EMS Springfest 2026

Fuzzy caterpillars, which caused skin reactions among some attendees, were ubiquitous at the fest, but didn't stop the fun or inhibit the precision of the pickin'

Guitar pickin' and caterpillar flickin'

EMS Springs 2026 was a bluegrass festival at Florida Sands Music Ranch in late March 2026. The festival occurred during a venue-imposed burn-ban, amidst a medium-severity drought in Florida. Burns bans had been issued by Hernando and neighboring counties several times in the preceding weeks. However, even without campfires, there were many lovely campsite jams, often featuring professional pickers from the area.

The stage shows featured The Infamous Stringdusters, Sister Sadie, Brothers Comatose, Monroeville, Richard Smith User:Ettorebuzzini, and a wealth of local pickers such as Mason Via, Fil Pate, and Shay Morgan.

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  Sister Sadie
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  Clarence Canada, Fil Pate, and Shay Morgan hosted mandolin workshop.
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  Fil Pate looks on as Richard Smith wows
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  Richard Smith
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  Florida Sands Music Ranch is on over 70 acres of hardwood hammock, including a veritable forest of orange trees, which were in full fruit and delicious at the time of the fest.
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