Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-04-30
The Ramble Festival will return to Camp Ramblewood in Darlington, Maryland October 9–11, 2026, marking its 5th anniversary with its most ambitious edition to date. The initial lineup is led by Kitchen Dwellers—performing two sets including a special Dwellin’ on the Dark Side Pink Floyd tribute, and Ripe, alongside Big Something, and Clay Street Unit, with additional artists to be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets are on sale now at RambleFestival.com.
Now five years in, Ramble has quietly evolved into one of the Mid-Atlantic’s most distinctive independent festivals, known for its intentionally intimate scale, non-overlapping sets, and emphasis on artist collaboration. Built around a fully immersive experience, The Ramble has settled into its identity without sanding off the edges that made it distinct in the first place. It is a music festival, but it functions more like a living environment built around participation, proximity, and the kind of shared experience that doesn’t translate neatly onto a poster.
“It’s been extraordinary to watch this community grow over the past five years,” says festival founder and producer Brick Lohr. “It’s exceeded anything we imagined. Not just in size, but in how close-knit and compassionate it’s become. Being part of something bigger than myself, something people genuinely feel, has been one of the greatest joys of my life.”
The 2026 undercard brings together a cross-section of best and brightest of the jam, funk, indie, and roots scenes, featuring Sneezy, Diggin Dirt, Bombargo, Kendall Street Company, Armchair Boogie, New Potato Caboose, Squeaky Feet, Bearly Dead, The Sweet Lillies, Big Blitz, Caleb Stine, Naptown Brass Band, and Skyler Cumbia, with additional artists still to be announced.
The festival’s annual collaborative centerpiece, The Ramble Band, will return in 2026 as “The Ramble Band Goes Interstellar.” The curated one-off set keeps its lineup and theme under wraps until showtime, following a 2025 edition that brought together Dogs in a Pile, Cris Jacobs, and Alex “Gator” Petropolous for a surprise Grateful Dead tribute.
WATCH | The Ramble Band Plays Dead - Ramble Festival 2025
(Dogs in a Pile + Cris Jacobs + Alex “Gator” Petropolous)
“People can expect to be surprised,” says Brick. “We try to create moments that feel shared and unrepeatable… things you can’t quite plan, but you remember.”
Artist-at-large appearances from Bella Rayne, Hayley Jane, and Shawn Eckels will thread through the weekend, reinforcing the collaborative backbone that defines the Ramble experience.
Emerging artists remain a focal point. Presented by Heady Wax Fiends, the festival’s Emerging Artist Sets will spotlight Twin Fin, Boot Juice, and Banshee Tree with full-length, no-conflict sets immediately preceding main stage headliners, an intentional format designed to put rising acts in front of the entire audience.
Further strengthening Ramble’s collaborative ethos, the festival will host a special appearance by The Young Guns, a newly assembled group of standout emerging bluegrass musicians curated in partnership with DelFest. The project represents a next-generation showcase of talent, with the group set to perform at both festivals in 2026, creating a unique bridge between two of the region’s most respected independent gatherings.
“The community grows through depth of connection,” Brick adds. “We’re always asking how to create space where people can be fully themselves. When that happens, everything else follows.”
Programming across the weekend is structured less around schedule and more around discovery. Secret sets take place daily in unannounced locations. Second line processions open and close each day, linking the main stage to late-night programming. Late-night sets, now a defining element of Ramble, will bring artists together for collaborative mashups built in real time.
Elsewhere on the grounds, campfire jams run deep into the night, with one geared toward open, participatory playing and another leaning into stripped-down songwriter sessions. The Busking Ambassador Program brings performers into every corner of the site, culminating in a pathway to stage the following year. Last year's winner, Skyler Cumbia, will proudly take the stage for a highly anticipated performance. The Heady Wax Fiends Vinyl Submission Contest returns for its second year, continuing a uniquely Ramble platform for discovery.
Visual art is embedded throughout. Live painters, installations, and a rotating gallery inside the Beer Hall Stage create a constant dialogue between sound and visual expression.
Ramble’s approach to hospitality remains consistent: no VIP tiers, transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and a focus on raising the experience for everyone rather than segmenting it. Full weekend passes include late-night programming and tent camping, while Ramblewood’s on-site cabins offer a summer camp-style experience that has become central to the festival’s identity.
WATCH | The Ramble Festival 2025 Recap Video
The festival continues to walk a deliberate line as a genuinely family-friendly event, offering dedicated kids programming while maintaining the space for late-night exploration. Kids are treated as future Ramblers, not an afterthought.
Tickets are on sale now, with a robust selection of passes to suit ramblers across all demographics. In addition to car and RV camping passes, the festival also offers on-site cabin rentals for groups of up to ten, alongside a glamping option. Additional artists, programming details, and experience announcements will follow in the coming weeks.
For more information, and to purchase passes, please visit the festival’s official website.
