top of page
Hog Farm Celebration 2024 poster

​Fourth Annual Hog Farm & Friends: In Open Celebration

September 20-22, 2024

​

Thank you for a REAL GOOD TIME! 

​​

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. Grateful Dead history and lore. Games. Light Show. Hog Farm history. Games. Excursions. Bingo! for prizes with Wavy Gravy. Hog Farm Film Festival. Kids activities. And more! Camping (tent, teepees, car, RV). Delicious, locally sourced meals INCLUDED in the ticket price as well as a nightly happy hour.

​​​

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.

Entertainment

MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

​

We will have musical entertainment on Friday and Saturday and fun activities throughout the weekend!

Friday, September 20

The_Sam_Chase_band__by_RJ Muna_2023_edit
The Sam Chase & The Untraditional

The Sam Chase & The Untraditional hails from San Francisco, California. This juggernaut of a band blends rock n roll with folk music while maintaining the sensibilities and attitudes that come from growing up on a healthy diet of punk rock.

 

The leader of the band is The Sam Chase himself, a natural storyteller with a voice that sounds as if it has weathered many an epic tale. With boot stomping orchestration and lyrics that have been immortalized on the tattooed skin of their fans, The Sam Chase & The Untraditional doesn’t mess around… These are the warriors we need in these troubled times.

 

A fan favorite of Kate Wolf Music Festival, we look forward to welcoming them back to Black Oak Ranch!

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • X
  • YouTube
china dolls_edited.jpg
China Dolls w/ Reed Mathis

A Female Empowered Jam Band presenting the Grateful Dead and JGB catalog with heart and soul. Reed Mathis (7 Walkers, Billy & the Kids, Electric Beethoven) will be joining the China Dolls to bring us a special set featuring women empowered Dead music on Friday afternoon.

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
campfire 3_edited.jpg
Hog Farm Campfire Jam

If there's still gas left in the tank join us for a good old Hog Farm Jam around the campfire! No drums please.

Saturday, September 21

Poor Man's Whiskey Ten Mile Creek Phot _edited.jpg
Poor Man's Whiskey

Poor Man’s Whiskey is an Americana band originating in the San Francisco area in 2001. The music is rooted around the songwriting talents of Josh Brough and Jason Beard (who met in 1993 at the University of California Santa Barbara). Poor Man’s Whiskey’s live show and sound is a blend of high octane old time/bluegrass music (often done on traditional acoustic instruments of banjo, guitar, fiddle, and mandolin) and a more psychedelic blues/jam rock style that calls upon their earlier influences such as Pink Floyd, Allman Brothers Band, and the Grateful Dead. Poor Man’s Whiskey seamlessly transitions between acoustic and electric styles with a carefully crafted commitment that revolves around well written songs and stories...while maintaining an exciting element of improvisation and the openness to let a song expand.

​

Poor Man's Whiskey is a long-time favorite band of the Hog Farm and Black Oak Ranch!

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
Pete Sawyer & the LHMWG 4_edited_edited.
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
Pete Sawyer & The Left Hand Monkey Wrench Gang

Pete Sawyer & The Left Hand Monkey Wrench Gang have taken Northern California by storm in 2023-24, creating a high energy “all killer, no filler” Grateful Dead experience every time they take the stage.  Featuring unique combinations of many of the foremost interpreters of Grateful Dead music, Pete and The Gang always deliver a well-curated exploration of the classics, unexpected jewels and deep cuts in the beloved Grateful Dead songbook!

 

Pete is bringing a killer lineup of musicians to the Hog Farm for what will certainly be a magical set...

 

The Gang:

Scott Guberman (Phil Lesh)
Nate LaPointe (Cubensis)
John-Paul McLean (JGB)
Anna Elva (Mark Karan)
Jenifer Freebairn (Brightshine)

Plus... The Neverly Brothers (afternoon set) and the Hog Farm Campfire Jam (late night).

Special performances by...

Bluegoo Craig Isaacs CI1_5901 (1).jpeg
EarthCapades

Join EarthCapades for for juggling, music, circus performance, storytelling, and comedy focused on environmental science and respect for the Earth. A beloved Kate Wolf Music Festival staple! They will be offering two performances. Stay tuned for the schedule!

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
IMG_0150_edited.jpg
JMF 5_edited.jpg
Entertainment

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

Miss Rossi will be hosting our Kids Zone! She will be hosting a creative space for kids to play and make art.

​​

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.

bubbles wavy.JPG
food.jpg
opening circle_edited.jpg
IMG_5035.jpeg
SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE
 
Friday, September 20, 2024

2:00PM: Event opens

4:20PM: Happy Hour

4:20PM - 6:00PM: China Dolls w/ Reed Mathis

4:20PM - 6:00PM: Kidz Zone open

6:00PM - 6:30PM: Opening Dinner Circle

6:30PM - 8:00PM: Dinner

8:00PM - 11:00PM: The Sam Chase & The Untraditional

8:00PM - 11:00PM: Hog Farm Film Festival (Big Top)

10:30PM - 11:30PM: Campfire Jam (bring instruments, no drums please)

 

Saturday, September 21, 2024

8:00AM: Roll your own breakfast

8:30AM - 10:00AM: Hot Breakfast

10:00AM: Piney Woods Hike w/ Bob (meet at the Rainbow Stage)

10:30AM: Dragon warmups w/ Susy (Big Top)

11:30AM: Bingo for Prizes w/ Wavy (Big Top)

11:00AM - 1:00PM: Kidz Zone open

1:00PM - 2:30PM: Lunch

1:30PM - 7:00PMish: Craft Fair

2:00PM: Mosaic art workshop w/ Sharon (Craft Fair area)

2:00PM: EarthCapades (Rainbow Stage)

2:30PM: Presentation: Klamath Dam Removal... How We Got Here and What's Next w/ Bob Pagliuco (Big Top)

3:00PM: EarthCapades workshop (Kidz Zone)

3:15PM - 4:15PM: The Neverly Brothers

3:30PM: Grateful Dead story swap w/ Steve Parish and Bob Barsotti (Big Top)

4:20PM - 6:30PM: Kidz Zone open 

4:20PM - 6:30PM: Happy Hour

4:45PM - 6:30PM: Pete Sawyer & The Left Hand Monkey Wrench Gang

6:30PM - 8:0 PM: Dinner

8:00PM - 11:00PMish: Poor Man's Whiskey

8:00PM - 11:00 PM: Hog Farm Film Festival (repeat showing)

10:30PM - 11:30PM: Campfire Jam (no drums please)

 

Sunday, September 22, 2024

8:00AM: Roll your own breakfast

8:30AM:  Irene’s Garden Organic Farm Tour (meet at parking lot)

9:00AM-12:00PM: Brunch

10:00AM: Hippy Trivia w/ HM (at brunch)

9:30AM - 11:00AM: Visit the Labyrinth with Wavy and Jahanara

10:30AM: Fire ecology and fuels management workshop (meet at Kitchen)

11:00AM: EarthCapades (2nd performance) (Big Top)

12:00PM: EarthCapades workshop (Big Top)

12:00PM: Leftovers available in the kitchen

2:00PM: Event close

​

Open All Weekend: U-Pick Flowers (Irene's Garden)

​

*Subject to change

IMG_0858.JPG
IMG_0859.JPG
pete the neck.jpg
Info

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! ​

opening circle.jpg
Directions

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

Black Oak Ranch satellite crop.png
bottom of page