Article Contributed by Tony Mueller
Published on 2026-07-24
Highbridge Hills Disc Golf Jamboree - photos by Tony Mueller
Some places just feel like home, and every July, Highbridge Hills becomes exactly that.
The drive alone tells you everything you need to know. As the pavement gives way to winding back roads and anticipation starts to build, suddenly, you’re there. Disc golf baskets peek out of the woods, and one of the most unique festivals you’ll ever find welcomes you. Highbridge Hills Disc Golf Jamboree isn’t trying to be the biggest festival around. It knows exactly what it is, and that’s what makes it so special. Held this year from July 16–18, it was one I’ll remember forever.
This year’s weekend didn’t exactly begin under ideal conditions. Thick smoke rolled into northern Wisconsin, creating an eerie backdrop that made it so you couldn’t even see 100 yards in front of you. Later in the weekend, the heat cranked up before storms eventually rolled through, but through it all, the festival never lost its spirit. Andrew and Sarah Snippen, along with an army of dedicated volunteers, worked tirelessly through some genuinely difficult weather to keep everything running smoothly. It would have been easy to throw in the towel, but instead, they kept smiling, kept adapting, and pulled off another unforgettable weekend. Festivals don’t happen without people willing to put in countless hours behind the scenes, and everyone involved deserves a huge thank you for making it all happen.
Highbridge has always managed to strike a balance that few festivals even attempt. Around here, disc golf merges effortlessly with the music. Everywhere you look, there’s another reminder of the sport that brought everyone together. Whether it’s baskets tucked into the woods, players comparing discs, or conversations about impossible putts from earlier in the day, disc golf is woven into every corner of the property.
But don’t mistake that for the music taking a back seat. Andrew and Sarah consistently put together lineups that could stand on their own anywhere, bringing in incredible touring acts alongside regional favorites that fit the atmosphere perfectly. This year’s lineup featured names like Man Man, Heatbox, Feed the Dog, Sqwerv, Chicken Wire Empire, Dig Deep, and plenty more. Better yet, the music doesn’t even begin until 5 p.m., leaving the entire day open to get out on one of the country’s most legendary disc golf landscapes. I wish I would’ve squeezed in a little more discing myself this year, but sometimes the camera has other plans.
Thursday wasted absolutely no time getting things rolling. Moonbadger kicked off the Main Stage with a set that caught everyone’s attention, delivering jam after jam while the crowd settled into festival mode. Unfortunately, Sneezy was unable to make the trip because of the smoke conditions, but Moonbadger happily stepped in with a second set that kept the fire burning. If the smoke was trying to put a damper on opening night, Moonbadger brought the true fire and lit the whole stage ablaze—metaphorically, of course.
Familiar faces Ira Haze and the Sub Par Round were up next, performing not one but two sets, with the second devoted entirely to Neil Young. It was packed with classics that had plenty of people singing along, proving once again that some songs never get old.
As darkness settled over Highbridge, Dig Deep took over as Thursday night’s headliner and delivered one of my favorite performances I’ve seen from them. Their brand of no-rules bluegrass felt tailor-made for a place like Highbridge. The setting was intimate, the crowd was feeling it, and by the end of the night, the band climbed off the stage for one final acoustic jam surrounded by the audience. It was one of those festival moments that someone like me lives for. I put on the flash and grabbed a few quick pictures of the event before they called it quits.
The Campfire Stage kept the momentum going well into the night as Twine mixed fiery picking with an excellent saxophone player to send everyone off toward their campsites with smiles on their faces.
By Friday morning, the smoke had finally moved out, replaced by intense summer heat. Dandelion Delivery Service got the afternoon started with a wonderfully wild performance before Mother Nature decided she wasn’t quite done messing with everyone’s plans. Rain rolled through, sending people scrambling for cover, but sometimes a little patience pays off.
The skies eventually cleared just in time for Dangermuffin to take the stage, and what followed was one of the most beautiful festival moments I’ve ever photographed. As the band eased through their jams, the sun slowly disappeared beneath glowing clouds while the moon quietly emerged overhead. I know everybody was soaking it in because it was impossible not to. It felt almost unreal, and I found myself snapping some of my favorite photos of the entire weekend during that set.
The Side Stage welcomed Bamm’s Marshall Tucker Tribute shortly afterward for a performance that was equal parts psychedelic and nostalgic. Then it was time for Friday night’s headliner. Sqwerv brought exactly what everyone hoped they would, stretching songs into joyous jams that had the crowd dancing the entire time. Even the band couldn’t stop smiling as they fed off the energy coming back from the fans. It quickly became one of my favorite sets of the entire weekend.
Once the Main Stage wrapped up, Brotherhood of Birds gathered everyone around the Campfire Stage for one final collection of laid-back tunes that felt like the perfect soundtrack to another night under the stars.
Saturday had been circled on my schedule for a long time, and somehow, it still managed to exceed expectations. Heatbox kicked things off with a rare daytime performance that proved just how entertaining one person with a microphone and a loop station can be. His combination of beatboxing, looping, comedy, and audience interaction is unlike anything else in the festival scene these days.
One of the funniest moments came when Sarah Snippen jumped onstage to help him lay down a beat. Let’s just say professional beatboxing might be her calling, but unfortunately, Heatbox couldn’t handle her sick beats and failed to make a track with them on the spot. I guess people like Sarah just have a little too much heat for a performance like that.
Chicken Wire Empire took over the Side Stage for their first performance of the day, delivering exactly the kind of high-energy bluegrass that had everyone grinning from ear to ear. Knowing another set was still coming later that evening somehow made it even better. Then it was time for the weekend’s biggest wildcard.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect from Man Man, but they completely won me over. From the moment the band walked onstage in sparkling outfits, it was obvious this wasn’t going to be an ordinary performance. Every song felt like theatrical chaos in the best possible way.
Frontman Honus Honus wandered through the crowd carrying props, ringing bells, dancing with—and on—festivalgoers, and making everyone feel like part of the show. Every so often, he’d yell toward the woods, where a few dedicated disc golfers were still finishing their rounds, jokingly calling them “COWARDS” for missing the concert.
The entire performance felt entirely unpredictable, and by the end, I realized I’d just witnessed one of the most entertaining sets I’ve seen in years. As incredible as Man Man was, Saturday still had plenty left in the tank.
Chicken Wire Empire returned for “Pickin’ on the Dead,” a full set of Grateful Dead songs transformed into bluegrass masterpieces. Hearing those familiar songs played with blazing strings and tight harmonies was an absolute treat. Personally, I could’ve listened to them all night.
Then Feed the Dog took over to close the Main Stage, bringing enough heart and energy to turn the entire hillside into one giant dance party. Their songs have a way of bringing people together, and we couldn’t have asked for a better closing performance.
Finally, Dilettante returned to the Campfire Stage for one last wonderfully weird late-night journey. Equal parts ambient, experimental, and beautiful, it felt less like a concert and more like slowly drifting off into a dream as the weekend quietly came to an end. A random old kung fu movie played on the awning as the band hid behind it, never truly revealing themselves to the remaining festivalgoers.
As fantastic as the music was this year, Highbridge has always been about much more than the lineup. Throughout the weekend, there were yoga sessions, workshops, fire spinning, art installations, light painting, and plenty of opportunities to simply wander around and discover something new.
If you were lucky enough to be around before Saturday’s music started, you could even catch professional disc golfers Jay “Yeti” and Des Reading leading a putting clinic. They rewarded players with discs, shared stories from the road, offered tips to improve everyone’s short game, and filled the afternoon with laughs before the first bands ever hit the stage.
Every year, I leave Highbridge with a full camera, tired legs, and a happy heart. This festival means a lot to me, and getting to document it year after year is something I’ll never take for granted. Whether you’re someone who lives for throwing plastic through the woods or you’ve never picked up a disc in your life, there’s something waiting for you here.
Sure, loving disc golf certainly helps, but it’s the people, the music, the atmosphere, and the sense of community that keep bringing everyone back. I already can’t wait to make that drive again next summer.
