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Camping at the Live Oak Music Festival
Rate it! Votes (0) | Comments (0) By Cheri Sicard, Photos: Mitch Mandell Posted August 6th, 2007

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, CALIFORNIA -- It had been a horrendous month. Difficult clients, the "checks in the mail" syndrome and general burnout had brought Mitch, my business partner and I to the point where we were bickering and arguing almost constantly. All that was about to change, however, and not a moment too soon. We packed our car with tents, air mattresses and coolers full of drinks and snacks and left the Los Angeles smog behind and made our way up the coast towards Santa Barbara. Our destination? The Live Oak Music Festival.

That was five years ago, and we've set every Father's Day weekend since aside to attend this very special event. Sponsored by San Luis Obispo public radio station KCBX, the Live Oak Festival is truly healthy for the soul. I can't recommend this event highly enough. Another plus to the Live Oak Festival? The price. Just $105.00 per adult for the entire weekend: three nights camping and all-day (and night) entertainment! Kids passes are a mere $25.00, and kids under 3 are free!

Day passes to the festival are available, but by far the best way to experience this event is to spend the full weekend on premises, camping out. The Live Oak campground is nestled in the Santa Barbara Mountains and, as the name implies, there is plenty of shade. Campsites (although no hook-ups) are available for both tents and RV's. What better way to make Dad's special day memorable than by making a weekend long family party out of the event?

That's what many California families do, as they return, like us, for the annual Live Oak pilgrimage. They come with travel trailers and motor homes, they come in vans, they come with tents. They cart in hammocks and tables and barbecue grills of every size and shape.  If you don't feel like cooking, however, don't worry, there are always plenty of good things to eat right on the grounds.

Arrive Early
The talent mix at the Live Oak Festival is always eclectic, is was literally something for everyone: rock and roll, bluegrass, classical, gospel, blues, Cajun, world music, rhythm and blues and one year even Taiko drummers! The quality of each act is always high. I honestly don't know how they do it, but my hat's off to the event organizers. In fact, the entire festival is best organized event of its kind that I have ever attended. They think of absolutely everything.

This is a wonderful family event with all ages being equally well represented, from young children through grandparents and everything in between. Music being the common bond that units everyone.

The festivities begin on Friday evening at 4:45, but I would advise arriving as early as possible. This is a very popular event and people have been known to camp out in the parking lot the night before, in order to be there when the grounds open. Especially if you have a large party that will want to camp together or if you want to be guaranteed of having a shady campsite, arrive early.

Opening ceremonies are followed by a night of lively music, three bands in all. The closing Friday night spot has always been reserved for an ultra lively act who leaves the crowd in an excellent mood for the rest of the weekend. We discovered the Afro-Celtic sounds of the Laura Love Band in such a set on our first trip to Live Oak and have been loyal fans ever since.

After Hours and The Morning After
The scheduled bands end around 10PM, but the night is far from over. The barn dance commences at 10:15, and although it may sound corny, we L.A. city folks had a whale of a time learning to square dance! (The dance was also a great aerobic workout that helped work off the terrific dinner we had earlier.)

The barn dance ends about midnight and many people head off to bed, but not the diehards, of which I am proud to be! One of the most charming parts of the festival is about to begin.

Everyone who plays an instrument brings it along and impromptu jam sessions spring up throughout the campgrounds like wild mushrooms after a summer rain. I personally have no musical talent whatsoever, but I had the best time wandering from lantern lit campsite to lantern lit campsite listening to great music till the wee hours of the morning. The talent mix here is equally as varied as the main stage. If you don't like one style of music, you only have to walk a few campsites away for an entirely new experience.

For the early birds, the "Vittles and Fiddles" program starts about 7:30 AM on Saturday and Sunday. Not being a morning person myself, I usually skip the musical breakfast offerings, but Mitch regularly partakes. I did, however, rise and shine early Saturday morning one year, because Naked to the World, one of my favorite bands in the world, provided the early morning entertainment. Not too many things could drag me out of bed at that hour, but for the musical talents of Kevin Fisher and David James, I'll get up at the crack of dawn any day!

On Sunday, a special continental breakfast is available, so kids can serve dad Father's Day breakfast in bed (or in his sleeping bag, as the case may be).

The Days are Filled with Fun!
The main stage events start at 9:30 AM, and again, finish officially at 10, with another dance (usually Cajun) and jam sessions following. Late Sunday morning is traditionally the gospel hour with some fine, wailing, down home southern gospel music. Can I get an Amen?

The days are also peppered with tons of activities for the kids and teens, such as storytelling, arts and crafts, puppet shows, hay rides, games, juggling, a talent show and dances. There are also workshops for adults, such as fiddling, songwriting or storytelling.

Gates open at 8AM. The Live Oak Festival will be presented rain or shine. No pets of any kind are allowed at Live Oak Campground.

ORDER TICKETS EARLY!!! THE CAMPING TICKETS ALWAYS SELL OUT!

For more information, call 805-781-3030, or visit the Live Oak Music Festival website.

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