Behind The Lens: 12th Annual WinterWonderGrass Steamboat Festival
- Charles Luberisse
- Mar 7, 2025
- 2 min read
The 12th annual SOLD OUT WinterWonderGrass Steamboat wrapped up yesterday in spectacular fashion, leaving festival-goers with unforgettable memories. Held in the heart of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, this year festival goers were treated to three days of sunshine and some of the best weather that WinterWonderGrass has ever seen. WinterWonderGrass has become known for curating an experience that offers the perfect blend of winter sports, world-class music, and a unique and tight-knit community. First time festival performer, Jesse Iaquinto of Fireside Collective spoke about his experience saying:
From the stellar lineup to the intentionally curated moments, to the incredible artist hospitality, WinterWonderGrass rises to the top. Hands down one of the most magical festivals. It’s clear the love and commitment to creating an unforgettable experience is paramount.
The music lineup for this year's WinterWonderGrass featured some of the biggest names in bluegrass, Americana, and folk. With acts like Trampled By Turtles, The California Honeydrops, and Kitchen Dwellers taking to the stage, festival guests experienced acts of incredible musicianship and one-of-a-kind performances, including the iconic sit-ins that WinterWonderGrass is known so well for.
Memorable moments from the weekend included the WinterWonderWomen supergroup set on the main stage (featuring Bridget Law, Emma Rose, Megan Letts, Lindsay Lou, Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose, Michelle Milo Pietrafitta and brand new member Anna Moss) covering Chappel Roan’s Pink Pony Club, and sending a message of strong female power to all the young girls in the audience. WinterWonderGrass alum, Pixie and the Partygrass Boys had their debut mainstage performance. Lindsay Lou sat in with The Brothers Comatose for Man I feel Like A Woman, Plus, artists-at-large Lindsay Lou, Kyle Tuttle, and Jon Stickley sat in with Daniel Donato, and Lindsay Lou and Daniel Donato sat in with Colorado’s Leftover Salmon for Nobody’s Fault But Mine. Kitchen Dwellers covered LCD Soundsystem’s Dance Yrself Clean with a guest drum line including Michelle Milo Petrafitta, Tyler Gwynn, and the festival’s founder, Scotty Stoughton. After the festival gates closed, the party kept going at WinterWonderGrass’s weekend-long, SOLD OUT Grass After Dark late-night sets.
Camp Coletrain’s popup workshops at WinterWonderGrass were one of the most sought after activities over the weekend.. The kids workshop sold out quickly, drawing young musicians eager to get hands-on experience. The public pick sessions were also a huge hit, with special guests from Leftover Salmon and Kitchen Dwellers joining in.
The festival paused on Saturday just before Leftover Salmon took the stage for a touching and solemn moment of silence for Peter Van De Carr, a well-known business owner in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, primarily recognized for owning Backdoor Sports. He tragically died in a skiing accident at Steamboat Resort, leaving a significant impact on the local community due to his generous spirit and love for the outdoors. This year, the festival dedicated the main stage and named it the Pete Van De Carr stage in honor of Pete's enduring legacy.
WinterWonderGrass Steamboat 2025 proved once again that it's not just about the music—it's about creating lasting memories, fostering community, and celebrating the beauty of the winter season in one of the country's most-loved mountain towns. Look out for more events from Bonfire Entertainment in 2025 including RiverWonderGrass and the return of Campout For The Cause.
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