For the last 27 years, Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza has been one of our town’s biggest events of the summer! It’s four days of live blues music, beer tastings from over 80 West Coast craft breweries, costume contests and more. And, nestled in The Woods at Mammoth, you can’t find a more magical location for this unique festival.
If you’re planning on joining us this year, you may be wondering how to make the most of this unique blues and beer festival. Here’s our local guide to enjoying an unforgettable, safe and stress-free weekend!
Decide how you’re getting there
One of the first things you should know about Bluesapalooza is that parking is limited. And, if you’re planning on enjoying some of the best craft breweries in the West, you’re not going to want to drive anyway.
Luckily, this festival isn’t going to give you a transportation headache. Public transit in Mammoth Lakes is free, and there are special trolleys running until midnight Thursday through Saturday and until 7pm on Sunday. All you have to do is find out which route will get you back to your condo at the end of your epic day.
If you’re staying at one of our Mammoth Mountain Reservation properties, here’s a rundown of some transportation options:
Canyon Lodge
If you’re staying at one of our properties near Canyon Lodge, such as Mountainback, Mammoth Ski & Racquet Club, Crestview or Discovery 4, you’ll want to look for the RED Trolley Line in the direction of the Village.
Center of Town
We also have rental options in the center of town, including Sierra Park Villas, Mountain Shadows, Forest Creek or Horizons 4. These properties will be accessible via the RED and YELLOW lines in the direction of Town.
Still not sure how to get to the festival grounds?
Call us up at our Mammoth Mountain Reservations office and ask!
Keep the kiddos in mind
While Bluesapalooza is a family-friendly event—with free entry for kids under 12—your little ones may not have as much fun as the adults. There aren’t too many activities geared towards kids, and the heat and loud music can be a bit of a bummer for some.
If you will be attending the festival with kids, make sure to bring some activities and snacks. And, make sure to keep an eye on the nearby golf course because you may see some passing deer or bears. Noise-canceling headphones are also highly recommended!
Leave Fido in good hands
Even though Mammoth is a very dog-friendly place, this particular festival is off-limits to furry friends. That doesn’t mean that you have to leave your dog at home. There are two main dog sitting services partnering with Bluesapalooza for the big weekend: Little Paws Pet Care and Sierra Dog Ventures.
If you’ll be leaving a dog in a dog-friendly condo, please make sure they’re comfortable staying alone! Even if your dog is normally relaxed at home, they may feel stressed being left in a strange place. We would highly recommend hiring a pet sitter, keeping an eye on your furry friend with a pet cam, or checking back in on them frequently.
You're excited about Bluesa, she's excited about seeing her favorite Mammoth Lakes dog sitter!
Dress up and win!
We’re not sure who started this legendary trend, but every year, we love to watch people show up in their best costumes for Bluesapalooza. Whether you coordinate with your large group or stand out from the crowd with an eye-catching solo costume, you might just win a prize!
The contest will take place on Saturday and you can find the rules and prizes on the Bluesapalooza Instagram page.
Don’t forget the sunscreen
We see it every year. Visitors and even long-time locals assume that because the festival takes place in the woods, that they don’t have to worry about sunscreen. But, even a little bit of sunshine peeking through the trees can be more powerful than you think! So, don’t forget to put a bottle of sunscreen in your backpack!
Take a look at the festival schedule in advance
There are two stages within the festival with full music lineups for every day of the weekend. So, plan your day around which musical artists you’re excited to see.
Remember that you can leave and enter the festival freely with your wristband. We locals tend to take a break at some point in the day to return home, check on the dogs, reapply sunscreen, and then get back to the festival.
Stay hydrated
High altitude, beer, sunshine, singing along with your favorite blues musicians…it’s really the perfect storm for a bout of dehydration. While you’re not allowed to bring in outside alcohol to the festival, it is highly encouraged that you bring a reusable non-glass water bottle!
Don’t forget to eat
It’s called the Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza, but be ready to add a few more B’s to your list: bananas, burgers, bratwurst, bagels, you get the idea! Take care of yourself by making sure you’re getting enough food throughout the day—even if it means you have to take a break from the Grand Tasting to sit down for a meal.
Take a load off
Lowbacked lawn or camping chairs are allowed at the festival, and you’ll see folks showing up early to claim their spot. Make sure that your chair is low enough not to obstruct the view, or pack a blanket so that you can sit down and enjoy the show.
Keep in mind that you cannot leave your chair overnight! Everything you pack in must be packed out.
Don’t overdo it
With the good vibes and even better beer, it’s easy to get carried away at the Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza! And that goes for us locals, as well!
But, as we mentioned, the higher risk of dehydration, the effects of high altitude, and many other factors mean that your alcohol tolerance might not be what it usually is. The best way to enjoy this festival weekend to the fullest is to practice moderation. Believe us experienced Bluesapalooza-goers when we say less is more this weekend!
“Overdoing it” doesn’t only refer to the brews! Because the festival gates open at 12, we can understand the appeal of getting up early and squeezing in a hike or mountain bike ride. After all, if you’re only in town for the weekend, you want to make the most of every moment! But, we would recommend that you don’t overpack your schedule. If you do want to get some exercise in, consider an easy hike, like a walk around Mammoth Dome, or a laid-back bike ride at Shady Rest Park. That way, you’ll still have energy to get through the fun of Bluesapalooza.
Trust us, this weekend will be epic enough even if you don't break out the mountain bike.
Still looking for a place to stay? We’ve got you covered!
The month of August is always a busy one here in Mammoth and we can’t think of a better way to kick things off than with Bluesapalooza. If you’re still looking for somewhere to stay this weekend or for the rest of the summer, take a look at the amazing options we have available throughout town!