Frequently Asked Questions/Festival Policies

We at Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival take the health and safety of our guests, volunteers, and staff as our top priority.  We aggressively monitor all the health bulletins from the state and county and immediately install all appropriate protocols.

Is there PARKING? Yes, daily parking passes are available for non-campers – NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING IS ALLOWED IN THE PARKING AREA.  Parking is run by and benefits the Liberty Bell High School Booster Club. Friday parking included with Friday Show or weekend pass, Saturday $15, Sunday $15, Weekend pass $25. Camping areas are intended for camping and not for parking.  If you are camping and have a a second car you will need to  purchase a weekend camp parking pass and park in designated general parking area.

What to bring: Low-profile chairs, refillable water bottle (all liquids must be in factory sealed containers when coming into the infield), open containers must be empty and can be filled with water at the water station outside the beer garden, sunglasses, sunblock, hat, food/snacks (though we have wonderful food vendors), bug spray, sense of humor and a love of music. Coolers are okay. All bags, coolers, backpacks etc are subject to inspection at infield gate entrances.

Note about chairs: Low-profile chairs no taller than 26” measured to the top of the backrest are preferred and will have a designated seating area. Those who can’t sit in lower chairs can use their high-backed chairs in a separate, marked-off area near the back of the infield where they won’t obstruct the views of other patrons.

What CAN’T I bring into the festival Main Stage area? No alcohol. No cannabis. No illegal substances. No glass containers. No fireworks. No ATVs. No drones. No pets anywhere on the property. The use of cannabis is prohibited in all public areas including the infield and beer garden. The festival does NOT allow firearms or weapons of any description on our property. This includes our venue and campground.  All bags, coolers, etc are subject to inspection at infield gate entrance.

When can I enter the infield area? The infield area will be open at 4PM on Thursday at the south entrance for access to food vendors only. The general audience access to the infield seating area, vendor booths, beer garden will open up through the south entrance at 10 AM on Friday. Beer garden opens in the late afternoon.

Why can’t I put up a shade umbrella? The festival doesn’t allow shade umbrellas for many reasons. They block the view of other festival-goers. They present potential danger if the wind whips up and starts knocking things around. A shade tent is located on the perimeter of the infield.

Can I smoke at the festival? There is no smoking of any kind (cigarettes, cigars, vape pens, cannabis, etc.) in the main stage infield area and the beer garden. Look for the Designated Smoking Area.  We ask that smokers be considerate of non-smoking attendees and performers and smoke only in the designated smoking area. The use of cannabis is not allowed in the general festival area.

🍻 Is there a beer garden? YES and NEW THIS YEAR  — SATELLITE BARS !!!!!
This year in addition to our full beer garden we will have two satellite bars in the infield to help you beat the lines and stay refreshed! NOTE: No outside alcohol, cannabis or illegal substances allowed

⚠️ Important: Beverages must stay where they’re purchased. You may not bring drinks from the infield into the beer garden, or vice versa.

🍺 Main Beer Garden

• Full selection of beer, wine, and more
• Must be 21+ with a valid ID
• Security will accept US driver’s licenses, state IDs, passports, military ID, Canadian Province issued driver’s license or identification card.
• You’ll receive a 21+ wristband from Event Management Staff at the beer garden entrance → This wristband is valid for the entire weekend

🛰️ Satellite Bars (Infield)

• Conveniently located inside the infield
• Offer a limited selection compared to the beer garden
• POS-only (card payments only — no cash)
• Must have 21+ wristband (wristbands can be obtained at the Beer Garden entrance)
• Hours:
  • Friday: 4 PM – 8 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM – 8 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM – 6 PM

Is food available? YES! Several food vendors offer many types of fare. Ice is available for purchase on site.  Food vendors begin on Thursday at 4 pm. Craft vendors begin on Friday.

Is there recycling? YES! Recycle bins are available on site.

Are there restrooms and showers? Yes! Showers are available onsite for campers Friday thru Sunday.  Portapotties are available throughout the festival area. 

Are there quiet hours? YES! Please be considerate of others camping near you and keep noise to a minimum. Quiet hours are from end of the music on the beer garden state to 8 am. NO GENERATORS, loud music or outside parties during these times. Please refrain from running generators continuously.  

Can I bring pets? NO! Pets are not allowed. Comfort/emotional support animals are NOT allowed.

Service Animals: Persons with disabilities and their service animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for those persons with disabilities are welcome at Winthrop R&B Fest. Pets are not allowed. Please contact us at info@winthropbluesfestival.org for protocol regarding service animals.

ADA: Our venue is a rocky, grassy ranch. Wheelchair access is possible but not easy. We have ADA parking, camping, portapotties and access.

Can I come on and off the site? Yes, once you have paid and received your wristband you have unrestricted access. There is no after-hours driving in and around the property at night for safety reasons.

SHUTTLE SERVICE  is available between the Blues Ranch and downtown Winthrop/Methow Valley Thriftway /KOA /Pine Near RV Park, Red Barn and Old Schoolhouse Brewery. Pick-up and drop-off at the festival front gate. Shuttle service is owned and operated by Methow Rafting, fees are collected by the driver and new this year — can be purchased in advance HERE

HOURS OF OPERATION

• Thursday, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Friday, 1:00 pm – 1:30 am
• Saturday, 10:00 am – 1:30 am
• Sunday, 10:00 am – 1:00 am

SHUTTLE STOPS

• The Blues Ranch (staged at the front of the festival grounds)
• Red Barn
• Old Schoolhouse Brewery
• Pine Near RV Park
• Winthrop/Methow Valley Thriftway
• KOA Campgrounds
• Twin Lakes (requires a Twin Lakes Weekend Pass)

Flag down our vehicles if outside of these locations, and we will do our best to pick you up if it is safe to do so.

• $7 – One way (within Winthrop city limits)
• $12 – Round Trip (within Winthrop city limits)
• $33 – Weekend Pass (anywhere in Winthrop city limits)
• $40 – Twin Lakes Weekend Pass (schedule with driver or text Methow Rafting for a pickup)

Shuttle consistency ebbs and flows with demand throughout each day. Please text for any questions and pickups, particularly earlier in the day/later in the evening.Please text or call (509) 866-6775 if you need to check the status of a pickup, relay any info to the driver, or have another shuttle related questions.

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FESTIVAL POLICIES

• All sales are final; there are no cancellations, refunds, or credits.
• Tickets/Wristbands are non-transferable and non-exchangeable.
• We are not responsible for lost or stolen Tickets/Wristbands.
• All prices listed are “per person”.
• You must wear your admission wristband for the duration of the festival. Wristband(s) are non-transferable.
• All customers purchasing a ticket to the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival agree to the festival policies listed on this page.
• Artists and times are subject to change without notice; the festival is rain or shine.
• NO CHARCOAL! NO PROPANE FIREPITS!
• NO OPEN FIRES!
• NO PETS. No exceptions.
• NO DRIVING IN CAMPING AREAS AFTER DARK.
• NO ATVs.
• NO DRONES! DRONES MAY NOT BE FLOWN ANYWHERE AT THE FESTIVAL SITE WITHOUT EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF WMA. ANY DRONES FLYING WITHOUT WMA PERMISSION WILL BE CONFISCATED.
• QUIET HOURS ARE FROM THE END OF MUSIC ON THE BEER GARDEN STAGE TO 8 AM.  NO GENERATORS, LOUD MUSIC OR OUTSIDE PARTIES DURING THESE TIMES.
• NO ILLEGAL DRUGS.

PRIVACY POLICY
Winthrop Music Association/Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival respects and is committed to protecting your privacy. Although personally identifiable information is collected when you visit Ticket Tomato’s site and purchase a ticket, the information is solely for the purpose of being able to bill and process ticket orders as well communicate about the festival. Ticket Tomato adheres to the guidelines of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

PHOTO POLICY
By entering the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival, you understand that you may be photographed, filmed or videotaped, and you authorize the promoter the unqualified right to take pictures and/or recordings of you and grant the perpetual right to take use your likeness, image, photo without compensation, for broadcast or exhibition in any medium.

OFFICIAL REFUND POLICY
Winthrop Music Association and Ticket Tomato are not responsible for LOST or STOLEN tickets. Our official policy states that there will be NO REFUNDS for tickets. All sales are final. There will be no reissues for lost or stolen tickets. The Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival will take place rain or shine, and artists and times are subject to change without notice.

UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES
These circumstances will not be grounds for a refund, including but not limited to the following: local or national weather conditions and natural disasters, waiting in lines, road closures or traffic issues.

FESTIVAL TALENT
A ticket is for the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival, not a specific artist. Artists and schedules are subject to change without notice. Artist cancellation is not grounds for a refund.

GROUNDS FOR NO-ENTRY OR REMOVAL
Promoters, Venue owners, Security and Event Staff have the right to refuse entry to any ticket holder, without a refund, for any reason at their discretion, including but not limited to: disorderly behavior, intoxication, venue capacity, breach of security restrictions.