What WinterWonderGrass does

WinterWonderGrass is a privately held, multi-location music festival company founded in 2013 in Colorado and operated under parent Bonfire Entertainment. The company produces three distinct annual event properties: the flagship WinterWonderGrass Steamboat, a multi-day winter bluegrass/jamgrass/Americana festival at Steamboat Resort featuring four stages (three heated tents), complimentary craft beverage tastings, a kids zone, and VIP areas; BajaWonderGrass, an intimate beachside festival launched in 2023 in El Sargento, Baja California Sur, Mexico; and RiverWonderGrass, multi-day private river expeditions through desert canyons created during the 2021 pandemic period. Supporting products include Grass After Dark late-night shows, Mountain Top Dinners at Thunderhead Lodge, Camp Coletrain music workshops, the Bonfire Stories video series, and the Taste of WonderGrass tasting program.

The business operates a multi-stream revenue model anchored by festival ticket sales across GA, VIP, and add-on tiers, supplemented by merchandise, sponsor activations, lodging package partnerships (30% Steamboat discount, Baja Stay & Play bundles), and a volunteer program ($265 refundable deposit with $15 retained fee). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the Tixr ticketing platform, on-site box offices, lodging resellers (Steamboat Resort, Baja Joe's, Palapas Ventana), Adrift for river bookings, and CashorTrade for verified face-value ticket exchange. The customer base spans individual festival-goers, craft beverage sponsors (Montucky Cold Snacks, Ikon Pass, Oskar Blues, Sierra Nevada, TINCUP, Spiked Snowmelt), and local businesses participating in the LocalWonderGrass partner program. With only 7 employees and no disclosed funding rounds or institutional capital, WinterWonderGrass has grown organically across 13 years, donating over $50k annually to local nonprofits and diverting 55% of waste from landfill through its Minimal Impact sustainability partnership.

Name

WinterWonderGrass

Legal name

WinterWonderGrass

Website

https://winterwondergrass.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WinterWonderGrass is a privately held, 7-employee music festival operator under Bonfire Entertainment that produces the WinterWonderGrass Steamboat, BajaWonderGrass, and RiverWonderGrass event properties, serving bluegrass, jamgrass, and Americana fans across Colorado, Mexico, and river expedition experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Festival Events

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Winter Adventure Experiences (Ski Touring, Snowshoeing, Dog Sledding) (THAJABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & River Adventures (THAJABAB)

Keywords

• Music festival events
• Bluegrass roots music
• Winter music festivals
• Live event production
• Craft beer tastings

Headquarters

HQ city

Steamboat Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Festival Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from multi-day festival tickets for WinterWonderGrass Steamboat, BajaWonderGrass, and RiverWonderGrass events. Ticket tiers include GA, VIP, and single-day options.
2. Beer and Beverage Tastings: Complimentary tastings from 2:00-4:00 PM daily featuring craft brewers, with branded tent activations from Montucky Cold Snacks, Oskar Blues, and other partners.
3. Merchandise Sales: Festival merchandise including apparel sold at the festival site. All materials are organic or local when possible.
4. Volunteer Program: Refundable ticket purchase of $265 required to participate, with $250 refunded upon completion of volunteer shifts. $15 administrative fee retained.
5. Late Night Shows: Grass After Dark late night shows require separate ticketing, with prices starting at $10.
6. Ski/Lift Pass Add-ons: Festival tickets do not include lift tickets; Ski/Ride Passes must be purchased separately through the WinterWonderGrass ticketing site.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WinterWonderGrass produces multi-location bluegrass, jamgrass, Americana, and roots music festivals combining live multi-stage performances with complimentary craft beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic tastings. The flagship WinterWonderGrass Steamboat is a three-day winter festival at Steamboat Resort, supported by the BajaWonderGrass beach festival in Mexico and the RiverWonderGrass multi-day river expedition experience, plus ticketed add-ons such as Grass After Dark late-night shows and Mountain Top Dinners.

Product overview

WinterWonderGrass is a multi-location music festival company operating a portfolio of three distinct event products: WinterWonderGrass Steamboat (Colorado), BajaWonderGrass (Mexico), and RiverWonderGrass (river expeditions). The core offering centers on bluegrass, jamgrass, Americana, and roots music festivals featuring multiple stages, complimentary tastings, and family-friendly activities. Supporting products include Grass After Dark late-night shows, Mountain Top Dinner experiences, Camp Coletrain music workshops, Bonfire Stories video content, and the Taste of WonderGrass beer tasting program. The company positions itself as a community-centered event producer combining music, mountain culture, and local business partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grass After Dark: Late night shows hosted around town following the daily festival shows at various local venue partners.
• Taste of WonderGrass
• Bonfire Stories
• LocalWonderGrass
• Camp Coletrain

Products and services

• WinterWonderGrass Steamboat Flagship three-day winter music festival held annually at Steamboat Resort in Colorado, featuring four stages (three heated tents plus outdoor main stage), complimentary beer/wine/spirits tastings daily from 2:00–4:00 PM, a kids zone, food trucks, VIP area, and coffee bar. Targeted at adults and families seeking community-centered bluegrass, jamgrass, Americana, and roots music experiences.
• BajaWonderGrass Three-day beachside music festival held in El Sargento, Baja California Sur, Mexico, featuring multiple stages, local food vendors, craft beverage tastings, and cultural experiences along the Sea of Cortez. Inaugural event sold out with 400 fans.
• RiverWonderGrass Multi-day private river expedition experience through remote desert canyons in Colorado/Utah, combining whitewater rafting with live music performances and intimate artist gatherings for small groups of guests. Booked through Adrift.
• Grass After Dark Separately ticketed late-night music shows held at local Steamboat venues around town after the main festival ends each night, restricted to attendees 21 and older, with tickets starting at $10.
• Mountain Top Dinner Intimate Thursday evening dining experience at Thunderhead Lodge atop Steamboat Mountain, featuring local cuisine, complimentary craft beverage tastings, and live music with WinterWonderGrass festival artists. Requires a special ticket purchased separately.

Quantifiable outcome

• Donated over $50k to local non-profits annually across all events
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Bonfire EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and event production partner for WinterWonderGrass festivals. Bonfire Entertainment manages all aspects of event production, ticketing, volunteer coordination, and artist relations.
• Montucky Cold SnacksflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Beer Sponsor. Born in Bozeman, Montana, Montucky Cold Snacks is a light snackable lager. Gives 8% of profits to local causes. Primary sponsor of Pickin' Perch tent.
• Ikon PasscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor providing Soapbox stage naming rights. Ikon Pass is a multi-resort ski pass offering access to Steamboat Resort and other destinations.
• Oskar Blues BrewerycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCraft brewery sponsor hosting Jamboree tent. Colorado-based brewery known for Dale's Pale Ale and other craft beers.
• TINCUP WhiskeyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpirits sponsor for the festival, providing whiskey products for tastings and VIP experiences.
• Java MonsterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnergy drink sponsor providing product for festival attendees.
• Spiked SnowmeltcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWinterWonderGrass mainstay sponsor. Upslope Brewing product - spiked seltzer at 5% ABV, 100 calories, 2g carbs, gluten free.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerVIP tent sponsor providing complimentary Sierra Nevada Beer for VIP ticket holders 2-5 PM daily.
• Minimal ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen-owned sustainability company providing refillable toxin-free products, minimal waste event services, and education. Partnership enables 55%+ waste diversion from landfill.
• Steamboat ResortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue host for WinterWonderGrass Steamboat event. Provides Upper Knoll Parking Lot venue space, lodging partnerships with 30% WWG discount, and lift pass coordination.
• Steamboat CreatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts organization leading Kids Zone with hands-on art experiences, rotating art projects by professional instructors, and creative programming.
• Coletrain Music AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic education partner providing Camp Coletrain pop-up at festival with acoustic music workshops and free public pick sessions led by instructors.
• La Tuna Beach BarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival venue host in El Sargento, BCS, Mexico. Beach-side restaurant and bar serving as the BajaWonderGrass festival site.
• AdriftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRiver adventure company booking RiverWonderGrass private expeditions through remote canyons and wild rivers. All bookings handled via Adrift platform.
• Lift Up Routt CountyminorOthersNon-profit partner receiving donations from WinterWonderGrass annual giving program.
• United Way of the Yampa ValleyminorOthersNon-profit partner receiving donations from WinterWonderGrass annual giving program.
• Tahoe Food HubminorOthersNon-profit partner receiving donations from WinterWonderGrass annual giving program.
• Azul Cerralvo FoundationminorOthersLocal Mexican non-profit supported by BajaWonderGrass. Focus on environmental conservation in the Sea of Cortez region.
• TixrcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital ticketing platform handling all festival ticket sales, ticket transfers, and event management.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• FloydFest: Independent annual roots/bluegrass/jam music festival in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Comparable as a multi-stage, family-friendly, mountain-set roots-music event with similar artist curation and attendee profile.
• MerleFest: Long-running roots/Americana/bluegrass festival founded in memory of Merle Travis, held in Wilkesboro, NC. Direct peer in genre, multi-stage format, and family-friendly orientation with music-workshop programming similar to Camp Coletrain.
• Planet Bluegrass (Telluride Bluegrass Festival): Producer of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and related bluegrass/roots events in mountain Colorado. Closest direct competitor: same genre, same mountain-resort setting, similar community-led brand identity, and overlapping audience.
• FreshGrass at MASS MoCA: Bluegrass and roots festival hosted by the MASS MoCA museum, featuring competitions and curated artist programming. Direct peer in genre and in combining music with community/cultural programming, though less outdoor-adventure focused.
• Northwest String Summit: Annual bluegrass/jamgrass gathering in Oregon with camping and on-site workshops. Comparable multi-day outdoor mountain festival with similar genre mix, camping integration, and intimate community feel.
• Hangout Music Fest: Beachside multi-stage music festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Most direct comparator to BajaWonderGrass: beachside location, intimate capacity, multi-stage format, and food/beverage sponsorships integrated into the experience.
• DelFest: Del McCoury-founded bluegrass festival in Cumberland, MD. Direct peer: same bluegrass core genre, intimate multi-stage mountain-community format, and family-friendly positioning aimed at the same attendee demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Outside Lands: Major San Francisco music festival known for combining music with food, wine, beer, and sustainability programming. Comparable as a broader-incumbent peer integrating craft beverage, culinary, and music into a destination festival experience.
• Sweetwater 420 Fest: Multi-stage music festival in Atlanta paired with a craft-beer experience and sustainability programming. Comparable as a broader-incumbent peer combining music with craft beverage sponsorships and eco/green-event branding.
• Bourbon & Beyond: Large Louisville festival combining music with bourbon and culinary programming. Broader-incumbent peer that, like WWG, monetizes the music audience through premium beverage partnerships and tasting-style activations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/winterwondergrass
• Instagraminstagram.com/winterwondergrass
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/winterwondergrass

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WinterWonderGrass