There is a working sheep farm in Lodi, New York, where every August the fences come down and the bluegrass goes up. Alexander Farm sits in the heart of Finger Lakes wine country, surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills, and since 1998 it has hosted Pickin’ in the Pasture — a traditional bluegrass festival that has earned a reputation far beyond what its modest size might suggest. When bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley agreed to play the inaugural event, he gave the festival a stamp of credibility that it has honored every year since. Now entering a new chapter under fresh ownership, Pickin’ in the Pasture 2026 runs August 20 through 23 and remains one of the finest traditional bluegrass gatherings in the Northeast.
The story of this festival is inseparable from the farm itself. Andy and Susan Alexander, both bluegrass musicians, started the festival when their son Jesse was only eight months old. They wanted to create a place where world-class bluegrass could happen in a setting that felt like home — no concrete, no corporate banners, just a stage in a pasture with sheep grazing on the adjacent hillside. That vision attracted legends. After Ralph Stanley opened the doors, the Osborne Brothers, JD Crowe, Bob Paisley, Jesse McReynolds, Frank Wakefield, Bill Harrell, Allen Mills, and the Lewis Family all followed. For a small farm festival, that lineup reads like the Bluegrass Hall of Fame.
In 2026, Danny and Christa Stewart have taken over the festival from the Alexander family, with plans to preserve its character while carrying it into a new era. The transition represents a vote of confidence in what Pickin’ in the Pasture has built — a community that runs deeper than any single owner.
The Music
Pickin’ in the Pasture has always been about traditional bluegrass, and it wears that identity proudly. This is not a festival that chases trends or books crossover acts to broaden its appeal. The stage show features professional-quality performances of the real thing — tight vocal harmonies, blazing mandolin runs, driving banjo rolls, and the kind of fiddle playing that connects directly to the Appalachian tradition. The programming typically runs from afternoon through evening, with a professional stage show that draws from regional and national touring acts.
Getting There & Know Before You Go
Alexander Farm is located in Lodi, New York, between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in the heart of the Finger Lakes. From the New York State Thruway, take the Geneva or Waterloo exit and head south on Route 414. Lodi is a small town, so the farm is well-signed during the festival. The drive from Rochester is about an hour, from Syracuse about 90 minutes, and from Ithaca about 45 minutes.
Tickets range from approximately $60 for single-day admission to $120 for the full weekend, with camping included in multi-day passes. RV spots may carry an additional fee — check the website for current pricing. Gates typically open Thursday for early arrivals, and many regulars consider Thursday evening, with its low-key jamming and campsite setup, the best part of the weekend.
Bring your instrument. Seriously. Even if you are a beginner, the jamming culture at Pickin’ in the Pasture is welcoming enough that you will find a circle where you fit. Bring a camp chair, sunscreen, layers for cool evenings, and a willingness to stay up later than you planned. The late-night jams are worth every lost hour of sleep.
Why This Festival Matters
Pickin’ in the Pasture matters because traditional bluegrass needs places like this to survive. In an era when many festivals chase mainstream appeal with crossover acts and genre-bending lineups, Alexander Farm remains a sanctuary for the real thing. The transition to new ownership in 2026 is a testament to the strength of the community the Alexanders built — a community so devoted to this music and this place that someone was willing to take on the responsibility of keeping it alive.
For the Finger Lakes and Upstate New York, Pickin’ in the Pasture is a living connection to a musical tradition that runs deep in rural America. The fact that it happens on a working sheep farm, surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in the state, only deepens its authenticity. This is bluegrass the way it was meant to be heard — under open sky, among friends, with the next jam circle always just a few steps away.
The farm setting matters beyond aesthetics. Alexander Farm sits between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine country, and the late-August timing aligns with peak harvest season across the region. Many attendees extend their trip to take in the wine trails, the gorges around Ithaca, or the waterfalls of Taughannock Falls State Park just a few miles north. Pickin in the Pasture is an easy anchor for a longer Finger Lakes weekend, and the region has never been a more compelling destination than it is in late August.