagpipes ? You can, and you can do it at a 7200-foot elevation in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains!

Located within an easy 3 hour drive from the San Francisco/San Jose Bay Area or a 2.5 hour drive from Sacramento, Bear Valley nestles along the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Highway 4 in the heart of the Stanislaus National Forest between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. Home to the Bear Valley Resort ski area, originally named Mt. Reba and the village of Bear Valley, the village has a small population of under 200 enjoying a low-key vibe away from the big city and crowds. Winter months provide great snow play and incredible downhill skiing, and the summer months give perfect temperatures to play outdoors in this stunning wonderland. Mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, paddle boarding, camping, and fishing opportunities abound and can be thoroughly enjoyed before the concerts begin. The festival organizers say “outdoor enthusiasts boast about the ability to hike a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail by day, and sit still in hiking shorts and boots with a glass of wine enjoying a world-class concert at night. It’s an experience you don’t want to miss”.

The festival begins July 19th this year with Lynyrd Skynyrd cover band, Skynnyn Lynnyrd and culminates August 4th with an afternoon of music inspired by Andrea Bocelli. Drawing an audience of about 4,000, the concerts are held in a tent erected to serve as a concert hall, equipped with a stage large enough to hold a symphony orchestra. Featuring a star-studded lineup with the return of some of the Festival’s all-time favorite artists, check out the full line-up and/or buy Bear Valley Music Festival tickets now.

Find vacation cabins in nearby Arnold, Camp Connell and Dorrington at Cedar Creek Realty, Dorrington Realty, or Bear Valley Vacation Rentals. Local hotels in Arnold include Meadowmont Lodge, Timberline Lodge, and Arnold Black Bear Inn. Check here for more lodging options throughout Calaveras County.

Bear Valley is a destination that leaves an impression on its visitors for years to come. Bear Valley Music Festival is an experience you don’t want to miss.