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Annual Bill Knowlton's Bluegrass Ramble

Jul 28, 2025
Experience Cortland
3 mins
A bearded man wearing glasses plays a banjo, focused on his music in a cozy setting.

If you’ve never spent a lazy summer Sunday by the lake, listening to banjo twang and fiddles fly, let me introduce you to one of my favorite Cortland County traditions: the Bluegrass Ramble Picnic.

On Sunday, August 3, 2025, the 52nd Annual Bluegrass Ramble returns to Dwyer Memorial Park in Little York, NY, and I’ll be there with my lawn chair, sun hat, and maybe a little sticky BBQ. This isn’t just any summer music fest, it’s the longest-running bluegrass festival in New York State, and yes, it’s every bit as legendary as it sounds. 

A Little History

Hosted by the one-and-only Bill Knowlton, the Bluegrass Ramble has been going strong since 1973. That’s five decades of harmonies, hoedowns, and homegrown talent gathered right on the scenic shores of Little York Lake. This grassroots festival has always been a free, family-friendly event, welcoming seasoned bluegrass fans, toe-tapping toddlers, and curious first timers. 

Here's What's Pickin'

The music starts bright and early and runs all day long with a jaw-dropping 16-act lineup, including returning favorites like the Salmon River Boys (they’ve played every single Ramble), and hometown legends The Delaney Brothers closing out the show.  

You’ll also catch open jam sessions happening around the park, throughout the pavilion, and wherever someone’s got a fiddle and a free hand. Do you play? Bring your instrument and join in!  

An older man wearing a straw hat adorned with buttons.
A closeup of hands playing a guitar.
Man in a white shirt and wearing glasses is sitting on a bench playing the banjo.
Man playing a cello with bat cutouts in the wood, focused on his music.
Two men playing guitar together under a tree.

Who's Playing?

Music kicks off bright and early at 10 a.m. and keeps going strong till evening, with 16 live sets on the main stage: 

  • 10:00 – Gospel Way 
  • 10:30 – Salmon River Boys (they’ve played all 52 picnics. Talk about tradition!) 
  • 11:00 – Simmerin’ Stew 
  • 11:30 – Playing In Traffic 
  • 12:00 – Joe Davoli & Perry Cleaveland 
  • 12:30 – Joe Lamay & Sherri Reese 
  • 1:00 – The Right Brothers (they’re back!) 
  • 1:30 – Brett Howland (all the way from PA!) 
  • 2:00 – The Atkinson Family 
  • 2:30 – The Lonesome Road Ramblers 
  • 3:00 – McWilliams Hardware (Dana Cook’s band!) 
  • 3:30 – The New Snip City 
  • 4:00 – The Unholy Alliance 
  • 4:30 – Northwater 
  • 5:00 – Delaney Brothers (your host band and Ramble royalty) 

What to Bring (Besides Your Love of Bluegrass)

Bring a lawn chair, pack a picnic, and plan to spend the day lakeside. Don’t worry if you leave the cooler at home; a food truck will be on site with tasty bites to fuel your foot-stomping fun. There’s a guitar raffle, so don’t forget to grab a ticket. You just might go home with more than a sunburn and a song stuck in your head. 

And don’t worry about the weather. Rain or shine, the Ramble rolls on. Umbrella in one hand, lemonade in the other - it’s been done.

Don't Leave Without...

A 52nd annual Ramble t-shirt! Commemorative shirts will be on sale, and trust me, they go fast. It’s the perfect way to remember the day and spot fellow fans all year long. Whether you're a lifelong picker or just someone looking for a beautiful, music-filled day by the lake, the Bluegrass Ramble Picnic is the place to be the first Sunday in August. 

A stack of t-shirts featuring the text "Delaney Brothers" prominently displayed on each shirt.

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