1ST ANNUAL · AUG 14-16, 2026 · YMCA CAMP JONES GULCH, LA HONDA CA

Down to Funk Festival 2026

We said we'd build a people-first funk festival. Then we went and did it.

Down To Funk Fest 2026 was even better than we imagined. It was our first year, the first ever music festival to happen at Camp Jones Gulch, and one of the only festivals that makes sure artists and staff get fair pay for their work.

There was something so magical about that weekend. The Redwood forest camp grounds were stunning, the stages were epic, and funky music filled the air. Most importantly, people were all smiles. We couldn’t have asked for a better group of folks to kick off this new festival. We are so grateful to you for showing up and making it happen–that shows that you love the funk as much as we do. It was an incredible celebration of funk music, and a powerful step towards our vision of community.

We ate together in the dining hall, we camped together in the cabins and in the forest, we danced together at every set. We even attended a surprise wedding together at the boogie stage! It really felt like family.

19 bands, 3 stages, a vendor village, communal dining, and dance floors galore all amongst the breathtaking California coastal redwoods. The perfect ingredients for a stellar festival experience. To the bands, volunteers, staff, vendors, and everyone who came out to our first festival — you made it work.

Thank you to everyone who shared it with us. See you at the next one!

THE WEEKEND, IN SHORT

  • 400 music lovers like you

  • 19 local, regional, and national bands

  • 2 outdoor stages, 1 indoor stage

  • Vinyl DJs and dancers

  • Walk-in tent camping, RVs, and cabins

  • Vendor village

  • 4 meals - brunch and dinner together on both days - included with ticket

19

400

BANDS

ATTENDEES

3

4

STAGES

COMMUNITY MEALS

Who played

The inaugural Down To Funk Fest featured a kick-ass lineup of funk and soul artists! Whether they’re internationally touring or throwing down at your local venue, these artists are creating fresh funk in the modern day. Making new classics to boogie to live and in-person! 

Check out all the artists who graced our stages this year:

Poster for the 2026 DowntoFunk Festival in La Honda, California, August 14-16, 2026. Features headlining bands like Polyrhythms, Nik West, The Philharmonik, and others. Includes details about camping, communal meals, upgrades, and carpooling.

The weekend in photos

People gathered outdoors, some wearing colorful and patterned clothing, with a forest background, and holding bubble wands or drinks, celebrating or socializing.
A diverse group of people gathered outdoors in a forested area, some dancing and others watching, with a woman standing on a small stage. Several trees and a house with a porch and stairs are visible in the background.
A live band performing on stage at the Down the Folk festival with colorful lighting, and an audience watching. The band members are playing various brass instruments, and the stage has a disco ball overhead.
A group of people gathered indoors in a wooden community hall watching three performers on stage, with a woman singing into a microphone. The audience is seated at tables, some are smiling and taking photos.
Group of five diverse people standing in a room, engaged in a discussion or presentation, with some gesturing and smiling, while others listen and applaud.
Two people in a room with bunk beds. One person is lying on the bottom bunk sleeping, and the other person is sitting on the top bunk, smiling and leaning on the bed frame.
Three men standing together outdoors in a wooded park, smiling with their arms around each other. They are wearing casual clothing and sneakers, with tall trees in the background.
A live band performing on stage at the Downtown Dunk Festival, with audience members watching and dancing in front of the stage.
Two women sitting on the forest floor covered with dry leaves, smiling and relaxing with camping chairs and bags around, surrounded by large trees and green foliage.
A live music performance at a festival with a large crowd, dancers, and a band on stage, under stage lights and a disco ball.
A group of seven women standing on a porch in front of a house with a corrugated metal roof, some giving peace signs, dressed in colorful, casual summer clothing, with decorations hanging above them.
Outdoor clothing and accessories stall at a forest flea market, with clothing racks under a yellow canopy that reads 'After Life.' Two women browse the items, surrounded by tall trees and string lights.
A wooden outdoor shop at a camp surrounded by tall trees, with people browsing and shopping. The shop has tables and shelves displaying clothing, hats, and souvenirs, with people chatting and walking on a wooden walkway.
Indoor gathering with a live music performance on stage, audience seated at tables and standing, with some wearing hats and colorful clothing, in a rustic venue with wooden beams, large windows, and hanging lights.
An indoor event with people sitting at tables, listening to a woman playing guitar on stage. The audience includes a woman wearing a straw hat and colorful clothing, and others with varied hairstyles and clothing. Some tables have drinks and plates,
An elderly woman with blue hair, glasses, and colorful tie-dye shirt making a peace sign, standing next to a smiling man with dreadlocks and a camera, in a lively indoor setting with other people in the background.
A group of diverse people dancing and socializing in a dimly lit wooden venue with a high ceiling and stage lighting.
A performer with braided hair and a nose ring wearing a black hat and a yellow costume adorned with orange feathers, performing on stage with blue lighting, with a musician in the background playing a guitar.
A live jazz band performing on stage with musicians playing saxophones, drums, and other instruments under colorful stage lighting.
A woman with curly hair singing into a microphone on stage, wearing a fur coat.
Nighttime outdoor music concert with a large crowd, illuminated stage with bright lights, and trees framing the scene.

Thank you, Sponsors

The logo for Aremac Works & Archive features a large stylized letter 'A' with a red half-circle on the left and a red diagonal line inside the letter. The text 'AREMAC' is below the logo, with 'WORKS & ARCHIVE' beneath it, all on a dark background.
Logo of Beneficial State Bank with an acorn-shaped emblem divided into orange and yellow sections, and a white letter 'B' in the center.
A black and white logo with a duck swimming on water, with the text 'blue mallard recording' surrounding the duck.
Logo with the words "Estatic Sound Collective" in blue script and sans-serif font, with a stylized water ripple beneath and sound waves on either side.
Logo with the words "Estatic Sound Collective" in blue script and sans-serif font, with a stylized water ripple beneath and sound waves on either side.
Black and white logo of a flamingo with horizontal stripes in the background, and the text 'FLAMINGO MUSIC SERVICES' on the right side.
Vintage microphone surrounded by flowers and red mushrooms, with text 'Folk Around Entertainment'.
Black background with white text reading: "Lawson Productions. Audio Video Event Production".
Logo with the text "LIST on Main" featuring stylized black letters and a green and red circular design element.
Logo for SAC Dance Lab with bold black text
Logo for Sports Basement with green background and white text
Black and white graphic depicting a medical syringe with a needle and the words "Vaccine & Immunization".
Colorful logo with a semi-circular striped pattern in shades of red, orange, and yellow, with a black stylized ampersand and the words 'Worm & Fuzzy' in black cursive font beneath, and the word 'Music' in smaller black letters below.
The image features a gradient background with the text 'Dream big, work hard, stay humble' written in bold, white letters.
The image features a gradient background with the text 'Dream big, work hard, stay humble' written in bold, white letters.
Logo for Roots Wine Company with stylized text and a subtle vine root design in the background.
Icon of a power plug above a pill bottle with the word 'platt' written on it, all inside a black circle.