WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — The North Cascades Bluegrass Festival, a staple event for local music lovers over the last decade, has announced it is permanently halting operations effective immediately.
The festival, which has served as the primary fundraiser for the Whatcom Parks & Recreation Foundation, will no longer take place during its traditional Labor Day weekend slot at the Deming Log Show Grounds.
According to a statement released today, February 1, 2026, by the Foundation, the decision to close was driven by a combination of financial difficulties and shifting organizational priorities. Officials noted that ticket sales dropped approximately 35% in 2025, resulting in a net loss for the event. The Foundation cited a “downturn in the Canadian market” as a contributing factor to the decline in attendance.
The Foundation determined that the situation was unlikely to resolve itself within the next two to three years.
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“There were a number of factors that led to the decision to shut down the festival, including changing priorities of both the Deming Log Show organization as well as the Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation,” the release stated.
A Decade of History
The event first launched in Ferndale in 2016 under the name “Hovander Homestead Bluegrass Festival.” In 2019, it relocated to the Deming Log Show Grounds just outside of Bellingham and was rebranded as the North Cascades Bluegrass Festival.
In a joint statement, festival co-founders Daniel Tepper and David Starr expressed their gratitude to the community.
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“It’s been a real joy to work on the Bluegrass Festival for all these years,” the statement read. “While we gave careful consideration to keeping the festival going, in the end we decided to go out on a high note.”
Tepper and Starr described the event as a “labor of love” and extended thanks to the volunteers, bands, and attendees who supported the festival throughout its run.
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