When December settles in and the days grow short, there are still warm places to gather. One of them will be the Shelton High School Performing Arts Center on Saturday, December 27, 2025, where the 11th annual Midwinter Bluegrass Celebration brings friends and neighbors together for an evening of music and community.
Hosted by Bluegrass From The Forest and the Kristmas Town Kiwanis, this midwinter gathering has become a welcome tradition—part reunion, part concert, and wholly rooted in shared love for bluegrass music.
Westbound Sky
Westbound Sky, formerly known as The Bluegrass Regulators, returns with the focus and drive that has marked their work since 2010. After a period spent on other musical paths, the band is once again playing together, bringing thoughtful arrangements, steady rhythm, and close harmonies. Guitarist and songwriter Jake Dewhirst lends a clear musical voice to the group, joined by Josh Adkins and Martin Stevens, longtime figures in regional bluegrass circles. Molly Dewhirst’s vocals round out the sound, carrying melodies that balance tradition with expression.
The Union City Council
Formed around a shared respect for traditional bluegrass, The Union City Council draws its members from across the South Puget Sound and Hood Canal area. Their music blends old-time mountain sounds with touches of fiddle tunes, blues, gospel, jazz, and folk. With a lineup that includes guitars, dobro, mandolin, bass, and fiddle, the band brings energy and variety to the stage, shaped by the different musical backgrounds each member brings to the group.
Runaway Train
Serving as host band for the evening, Runaway Train has been a familiar name in Northwest bluegrass since the early 2000s. Based in the Puget Sound region, the band stays close to traditional roots while allowing room to explore. Having appeared at major festivals throughout the region, they also serve as the resident band for Bluegrass From the Forest in Shelton.
As the year winds down, the Midwinter Bluegrass Celebration offers a simple invitation: come in from the cold, take a seat, and let the music carry you through the evening. Tickets are $20 and available online or at the door. Children 15 and under are admitted free. Refreshments will be offered by donation.