The next evolution of our once-a-year gathering, now the Fireside Festival, is happening Saturday July 25, 2026!

This party started with the original Fireside Chat's family & friends reunion, coupled with the Celebration of Life for its founder, Dean Hoag. From there it morphed into the two day Echos & Embers Music Festival. This coming year, we're streamlining it into the Fireside Festival with bigger artists, bigger stage, bigger festival grounds, and with YOUR help, even more fun.

2025 brought us the Echos & Embers Music Festival. Attendance was admittedly on the light side, but those who joined us, made it a weekend to remember! We enjoyed two nights, eight bands, fireworks, food trucks, pro wrestling, vendors, camping, VIP seating, VIP parking, RAIN and SHINE! (And well, some more rain, like sideways rain). We had it all, and thanks to your enthusiastic support and positive feedback it was well worth it. Thank you to Prestige Worldwide Entertainment, Xcite Pro Wrestling, Sound On Sound Productions, Payton Clark, Wendy Owens, The Variables, FREEBIRD: The Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute, Bigfoot, Be Damned, Bad Bear, BONFIRE: A Tribute To AC/DC, Bat Tech, all of our vendors and support businesses & organizations, and most of all you, the fans!

In 2024 we hosted the Fireside Chat Reunion on the deck of our wedding retreat's cottage. We enjoyed an evening of spectacular weather, great songs, laughter, and connecting with friends new & old. All of this thanks to The Variables and John "Dr. Dirty" Valby. The reviews were positive and the small event affirmed our desire to grow into something a bit larger. Perhaps something a bit different from the local wine trails usual music-on-the-deck format we've all become accustomed to.