| Event / Participants | Dragonfly Music Festival | Event Date | Sep 10-12, 2026 |
| Event Location | California Center for the Arts, Escondido | Start Time | Music begins at 4:00 PM daily. |
| Address | 340 N Escondido Blvd, Escondido, CA 92025 | Gate / Check-in | Gates open at 3:00 PM daily. |
| Phone | (800) 988-4253 | Official Link | Official festival and ticket details |
The Dragonfly Music Festival 2026 takes over the California Center for the Arts, Escondido from September 10-12, 2026, bringing three days of blues, rock, jazz, soul, roots, world music and more to North County San Diego.
The 2026 festival features 23 international, national and Southern California acts performing across three indoor and outdoor stages. The lineup includes Ruthie Foster, Sue Foley, Eric Gales, Danielle Nicole Band, The Beat Farmers, The Paladins, Daring Greatly, The Texas Headhunters, Whitney Shay featuring Laura Chavez and more.
Dragonfly goes beyond a traditional concert weekend. Visitors can move between multiple performance spaces, browse an indoor Vendor Village, grab food and drinks, join free morning group hikes on Friday and Saturday, or upgrade to a VIP experience. The festival welcomes all ages.
Dragonfly Music Festival 2026 at a Glance
| Event Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Festival | Dragonfly Music Festival 2026 |
| Dates | September 10-12, 2026 |
| Venue | California Center for the Arts, Escondido |
| Address | 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025 |
| Gates Open | 3:00 PM daily |
| Festival Ends | By 10:00 PM nightly |
| Artists | 23 international, national and local acts |
| Stages | Concert Hall, Rotary Centennial Stage and Lyric Courtyard |
| Music Styles | Blues, rock, jazz, soul, roots, world music, rockabilly and more |
| Age Policy | All ages |
| Parking | Free |
| GA Tickets | Starting at $79 per day |
| VIP Tickets | Starting at $149 per day |
| 3-Day VIP | $349 |
| Morning Hikes | Friday and Saturday at 8:00 AM |
Gates open at 3 PM each day, with music continuing into the evening and festival activities wrapping up by approximately 10 PM. General admission starts at $79 per day, while VIP options start at $149 per day.
Dragonfly Music Festival 2026 Lineup
One of Dragonfly’s biggest strengths is the range of music packed into three days.
Rather than building the weekend around a single sound, each day brings its own mix of genres and performers.
Thursday, September 10 Lineup
Blues, honky-tonk and world music
Music begins at approximately 4 PM on Thursday.
| Artist |
| Ruthie Foster |
| Mitch Polzak |
| Sue Foley |
| Monette Marino Keita Band |
| Whitney Shay featuring Laura Chavez |
| Jimmy & Enrique |
Thursday is a strong choice for blues fans, with Ruthie Foster and Sue Foley leading a lineup that moves through blues, roots, honky-tonk and world-influenced music. Whitney Shay featuring Laura Chavez adds another strong Southern California connection to the opening day.
Friday, September 11 Lineup
Rock, jazz, soul, pop and western swing
Friday’s music begins at approximately 4 PM.
| Artist |
| The Beat Farmers |
| Daring Greatly |
| Brockett Parsons |
| Pino Noir |
| The Pepper Moons |
| Thomas Leeb |
| Matthew Phillips |
| Lonesome Roses |
| David Spitzfaden |
Friday offers one of the widest musical mixes of the weekend.
The Beat Farmers bring decades of San Diego rock and roots history to the festival, while Daring Greatly, Matthew Phillips and the rest of Friday’s lineup move between rock, soul, pop, jazz and western swing.
Saturday, September 12 Lineup
Blues-rock, Southern rock, blues, rockabilly, world music and alternative rock
Saturday’s festival music begins at approximately 3:30 PM.
| Artist |
| Eric Gales |
| Danielle Nicole Band |
| The Paladins |
| The Texas Headhunters |
| Anthony Cullins |
| Sol e Mar |
| The Film Company |
| Sleepwalkers |
Saturday delivers a particularly strong blues and roots lineup.
Eric Gales brings high-energy blues-rock guitar to the closing day, while Danielle Nicole Band, The Paladins and The Texas Headhunters give Saturday a mix of blues, Southern rock, roots and rockabilly.
Visitors attending for a specific artist should check the latest festival schedule shortly before arriving, since performance times and stage assignments can change.
Where Is Dragonfly Music Festival?
Dragonfly Music Festival takes place at:
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
340 N. Escondido Blvd.
Escondido, CA 92025
The festival uses three different performance spaces in one arts complex, giving visitors a mix of indoor and outdoor music throughout the weekend.
Concert Hall
The Concert Hall is Dragonfly’s largest indoor performance space, with room for up to 1,450 seats plus a dance floor.
Shows run in the Concert Hall Thursday through Saturday, creating a more traditional concert experience within the larger festival.
Rotary Centennial Stage
The Rotary Centennial Stage brings part of Dragonfly outdoors.
It serves as a main outdoor performance area during the festival and gives visitors the option of enjoying live music in an open-air setting.
Lyric Courtyard
The Lyric Courtyard adds a third performance environment and helps Dragonfly feel more like a multi-stage festival than a single-venue concert series.
Being able to move between three spaces is one of the festival’s biggest advantages. You can catch an indoor performance, head outside for another artist and then continue to a smaller courtyard set without leaving the California Center for the Arts complex.
Dragonfly Music Festival Tickets
General admission tickets start at $79 per day.
Visitors who want upgraded seating and additional perks can choose a VIP ticket starting at $149 per day, while a three-day VIP package is $349.
What Does Dragonfly VIP Include?
VIP admission includes:
- Preferred reserved seating options
- Preferred parking
- One meal voucher per day
- Two drink tickets per day
- Private outdoor seating area
- Opportunities to meet artists in the Cal Club courtyard
- VIP collector’s badge
For visitors attending multiple days or planning to spend most of each day at the festival, the three-day VIP package can provide the most complete Dragonfly experience.
Is Parking Free at Dragonfly Music Festival?
Yes. Parking is free for Dragonfly Music Festival attendees.
VIP guests receive preferred parking closer to the event.
Even with complimentary parking, arriving early is a good idea, especially on Friday and Saturday when larger evening crowds may arrive around the same time.
Hike by Day, Music by Night
Dragonfly combines music with outdoor community experiences, and the 2026 festival continues its “Hike by Day, Music by Night” tradition.
Free social group hikes take place Friday and Saturday mornings before the afternoon festival activities begin.
Friday, September 11
San Dieguito River Park
Morning hike at approximately 8 AM
Saturday, September 12
Daley Ranch, Escondido
Morning hike at approximately 8 AM
The hikes are expected to cover roughly 3 to 4 miles, and festival musicians may join some of the groups.
This gives visitors the option of starting the day outdoors before returning to the California Center for the Arts for an afternoon and evening of live music.
Food and Drinks at Dragonfly Music Festival
Food and refreshments will be available throughout the festival.
Outside coolers and alcohol are not permitted, so plan to purchase food and beverages inside the event.
VIP ticket holders receive a meal voucher and two drink tickets for each day included with their ticket.
With gates opening at 3 PM and the festival running into the evening, attendees spending a full day on-site should plan time between performances to eat, grab drinks and explore the rest of the venue.
Is Dragonfly Music Festival All Ages?
Yes. Dragonfly Music Festival welcomes all ages.
There are no general age restrictions for festival attendance.
That makes Dragonfly a useful option for families and multi-generational groups looking for a Southern California music festival without a 21-and-over entry requirement.
Parents attending with younger children should still consider the length of the day, crowd levels and concert volume when deciding how long to stay.
What Kind of Music Will You Hear?
Dragonfly is not built around one musical genre.
Across the three days, attendees can hear:
- Blues
- Blues-rock
- Rock and roll
- Southern rock
- Jazz
- Soul
- Pop
- Honky-tonk
- Western swing
- Rockabilly
- Roots music
- World music
- Alternative rock
That variety is one of the biggest reasons to attend for more than a single headliner.
Thursday leans more heavily toward blues, honky-tonk and world music.
Friday broadens the mix with rock, jazz, soul, pop and western swing.
Saturday brings together blues-rock, Southern rock, rockabilly, blues, world music and alternative rock.
What Makes Dragonfly Music Festival Different?
Plenty of Southern California events offer live music. Dragonfly builds a larger experience around it.
You get 23 performers, three performance spaces, indoor and outdoor concerts, morning hikes, food, drinks, vendors and an all-ages environment across one three-day weekend.
The venue layout is another major difference.
Instead of standing in one large outdoor field all day, visitors can move between the Concert Hall, outdoor Centennial Stage and Lyric Courtyard. That creates different settings throughout the day while keeping everything within the California Center for the Arts.
For people who enjoy discovering musicians instead of attending only for a single headline act, Dragonfly’s range of blues, rock, jazz, roots, soul and world music gives the weekend extra value.
Which Day Should You Attend?
Can’t make all three days? Choose based on the music you enjoy most.
Choose Thursday if you like blues and roots
Thursday is built around performers including Ruthie Foster and Sue Foley, with honky-tonk and world music adding variety.
Choose Friday for the widest genre mix
Friday moves between rock, jazz, soul, pop and western swing, with The Beat Farmers among the day’s biggest names.
Choose Saturday for blues-rock and roots
Saturday is the strongest fit for fans of guitar-driven blues and roots music, led by Eric Gales, Danielle Nicole Band, The Paladins and The Texas Headhunters.
Attend all three days for the full experience
The complete weekend gives you the broadest range of music, plus two opportunities to join a morning hike and more time to experience each stage.
Tips for Your First Dragonfly Music Festival
Arrive early
Gates open at 3 PM, so arriving before the first artist you want to see gives you time to park, enter and learn the stage layout.
Check the schedule before leaving
With 23 acts spread across three stages, knowing which artists you want to prioritize will make the day easier.
Wear comfortable shoes
You may be moving between indoor and outdoor venues throughout the afternoon and evening.
Bring a chair or blanket for outdoor sets
Both are allowed and can make longer stretches at the outdoor stage more comfortable.
Leave coolers and alcohol at home
Outside coolers and alcoholic beverages cannot be brought into the festival. Food and refreshments are available inside.
Plan for warm days and cooler evenings
Dragonfly runs from afternoon into the evening, so prepare for changing conditions, particularly if you expect to spend time at the outdoor stages.
Join a morning hike
If you are attending Friday or Saturday, the free morning hikes let you turn the festival into a full-day North County experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Dragonfly Music Festival 2026?
Dragonfly Music Festival 2026 takes place September 10-12, 2026 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido.
Where is Dragonfly Music Festival?
The festival is held at California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025.
Who is performing at Dragonfly Music Festival 2026?
The 23-act lineup includes Ruthie Foster, Sue Foley, Eric Gales, Danielle Nicole Band, The Beat Farmers, Daring Greatly, The Paladins, The Texas Headhunters, Whitney Shay featuring Laura Chavez, Anthony Cullins, Sol e Mar and more.
What time does Dragonfly Music Festival start?
Gates open at 3 PM each day. Thursday and Friday music begins around 4 PM, while Saturday’s music begins around 3:30 PM. The festival ends by approximately 10 PM nightly.
How much are Dragonfly Music Festival tickets?
General admission starts at $79 per day. VIP tickets start at $149 per day, and the three-day VIP option is $349.
Is parking free?
Yes. General festival parking is free. VIP guests receive preferred parking.
Is Dragonfly Music Festival all ages?
Yes. The festival welcomes all ages.
Can I bring a chair to Dragonfly Music Festival?
Yes. Chairs, blankets and umbrellas are allowed for the outdoor areas.
Can I bring my own food or alcohol?
Outside coolers and alcohol are not allowed. Food and refreshments will be available inside the festival.
Are there indoor performances?
Yes. Dragonfly combines indoor and outdoor music. The Concert Hall is the main indoor venue and can accommodate up to 1,450 seats plus a dance floor.
Are the Dragonfly hikes free?
Yes. The Friday and Saturday morning social hikes are free and are expected to cover approximately 3 to 4 miles.
What are the three Dragonfly Music Festival stages?
Performances take place across the Concert Hall, Rotary Centennial Stage and Lyric Courtyard at the California Center for the Arts.
Plan Your Dragonfly Music Festival Weekend
With 23 acts across three performance spaces, Dragonfly Music Festival 2026 gives North County music fans three days to move between blues, rock, jazz, soul, roots and world music.
Come Thursday for Ruthie Foster, Sue Foley and a blues-heavy opening night. Choose Friday for The Beat Farmers and one of the weekend’s most diverse genre mixes. Head to Escondido Saturday for Eric Gales, Danielle Nicole Band, The Paladins, The Texas Headhunters and a guitar-driven closing day.
Or make a weekend of it.
Join a morning hike, arrive when the gates open, move between the indoor and outdoor stages, browse the Vendor Village, grab food and drinks, and stay for the evening performances.
Dragonfly Music Festival runs September 10-12, 2026 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
