Annual Bill Knowlton's Bluegrass Ramble
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 2, 2026, the 53rd 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 local BBQ. This isn’t just any summer music fest, it’s the longest-running bluegrass festival in New York State, and 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, rain or shine. 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 15-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!
Who's Playing?
Music kicks off bright and early at 10 a.m. and keeps going strong till evening, with 15 live sets on the main stage:
- 10:00 AM – Gospel Way
- 10:30 AM – Salmon River Boys
- 11:00 AM – Simmerin' Stew
- 11:30 AM – McWilliams Hardware
- 12:00 PM – Right Brothers
- 12:30 PM – Joe LaMay & Sherri Reese
- 1:00 PM – John & Cathy Cadley
- 1:30 PM – Brett Howland
- 2:00 PM – The Atkinson Family
- 2:30 PM – Playing in Traffic
- 3:00 PM – Unholy Alliance
- 3:30 PM – New Snip City
- 4:00 PM – Lonesome Road Ramblers
- 4:30 PM – Northwater
- 5:00 PM – Delaney Brothers
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, nothing stops this tradition.
Make a Weekend of it
Start your bluegrass weekend on the right note at the First Annual Bluegrass Weekend at the Cortland Country Music Park. Before the beloved Bluegrass Ramble Picnic takes over Little York Lake on Sunday, spend Saturday evening with Grammy nominated bluegrass artist Nathan Stanley and Constant Sorrow for a night of soaring harmonies, masterful musicianship, and classic Appalachian sound. Click here for tickets.
Turn your concert into a getaway by camping under the stars at the Cortland Country Music Park, then wake up ready to head to the Bluegrass Ramble and keep the music going all weekend long. Prefer a few more creature comforts? Click here to discover more great places to stay between sets.
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