Popular Do-It-Ourselves Gathering Returns 

By Julie Horner

In full-throated celebration of spring, the 4th Annual May Day Music Festival takes place on the gorgeous Northern Santa Cruz County coast Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4, 2025. Founded by Anil Prajapati, owner of Lille Aeske Arthouse in Boulder Creek, the festival has grown since its sunny origins at Hallcrest Vineyards in Felton. Expanded to two days, Anil and his team have moved the festival to Pie Ranch, a 27.5-acre organic farm nestled among the rolling hills on coastal Highway 1, about 21 miles north of Santa Cruz and just south of the historic town of Pescadero. Anil said, “We were looking for a venue that could do camping, that do-it-ourselves feel.” 

Native grasses and wildflowers, rustic outbuildings, and orderly rows of spring’s new plantings serve as backdrop for the festival. Music happens on two stages, and there will be unique food offerings, local wine and craft beer, and a handcrafted marketplace to explore. Under a blanket of stars, join late night jamming around the fire pit, and for those who wish to camp Saturday night, be rocked gently to sleep by the cadence of the Pacific Ocean in the near distance. 

Welcoming music lovers from all over the Bay Area and Santa Cruz, Anil said, “We wanted to bring the community together during this really challenging time to remember the things that are close to us, rediscovering ourselves in nature.” Featuring nearly 30 musicians and bands, including heavy hitting headliners like Whiskerman, Marty O’Reilly, The Rainbow Girls, and Wolf Jett, this intimate gathering aims to nurture a true sense of togetherness and renewed faith in humanity through the shared love of music. Set your burdens down and make a sweet local getaway weekend of it!

Single-day or two-day passes on Eventbrite: eventbrite.com/e/may-day-2025-tickets-1219588505049

Schedule of Events

Gates open at 11am both days.

Saturday — Main Stage
1:00 — Erisy Watt
2:15 — Dead Nettle
3:30 — The Lowest Pair
4:45 — Joe Kaplow
6:00 — Gil Landry
7:15 — Rainbow Girls
8:15 — Marty O’Reilly Trio
9:00 — Whiskerman

Saturday — Barn Stage
12:30 — Echoes & Artifacts
1:45 — Jesse Marks
3:00 — Lucas Lawson
4:15 — Aviva Le Fey
5:30 — Meernaa
6:45 — Jamie Drake
8:00 — Post Folk Revivalists

Sunday — Main Stage
1:00 — Kentucky Mule
2:15 — Zelma Stone
3:30 — Mount Saint Elias
4:45 — Mimi Gilbert
6:00 — Mariee Siou
7:15 — Wolf Jett

Sunday — Barn Stage
12:30 — Lindsay Stone
1:45 — Hanna Haas
3:00 — Queentide
4:15 — Nat Lefkoff
5:30 — Mild Universe
6:45 — Bolero!

About the Hosts

Pie Ranch was founded in 2002 by Jered Lawson, Karen Heisler, and Nancy Vail, each with backgrounds in sustainable agriculture and education. They envisioned a regional center for regenerative farming, food system education, sustainability, renewed engagement between farmers and end use consumers, and wanted to incorporate training and farm experience for new young farmers, especially from marginalized communities. And they imagined finding joy in all of it. They host farm work days, encourage indigenous collaboration, and throw old fashioned barn dances and farm-to-fork events. pieranch.org

Lille Aeske is a handcrafted arthouse nestled Boulder Creek in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Since opening in 2014, it has served as an intimate venue for visual arts, live music, culinary events, and more, with a mission to keep arts, music, and culture thriving in the San Lorenzo Valley. lilleaeske.com

Tickets

$100 Single Day / $150 Two-Day Pass
Camping Saturday night: $28.52 (includes online service fee)
Children 12 and under Free
Parking: $20/day | $30 2-day parking bundle

Tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/may-day-2025-tickets-1219588505049