Start the Summer Season at the Wildflower Music Festival

Summer is just around the corner, with the promise of opportunities to enjoy a bounty of talented musical performers at outdoor music festivals throughout the region. Wildflower Music Festival, one of the first and foremost music festivals in the North State, is a must for families who love good music in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Dance to foot-stompin’ music at Wildflower Music Festival

Now in its 10th year, this fundraiser for Wildflower Open Classroom Charter School features extraordinary musical artists from around the state. Andy Taylor, who has been curating the music for the festival for the past decade, says, “We want to offer a variety of music and bands to appeal to a wide audience. We look for diversity in band members as well as a mix of musical styles.” This year, Rainbow Girls (a three-piece guitar ensemble performing original soulful tunes with deep, incisive lyrics), Monophonics (psychedelic soul and rhythm and blues) and The Brothers Comatose (high-energy, foot stompin’, folk rock and bluegrass) will bring DeGarmo Park in Chico alive and rockin’ May 4 from 1-8pm.

“The festival has grown exponentially every year,” says Colleen Taylor, dedicate school parent and festival co-coordinator with her husband Andy. Their three children have attended Wildflower Open Classroom Charter School since kindergarten. “It started small at the Elks Lodge and grew bigger every year. We’ve held the festival several years at End of Normal at Estes Field. But last year we outgrew that site with over two thousand attendees, so we’ve moved the festival to DeGarmo park.” Colleen, Andy and the 15 or so parents who work together to make the festival successful expect it will be just as popular this year.

Students and parents make and sell treats at the Wildflower Music Festival. All proceeds benefit Wildflower Open Classroom

Wildflower Music Festival is a family affair

A truly family-friendly event, the festival features a free kids’ area with face painting, games, activities, jump houses, petting zoo, crafts and more. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and pop-ups to make the family comfy while enjoying a day of music and fun. There is a water filtration station for drinking water, so bring your water bottles to stay hydrated. A variety of food vendors will offer scrumptious lunch, snacks, dinner and dessert. Best of all, Sierra Nevada will be providing the brews, LaRocca Vineyard the wine, while you dance to the best music Chico has to offer!

Presale tickets are $55, $65 day of the event, kids under 12 are free. All proceeds go to support Wildflower Open Classroom, a free K-8 public charter school, which offers a “whole child” approach to education that addresses the academic, social, emotional, creative, aesthetic and physical growth and developmental needs of each student.

Wildflower Open Classroom teaches children the way they learn best

Wildflower strives to create self-motivated, competent and lifelong learners. They are committed to the celebration of diversity, stewardship of the earth, positive interpersonal relationships, appreciation of the arts and academic excellence. Based on a Waldorf learning model, Wildflower instructors creatively interweave standard school curriculum with thematic, hands-on learning experiences – the way kids learn best.

“The teachers are thinking outside the box,” says Colleen. “Just the other day, the kids were outside with paint and chalk writing their vocabulary words on the sidewalk.” Colleen’s 15-year-old son has attended Wildflower school since kindergarten and is now transitioning successfully to a public high school. “He loves to learn, thanks to his education at Wildflower,” says Colleen. “He’ll take that with him through high school and the rest of his life.”

Wildflower Music Festival tickets and volunteers

“We depend on volunteers to help make this festival run smoothly” says Colleen. Volunteers work in two-hour shifts and receive free admission and a festival T-shirt. Click here to volunteer. Go to wildflowermusicfest.com for Wildflower Music Festival information and tickets and wildflowerschool.com for more information on Wildflower Charter School.