The Cape Cod Roots & Blues Festival is a one-day, rain-or-shine celebration of homegrown, raw and rootsy music on Nauset Beach in Orleans, MA. Here is everything you need to know before you get your tickets.
The day is built for everyone, from longtime blues fans to families with small kids. Arrive early to find a good spot on the sand, grab something from the local food trucks and settle in with a chair or a blanket. Admission is general, so there are no assigned seats: the best place to be is wherever the music sounds right to you. Day-of tickets are sold at the box office tent at the entrance as long as space allows, but advance tickets are the surest way in.
Festival day at Nauset Beach runs from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. This is a general admission, standing-room, festival-style event — you are welcome to bring a beach chair or a blanket.
Family is an important part of the festival. A child ticket is available for $10 and must be purchased together with a full-price ticket.
Kids are a big part of the festival crowd, and there is plenty of space for them to move around on the beach between sets. Ear protection for little ones near the stage is always a good idea.
The evening before the festival, G. Love & Special Sauce host a special VIP show at Hog Island Beer Co. Doors open at 6:00 PM, with the music starting around 7:00–7:30 PM.
It is a smaller, up-close evening with the festival’s headliner in a local brewery setting — a great way to kick off the weekend before heading to the beach the next day.
Still have a question? Check the festival FAQ or plan your trip with directions & parking and lodging tips.