Thousands of dahlias were in full bloom at Suyematsu Farms on Bainbridge Island last month when the inaugural Dahlia Farm Music Festival turned the historic property into a full day of live music, food vendors, and flower picking. The festival ran from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on August 15, with live performances kicking off at 1 p.m., according to KNKX Public Radio.
The event was organized by Rolling Bay Music Club, a local nonprofit built around fair pay for artists and inclusive, all-ages community events, as reported by KNKX Public Radio. Ticket proceeds were designated to support Seattle Pride's LGBTQIA+ youth programming, tying the festival's mission directly to the broader advocacy work the organization funds through partnerships across the region.
Tickets ranged from $75 to $145 and gave attendees access to local food vendors, artisan stalls, and the farm's U-Pick dahlia fields, per the same KNKX account. The festival folded the farm's U-Pick dahlia fields directly into the day's programming rather than treating them as a backdrop.
A Lineup Rooted in Regional Queer and Indie Talent
The bill featured Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Mary Lambert alongside Bainbridge Island's own Thistle Band, KNKX reported. Also on the roster was Portland queer-folk trio Lo Pony.
Brittany Davis also performed.
Rae Isla, who hails from Bainbridge Island, also performed at the festival.
Amelia Day also performed. Day was featured in a Seattle World Cup campaign.
A Farm With Decades of Local History
The setting itself carries decades of local history. Suyematsu Farms dates to the 1930s and was founded by the Suyematsu family.
Building a Long-Term Music Hub on the Island
Rolling Bay Music Club is a nonprofit whose stated mission centers on fair pay for artists.
A Seattle Refined gallery from KOMO covered the festival. With its first edition now behind it, the festival's regional music and LGBTQIA+ youth fundraising could make it a fixture on Bainbridge Island's late-summer calendar.
