Ahhh, Harmony Fest - you are definitely an experience. Winged men women and children. People with tails galore. Dirty, loving hippies. Free samples of Honestea and chocolate. Bins set up for Compost, Landfill and Recycling (although I think most of the compost heap wasn't actually compostable...oh well) The smell of weed, nagchampa and people at every turn. Awesome art, fun vendors, crazy-one-of-a-kind clothing and jewelry. My only complaint is that for a Festival that supposedly boasts loving the environment, being sustainable, and being host to people who are eco-friendly and emotionally evolved - there sure is a lot of trash everywhere. Can't people pick up after themselves if they love the earth so much? There are trash bins everywhere...walk your barefooted self over to one and voila...done and done. This year Lauryn Hill was the driving force for me to come and I have to say...she was late and did her mic-check and volume levels for the first 10 minutes of the show... mmm not impressive. She sang some old school stuff at a very fast pace, probably to get through her set, which as stated before - was late. I was hoping I'd get to hear more from her vocally... you know, like super wailing some of her emotional, righteous sh*t... All in all though - Good Festival. I'd def go again. read more

2010 - the lineup was not so great. But still fun. 2009 - AMAZING lineup!! I have been to several Harmony Fest's and all have been fun. Some better than others due to lineup's. But all in all, nice to have such a fun Fest in Santa Rosa. read more

The three best annual happenings in Santa Rosa are: 1) Tour de California 2) Harmony Festival 3) Handcar Regatta Don't miss any of them. Believe me. Music? Let's see, we've seen great shows here by Damien Marley, Matisyahu, the Roots, Erykah Badu, the Meters, Taj Mahal, Rebeloution, Pepper, Mike Stern, George Clinton, K'naan, and there's always hours full of amazing gospel choirs on Sundays. Oh, and it's just a tad 420 friendly. This used to be a local thing with Big Bang Beat & Zazu Pitts and other cover bands. It's come a long way in the past few years. It's almost a small scale Bonaroo or Bumbershoot...almost. We love the Harmony Festival. read more

I've, unfortunately, spent little time in the festival scene. Having gone to day-time-only mini-festivals seemed like such a tease to me. So when my boyfriend pointed out an ad in the paper for Harmony Festival, listing Lauryn Hill as the headliner, my automatic reaction was something along the lines of, "F@$% yeah lets go!!" We live in San Francisco and were a little worried about transportation to Santa Rosa, figuring we would have to hop a Greyhound or something. Fortunately, they have a ride share group on their website and we were able to hook up with a nice old hippie dude named Garth... or Gary... something... Anyway, he was not a psychopath as far as I could tell and he got us to the festival safe and early enough to snag one of the very limited grassy camping spots. We set up our tent and went straight to the music. All of the musicians who performed were really, very good. Steel Pulse, Zappa Playa Zappa, Slightly Stoopid, Delhi to Dublin, Antioquia all killed it. At night the festival turns into a major rave. Saturday night blew my mind. They had a stage set up on one end inside a huge building, and a sick lounge area with rugs, cushy couches, a tiny stage for anyone to dance on, and a giant orb with psychedelic images projecting on it on the opposite end. There was a fire troupe called Luminesque performing on the stage, which was like nothing I've ever seen before. These people are seriously talented. There were trapeze artists and dancers who all spun fire and as the show went on it got more and more intense. Everyone was left in awe. The entire space was complete with multi-colored laser beams which shot in every direction from egyptian eyes. Very. Cool. Ms. Lauryn Hill played Sunday evening and she was.... she was okay. I mean, she's freaking Lauryn Hill so of course everyone loved it but I got the feeling that her heart wasn't really in it. She seemed to want to rush the set after showing up late to her slot and having to use a DJ to occupy the crowd for about a half hour. But thats on her, not the festival. The nicest couple ever happened to be camping right next to our tent and we kicked it with them a few times over the weekend. They cooked us yummy breakfast burritos Sunday morning and even ended up driving us back to Frisco at the end of the day. I love Harmony Festival and I absolutely cannot wait to go next year and do it all again. Please go. And hit me up when you do. read more

World beat, old beat, new beat, music, music, music. (and food, food, food). Cool stuff to buy or just look at, reggae, blues, world beat, techno. All day, all night. Cool for kids too. Dance all day and night. Light shows in the techno dome, sleep on the grass or in the Casbah tent. Sip a brew. So cool. Can't wait. It's the start of the music festival season in good ole Northern CA! read more

I am waiting for the festival. There is nothing like this in Sonoma County. I look forward to it every year. Some years I go by myslef and some years I bring my kids. This is a perfect festival for everyone and anyone. I can't wait to go again this year. read more

Saw it, its last year in Santa Rosa... don't know if it can transcend to the Bay area. But happy to see it its last year in at Santa Rosa fairgrounds read more

I really wanted to have a great time at this festival. It's been going strong for decades. The people generally cool. The fairgrounds are large enough to handle the crowd. The vendors and people talking about their green, eco-friendly, vegan, massage-loving, humanure, Mayan calendar obsessed, organic, raw cacao and goji berries were fun and odd in a good way. The food and beer, sure, are always too expensive, but that's how they make money. I did appreciate the Lagunitas and Sierra Nevada as beer choices. Michael Franti and Cake and ALO and other random bands, all cool in my book for a warm CA weekend outdoor music fest. But we stayed for the multi-day camping and well, it's almost like the camping part of this fest is an afterthought. Pretty much put up your tent where ever you find a flat space. In front of an old horse stable or in a dusty parking lot. Not much as far as grass to find. No field set aside for camping, just dusty dirt roads off to the side of the main stage. And a big barn called the cow palace with a roof, that we avoided as soon as I saw it filling with the kids. Maybe there's the other VIP camping area that has actual camping space, but not for the common folk who pay only the $200 per ticket. We left Saturday night after not getting any sleep Friday night. Our meth-fueled tent neighbors across from us brought big stereo speakers, plugged into the power from the horse stable and blasted uninspired hip-hop all through the night until sunrise. Most of them were wearing those yellow Staff jackets announcing they worked there and could pretty much do anything they wanted. Ahh, corruption in hippiedom. I felt bad for their young children (3 or 4 pre-school kids running around) who really shouldn't be surrounded by their drug usage and late night partying. Little kids need sleep to develop. Sure, the parents want to have a good time, but raising a child doesn't mean you can drag them to your house party because you can't afford a sitter for the weekend. Well, I guess you can and do drag them to these things, but I question your parenting skills. Sorry for the digression. Maybe the bloodlines ran a bit thin and they just can't discern wrong from right and their children are bred and destined to repeat their parents mistakes. Go for the music, the sunshine and to hear speakers talk about their books. But go home after the bands finish. All that, 'if not now, when? If not you, who?' stuff makes me a little annoyed sometimes too. Peace. 1 star for the camping. 4 four stars for the festival. read more

the staff running this event are total garbage. i bought a ticket to see the flaming lips, the headliner of 1 evening. As i tried to get in, they decided to stop scanning tickets. they sent me and a mass group of people to threee different places just for each place to tell us to go somewhere we've already been. Super unprofessional. We missed some of the set for the ONLY band we wanted to see because the staff was so horribly organized. i will never suffer through this fest again. read more

I worked for a vendor at this festival. My booth was right next to the main stage so I got to listen to all of the bands while I slung food. I thought most of the the musical acts were great. Grace Potter, SOJA, and Flaming lips killed it. I did not get to see the camping areas for the festival in person so I cant comment on that. The main stage area was nice and there was plenty of room for everyone to chill and dance. Techno-tribal community dance was beautiful. They were playing some cheezy bro-step when I was in there. The fire-dancing girls and the trapeze dancers were fantastic enough to make me forget how terribad the music was. (I wish I knew who was on). The people at this show were so nice and they were obviously having a blast. There were people from ages 0-80 and they were all having a blast and doing their thing with some big assed smiles on. So why 3 stars? This festival was all about promoting the eco-friendly lifestyle. I also heard people on stage making anti-corporation/consumerism comments more than once and I can understand where they're coming from. For a festival that is all about these morals I can honestly say I have never been to a show that had as many vendors in my life. There must have been around 500 vendors there. I mean the fairgrounds are huge and most of it was dedicated to vendors and not chillout areas or other stages with music (as most festivals I have been to have done). I feel like this is a big hypocrisy to the whole festival. Its like they're saying/promoting one thing but doing another. This is my first hippy style festival so maybe this is the norm, but I hope not. I am taggigng "good for kids" as I saw a bunch having a great time. If I had kids you would not see them here, but to each their own. read more

Oh My God!!!! What Utter Garbage when it comes to Freedom and Harmony!!!! I'm So Upset I'm Going to Puke!!!! It's Saturday Night.... I'm at the festival because my friend invited me to come i didn't have $175 for a 3 day pass which in my opinion is way too much $$$ to blow for security to tell me on Saturday night to not have music playing at my campground.... 8 and 12 dollar food in this economy are you for real!!!! does anyone really give a @#$%^ about their fellow man???? Yes people do your just starting to look more and more like a needle in a haystack these days... I was just listening to the music on my laptop and the Security Company Pretorian A.K.A. the Yellow Jackets i hope i spelled that right.....told me to not play my music on my laptop!!!! WTF!!!! I have gone to music festivals for years and this is the by far!!! the most ANAL start to festival Season i have ever seen to date!!!! I know the people that have been throwing these parties have a tough time putting these festivals together Harmony,and who knows what other music events it's a tough job i know and i see all the same people working these events every year which leads me to believe it's a big company or a family of small companies.... But Over pricing over Charging in my opinion is detrimental to your future success as a whole..... Charging more $$$ for the late night!!!! Look i know there are people that can afford to see great music even at the late night.... But did all you well to do people forget the little guys & girls??? A.K.A. Broke asses.... Are You musicians happy with 30 people showing up to listen to your music and leaving 150 people outside to listen at a distance.... I'm willing to bet you would have made way more $$$ had you let everyone in and just asked for a donation.... I would have been happy to give you my last 10 bucks to see a latenight show if there was just someone there politely asking people for a donation rather than wristband this V.I.P. That.... Is your passion for the Music or for Making $$$? I guess the days of being a true blue giver till it hurts and keeping the circle going are really over? Please say it ain't so!!! Drop the prices and you might survive next year..... Who am i kidding of course you'll survive..... But that future only states the reality in which we live in today NO MIDDLE CLASS ONLY THE RICH AND THE POOR..... So the real question is: DOES HARMONY GIVE A RATS ASS ABOUT IT'S PEOPLE??? You Anal People A.K.A Bush Supporters need to get wise because your Future is at Stake with the Money you will loose if people just said no More Harmony as far as all the Beer and Supplies people buy at the local level and the gas people spend outside the festival to make it to Santa Rosa... Ok It's now Sunday Morning 4:30am were still drinking outside & security gave in and said i can crank the tunes at 6:am cutting us a little slack..... When i started to crank the tunes they came back and Took Back what they said & Still Bumming with no tunes ...... and i was in the Cow Palace where Most of the people were wanting to be loud and not wanting to sleep.... Noise Ordinance.... The California Law States 10pm - 6am Keep the Noise Down But people couldn't have anything on till 10am WTF!!!! Oh Yeah No Coolers? What Next No Fun? This site is the true place to Make or Break Companies and keep people Honest.... For me Day pass Next Year.....If I Make it at all.... Camping Not worth It !!!!! My Personal Opinion it was a Waist of money.... Without a LOUD SECTION for the PARTY ANIMALS!!! Yes i do Fully Understand Kids and Old people need Quiet Time too.. I will if and when i get to be an Old Fart but That Being Said YOUR AT A MUSIC FESTIVAL!!!!!!! IF YOU WANTED TO BE QUIET GET A ROOM SOMEWHERE!!!! Now everything at the festival was not all bad.... The dead Kennedy's and Bad Brains was a Nice Change of Pace from all the Jambands we listen to..... The skate competition was off the chain too ...... Check out the Video.... http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=harmony+festival+2009&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f# I know i'll probably be there next year only if i get invited or if the prices drop.... Thanks to Our Families & Friends for Putting on Festivals like this Year after Year Truly I am a Big Fan....and i have Volunteered many a time before i just can't do it anymore....Too Much Hustle Over Weighs the Fun to be had... I Just feel like i'm Too Damn Broke and Physically Disabled to Support The Festival Endeavor's all summer long anymore...... Burningman all the way for me.... A Year to Plan A Week to Party!!! Drink for free eat for free Pay One Price Oh Yeah Thats for Me.... Keep The Circle Going That's Family.... Anyways i think I've Vented Enough and I hope my attitude and finances change so I can continue to Show My Unconditional Love to our Family & Futures Again.... My review for this year 4 Stars 1 for the Camping..... 3 for the Inside.... Thanx for Reading... read more

The Harmony Festival is never a disappointment!! I'm so stoked for this years festival, Pepper and Rebelution are going to be insane!! Has anyone else ever seen them live? If you haven't, I HIGHLY recommend checking them out! Especially if you enjoy high-energy live performances, its a funky reggae party for sure! ;) read more

VIP is a GREAT way to enjoy Harmony - the packages start at $300 for the whole weekend - camping, special viewing areas for all shows, bevs, organic catering, etc... http://harmonyfestival.com/tickets/vip-packages.html Lineup this year includes CAKE, Spearhead, Steve Kimock and Melvin Seals, ALO, Matisyahu, etc... read more

I am appalled by what I witnessed at this year's "Harmony" festival. The prices are only a mere problem when its compared to the old western style strong arming that was performed by the "security" staff. One even had the gall to say that they were instructed to toughen up this year. What can I say truly, I didn't even attend this years event. However, as a local residing adjacent the fairground property, I was exposed to the activity whether I liked it or not. I am accustomed to walking when large event occur to at the fairground and the Harmony festival allows me to engage with the many people outside with me (the undeserving who can't afford $45 to enter this peaceful and harmonious event during this time of universal crisis). I was standing with a group of people near a vehicle entrance that was guarded by 2 security guards. A 3rd guard came out and asked the less than ten of us to clear that area; of which he then posted himself for the duration of the time that I remained, 30 minutes or so. He stated that he had to do his job because there was 4 supervisors watching him. WTF?!!! One question: WHY THE NEED FOR SO MANY INTIMIDATING GUARDS AT A PEACEFUL EVENT? The idea of bringing people together in peace and harmony is a concept that suggest that we all broaden our scope of awareness and socialization. THANK YOU TO THE MANY FRIENDS WHO FUELED THIS EVENT WITH THE ENERGY THAT HAS KEPT THE TRADITIONAL SPIRIT ALIVE!!! We can all benefit from some positive focus and exposure to supportive and loving energy, a grander event that supports peace and harmony, but it should be expressed in love and understanding. read more

For sure one of the best music festivals I have ever been to! Always a great line up. Saw Lauryn Hill and Rebelution here last year and both performances were amazing! Can't wait to see Primus, Franti and SOJA next month here! read more

I enjoyed the Harmony Festival, it was all about free love. The pot smoking and the hippies comes with it. It was a really good event with good music. When Cake performed everyone was yelling out Cake Cake Cake to do an encore. It was a really enjoyable experience. The food wasn't half bad but it would be better for the prices they charge. But food is expensive everywhere there is a social gathering that involves stoners and tourist. I thought the Harmony Festival was awesome and a great place to meet new people. Everyone there seemed really peaceful and the live music just kind of brang it all together. I say hooray for the Harmony Festival, i'll be there next year. Great music, good people, lots of fun things to check out. read more

bad, bad, bad regarding 2011 ticket sales. online tickets listed for $45 plus $6 service charge. but you can also buy tickets at the gate. they forget to mention if you buy at the show it's $60 plus a credit card charge! they really could have done better communicating this as many were surprised at the gate. it's a shame as the rest of the event was FABuLOUS. read more