Black Oak Ranch
​Fifth Annual Hog Farm & Friends: In Open Celebration
September 19-21, 2025​​​
​
Join us for an intimate weekend gathering of our extended family and friends—a family-friendly party and fundraiser! Help us raise money to keep Black Oak Ranch thriving. This year, we will continue to raise funds to pay for our new bridge.
Great Music. Light show. Games. Hog Farm history and storytelling. Excursions. Bingo! for prizes with Wavy Gravy. Hog Farm Film Festival. Kids activities. And more! Camping (tent, teepees, car, RV). Delicious, locally sourced meals and nightly happy hour (beer and wine) INCLUDED in the ticket price!​​
​
This is a small, intimate event. Tickets are limited so please purchase in advance.​
​
About the Hog Farm: The Hog Farm is the longest-running hippie commune in the U.S., known for creating and participating in gatherings that build community and spark joy. Most famously, the Hog Farm ran the free kitchen and played other important roles at the original Woodstock. We also produced Electric on the Eel and the Hog Farm Pignics in the '80s and '90s, and were part of the Grateful Dead family, working closely with the original band.
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
​
We will have musical entertainment on Friday and Saturday and fun activities throughout the weekend!​
FRIDAY
Moonalice
Moonalice is an exuberant Bay Area ten-piece known for delivering a unique brand of psychedelic soul and rock-tinged Americana. Led by vocalist Lester Chambers, bassist Pete Sears, and guitarist Roger McNamee, also featuring esteemed members Barry Sless (lead guitar and pedal steel), John Molo (drums), Dylan Chambers, and Erika, Rachel, and Chloe Tietjen of acclaimed Americana band the T Sisters. Moonalice has a renegade spirit and an ethos of love, peace, and happiness that permeates everything they do.
Skeleton Krewe Trio
The worlds of Hawaiian slack key guitar, psychedelic pedal steel, and masterful keyboard work converge as three virtuosos of the jam band scene come together. The Skeleton Krew Trio features Rob Barraco (Dark Star Orchestra, Phil Lesh & Friends, The Dead), Barry Sless (Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros, David Nelson Band, Phil Lesh and Friends), and Grammy-nominated Hawaiian slack key guitarist Stephen Inglis. Each performance offers high level artistry hosting an intimate performance of original compositions, Grateful Dead interpretations, and dynamic improvisations that span genres from traditional Hawaiian to psychedelic Americana.
Beatles Campfire Jam
If there's still gas in the tank, join us for a good old Hog Farm jam at the campfire. Rumor has it The Neverly Brothers will be leading a Beatles campfire sing along!
SATURDAY
Poor Man's Whiskey
Northern California’s outlaw music bards bring a reputation for high-energy live shows and an incomparable fusion of bluegrass/old time, southern rock, and old school jam to stages and festivals worldwide. This “High-Octane Hootenanny” will certainly delight those interested in a foot-stompin' good time. Poor Man’s Whiskey has evolved into a ragged, spontaneous beast pulling from equally deep wells of story-telling originals, expertly crafted covers and zany on-stage shenanigans. In addition to their upbeat original music, Poor Man’s Whiskey will perform the music of “Old and In the Way.” We can't wait to have them back at the Hog Farm!
Grassomoxoa
Grassomoxoa (a clever nod to the 1969 GD album, Aoxomoxoa) is comprised of four folks who are extremely passionate about bluegrass and the Grateful Dead. Riley Hill (guitar), Bud Dillard (mandolin), Isaac Cantor (banjo) and Scotty Brown (bass) are old friends who embody the sort of freewheeling spirit that Jerry himself held dear. Yet they instill the songs with a fresh and vibrant energy. You can count on a magical combination of both traditional string music and progressive jam explorations of the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia catalogues.
Moonalice (acoustic)
Moonalice will be back on Saturday afternoon! This time with an acoustic set during the happy hour.
_edited.jpg)
Josh Brough & The Contraband
Join Josh Brough & The Contraband for an epic Hog Farm campfire jam on Saturday night after Poor Man's Whiskey!
ACTIVITIES
Below is a list of 2024 activities, stay tuned for 2025 activities!
Nightly happy hour (Friday & Saturday)
Enjoy beer or wine and delicious locally-sourced and lovingly made appetizers while listening to our afternoon music sets before dinner. This is a great way to wind down into the evening and connect with everyone at the event.
​
Hog Farm Film Festival
Curated by Hog Farmer Dorje, this year's film festival theme celebrates 2024 the Year of the Dragon! We will open with classic cartoons and popcorn for the kiddos and showcase Lisa Law’s "Flashing on the 60s" as the feature, we will also rerun Great Moments in Clown Activism I.
Year of the Dragon: Showing clips of the Hog Farm & Friends dancing Flash at the Chinese New Year”s Grateful Dead shows in the 80s and 90s. The footage is filmed and edited by Mark Portman, one of our dedicated dragon heads. Clown Activism: Archival footage of Abby Hoffman levitating the Pentagon, Wavy leading the Nobody for President campaign, and John and Yoko's Bed-In for Peace are our first Great Moments in Activist Clowning. Did you know the Yippies actually got a permit to levitate not higher than 10 feet? Feature Film: Photographer and friend of the Hog Farm, Lisa Law, has graciously gifted us the use of her feature documentary film, "Flashing on the 60s." This film highlights musicians, cultural icons and the counterculture of the 60s and early 70s, including the Hog Farm. Check out the film festival on Friday night with a repeat showing on Saturday night.
​
Labyrinth walk w/ Wavy Gravy
Join Wavy and Jahanara on a morning walk through our beautiful Labyrinth. Wavy will guide us through a unique meditative experience.
​
Bingo! for prizes w/ Wavy Gravy
​​​One of the traditions of the Hog Farm is a fun game of Bingo for Prizes! Bingo for Prizes became a staple of the kids room backstage a Grateful Dead shows which was lovingly run by the Hog Farm. Join Wavy for this fun tradition!
​
Klamath Dam Removal... How We Got Here and What's Next w/ Bob Pagliuco
This talk will take place on Saturday afternoon and highlight how the largest dam removal and river restoration project in the world came into fruition over the past 2 decades. Topics will include how we got here, a current update on dam removal status and a glimpse of what is on the horizon for the Klamath River post dam removal.
​
Grateful Dead Story Swap w/ Steve Parish and Bob Barsotti
Steve and Bob worked together for over 30 years while presenting Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band shows all over the western United States. They will get together for some stories about what it was like to be on the bus during the heyday of shows from the 70’s through the nineties, reliving moments they shared behind the scenes.
Steve Parish has been a primary member of the Grateful Dead family for 50 years. Steve first joined the band as a roadie in 1969. It wasn’t long before he became Jerry Garcia’s trusted gear handler and began to manage the Jerry Garcia Band. Over the years, Parish and Garcia forged an unbreakable bond. Steve was Jerry’s best man at his wedding and was at his bedside when Garcia fell into a coma in 1986. Parish was the last friend to see Jerry before his untimely death in 1995. Steve has continued to maintain his relationships with the rest of the Grateful Dead family. As Weir once said to him “Blood is thicker than water but what we have is thicker than blood.” Bob Barsotti worked at Bill Graham Presents from 1970 until 2000. In the 1980’s and 90’s he was responsible for all of BGP’s business relating to the Grateful Dead. It was then that he began, together with Bill and his brother Peter, to develop the Grateful Dead’s famous camping concerts, where thousands of like-minded souls would gather for a weekend to create a magical space where an alternative community was encouraged and thrived. Together with brother Peter, they produced Laughter, Love and Music, the historic memorial concert for Bill Graham in Golden Gate Park, drawing the largest US concert audience since Watkins Glen in the early 70’s.
​
FLASH will join us!
The Hog Farm & Friends built and danced Flash, the Grateful Dead's infamous Chinese New Year Dragon. Flash made appearances at Grateful Dead Chinese New Year shows in the 80s and 90s.
You can check out archival footage of Flash as part of the Film Festival. Flash lives on Black Oak Ranch where he was created. The dragon is 110 feet long and a real treat to behold in person. The Hog Farm & Friends lovingly restored Flash in recent years and this will be a unique opportunity to come check out his beauty and magic. Flash will be on display in the Big Top all weekend. Please look and do not touch.
Dragon Warm Ups
Rumor has it that Susy will also be offering Dragon warmups on Saturday morning in the Big Top.
Piney Woods Hike
Join Hog Farmer, Bob Barsotti, on one of his favorite, not so strenuous, hikes at Black Oak Ranch. This walk will take about an hour through the piney woods to see the beaver pond at the south end of the Ranch.​ No strollers please as the terrain is quite uneven.
​
Fire Ecology and Fuels Management
Join fire ecologist and Hog Farm family member, Eamon Engber, for a short hike through a Douglas-fir/black oak forest that was recently thinned and pile burned to reduce fire hazard and restore forest composition. We will tour the 30 acre project area and discuss forest resiliency, fire hazard, and fuels management in the face of a changing climate. We will also identify trees and understory plants, talk fire ecology, and discuss management options for small landowners. Mostly flat except for one arduous, but short (100) meter hill at the start.
​
Hippie Trivia!
Join us for hippie trivia on Sunday morning during brunch! Do you have good trivia questions? Let us know! Or just bring it to the event. ​
Kidz Zone
​​
EarthCapades performance & workshop
Join EarthCapades for for juggling, music, circus performance, storytelling, and comedy focused on environmental science and respect for the Earth. EarthCapades will perform twice once on Saturday and once on Sunday. Stay after each performance for a 30 minute hands on workshop. Bring the kiddos and the young at heart!
Handmade Crafts Fair
We will have a wonderful selection of handmade crafts at our crafts fair on Saturday afternoon. Come support your local artists! Please bring cash as crafters will likely not be able to accept credit cards. If you've purchased a ticket and are interested in participating in the craft fair, please fill out this form to sign up.
​
Mosaic Art Workshop
Join Hog Farmer, Sharon Paltin for a unique mosaic art workshop. Sharon has made the mosaics you see on the Black Oak Ranch and will lead the workshop. During the mosaic workshop we will use scrap art glass and found objects to make a small durable and aesthetic mosaic piece for you to take home. Sharon will be offer her workshop after lunch on Saturday during the Craft Fair. Kids under ten must be accompanied by an adult.
​
Irene's Organic Farm Tour
Spend Sunday morning before brunch with Hog Farmer, Irene Engber, for a unique tour/workshop on her working commercial organic farm located adjacent to the event venue. Irene will show you around the farm and talk shop about organic farming. Depending on what’s happening on the farm, you may be able to help pick some apples or plant a little garlic. Flowers from Irene’s U-Pick will be available to take home. Please bring garden snips (if you have them) and a bucket. Prepared to potentially get a little dirty!
​
U-Pick Flowers at Irene's Garden
Stop into Irene's Garden and pick up a beautiful bouquet of farm-grown flowers! Bring your own scissors and bucket and peruse many rows of different varieties of flowers to take home. Open all weekend! Water will be provided.
INFO
​
Bring your own tent/van/RV or camp in one of our beautiful teepees!
​
Please note: We do not have volunteer ticket trade opportunities at this event as it is a fundraiser and every ticket counts. Everyone buys tickets and contributes a few hours of time during the event. Thank you for your support!
​
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
No DOGS! (or other pets of any kind)
No FIRES (except in our fire pit)! We are in VERY DRY northern California in the summer and fire danger is VERY HIGH. This means NO candles, lanterns, incense. NO personal cooking with BBQs or stoves except in the designated picnic table area at the main kitchen.
​
WEATHER While we expect and hope for nice weather, it can rain in late September at the Ranch. We will hold event rain or shine unless we expect heavy rain. If we expect heavy rain, we will postpone the event until next year. In this unlikely event, refunds will be available.
​
ARRIVAL
-
Weekenders: Plan on arriving any time after 2PM and before 10PM on Friday and departing by 2PM on Sunday. If you arrive after 10PM on Friday, please camp temporarily and check in in the morning.
-
Saturday ONLY: Feel free to come any time on Saturday before 10PM. Please purchase a weekend ticket in order to participate in Sunday brunch or activities on Sunday. Saturday ticket holders are welcome to camp the night of their ticket.
​
ACCOMMODATION
-
TIPIS are available on a first come first served basis. Tipis sleep 6-10 comfortably so if you are a smaller group and want to be in a tipi you might be paired up with other folks. Tipis have sleeping mats, but bring warm sleeping bags/bedding!
-
CAMPSITES - there are many around the facility, so bring a tent and bedding. Most campsites are shady so you shouldn't need any extra shade.
-
CAR CAMPING - New this year, we will offer car camping in our flat field near the labyrinth which is adjacent to an area we call the "East Bay." This is for folks who would like to camp next to their vehicle. Please let our parking folks know you want to car camp and they will direct you to car camping after you check in. NOTE: the path from car camping to the venue is fairly steep with a few steps so please let us know if you plan to car camp and have any mobility access needs by emailing hogfarmfamily@gmail.com.
-
RVS/Large VEHICLES (21'+) will be parked in our parking lot a short walk from the venue. Please make sure to purchase an RV vehicle pass. There are no hookups available. Please also let us know if you have a mobility access needs and you are sleeping in your vehicle in the RV/Large Vehicle lot.
NOTE: there is absolutely no driving into the facility. All camping is walk-in. We will have a luggage shuttle available to help get your gear in and out. Wagons can also be helpful.
​
AMENITIES There are hot showers available as well as flush toilets. It is dark at night, so make sure to bring a flashlight!
​
HOTELS/MOTELS There are a limited number of motels in the town of Laytonville (10 mins from the ranch) and a larger selection in the town of Willits (25 mins from the ranch). There are also some AirBnB's in town.
​
WHAT TO BRING
-
Clothes for cool and warm weather (it can be warm during the day and get VERY cold at night this time of year, make sure to come prepared!)
-
WARM sleeping gear if you are camping
-
Insect repellent
-
Sunscreen & hat
-
Refillable water bottle
-
Flashlight
-
Good shoes for walking
-
Towel & toiletries
-
Camp chairs to use around the camp fire or at your camp.
-
Rain wear (while we will cancel the event if we expect lots of rain, we may get light rain that time of year so please come prepared!)
-
Cash to purchase merch and spend at the craft fair (we won't be able accept cards).
-
Photo ID
-
Costumes for fun!
​
FOOD & DRINKS We will provide the following meals:
-
Friday dinner
-
Saturday breakfast
-
Saturday lunch
-
Saturday dinner
-
Sunday brunch
All meals are lovingly prepared by our amazing cooks!e will have plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. We have a wonderful organic farm (Irene's Garden) on the Ranch and we will source as much of our ingredients from the farm and other local sources as we can at that time of year. If you plan to shop on your way to the event, the newly re-opened Laytonville Long Valley Market is open and we love to support our local store! However, you may want stop in Willits or elsewhere if you're looking for some thing specific. Please plan to store any personal food in your vehicle to avoid critters making unwanted visits to your tent or tipi.
​
There is plenty of drinking water throughout the facility. All meals will have non-alcoholic beverages provided. We will provide a daily happy hour (around 4:20PM Friday & Saturday evenings before dinner) and limited beer & wine during our nighttime activities. Feel free to bring anything else you might want to consume but keep in mind this is a small, family friendly gathering and we aim to maintain a relaxed atmosphere. We ask you to be responsible and respect the vibe of the event! ​
Getting Here
NOTE this event is held at Streeter Creek Facility where we normally host Camp Winnarainbow and NOT at our main festival venue.
From the Bay Area: Take Hwy. 101 north 150 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge to Laytonville. Black Oak Ranch is 5 miles north of Laytonville on the west side of the highway. Look for the signs on the left. Note: we are just north of the Ten Mile Creek Revival and former Kate Wolf Festival entrance.
​
From the Sacramento Area: Take Hwy. 5 north to Williams, turn on Hwy. 20 West, follow all the way to Hwy. 101 North–go approximately 40 miles north to Laytonville. Black Oak Ranch is 5 miles north of Laytonville. Note: we are just north of the Ten Mile Creek Revival and former Kate Wolf Festival entrance.
​
From the North Coast/Oregon: Take Hwy. 101 south. The site is approximately 100 miles south of Eureka, 45 miles south of Garberville. As you get close begin to look at the mile marker signs at the side of the road. Black Oak Ranch is at mile marker 74.54. Signs will be on the west side of the road, as will the entrance. Note: we are just north of the the Ten Mile Creek Revival and former Kate Wolf Festival entrance.
About 3 hours north of San Francisco, 2 hours north of Sebastopol, and 2 hours south of Eureka.
Photo Gallery
