• Minnesota invites campers to yearly festivals.festival image by Blue Moon from Fotolia.com
  
  Minnesota camping festivities offer variety in an outdoor setting. While being mostly music festivals, those who gather may choose from options giving a different musical style in an area highlighting a special feature of the Minnesota landscape. Given the colder and more challenging climes of other seasons, these festivals usually run during the summer months.
  
  

Moondance Jam

• The Moondance Jam is held in the countryside of Walker. It began in 1992 as a way to promote area horse riding while featuring regional music. Gradually and quickly, Moondance became known as a prominent rock festival attracting bands such as ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Wallflowers.
  
  As of July 2010, general admission prices cost $170 for a three day pass, plus $60 per person for a three day camping pass. Some camping spots exist for RVs.
  
  Moondance Events
  
  P.O. Box 969
  
  Walker, MN 56484
  
  218-836-1055
  
  moondancejam.com
  
  

Winstock

• Winstock is an annual country music festival occurring 35 miles west of Minneapolis in Winsted. Being organized and operated by volunteers, the proceeds earned from the festival go towards funding private education for Winsted and area students.
  
  Featured acts have included Alan Jackson, BlackHawk, LeAnn Rimes and Sara Evans. The festival houses primitive camping sites with no electrical or water hookups. The main campground provides fresh water and ice.
  
  Winstock Country Music and Camping Festival
  
  3233 230th St.
  
  Winsted, MN 55395
  
  888-946-7865
  
  winstockfestival.com
  
  

Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festival

• Situated about 20 minutes west of St. Cloud is the El Rancho Mañana Campground & Riding Stables, which contains five stages for bluegrass and old-time music entertainment. The festivities here have twice been nominated as Event of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).
  
  The campground spreads across 208 acres of rural landscape, with 25 miles of hiking and horse riding trails surrounding. Primitive spots exist as well as those with electrical and water hookups.
  
  Two, three and four day passes range between $55 and $85, as of July 2010. These multiple-day passes secure a primitive camping spot, with utility sites available for an additional fee.
  
  Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association
  
  P.O. Box 16408
  
  Minneapolis, MN 55416
  
  800-635-3037
  
  minnesotabluegrass.org
  
  

Boundary Waters Blues Festival

• The Boundary Waters Blues Festival began in 2001 in Ely. Since then, it has grown and traveled to other northern Minnesota locations, including Winton and Grand Rapids.
  
  The latest camping provisions in Grand Rapids provide full hookups, showers and spots for RVs.
  
  Boundary Waters Blues Festival
  
  Fancy Pants Productions
  
  127 E. Sheridan
  
  Ely, MN 55731
  
  218-365-2440
  
  rangeblues.com