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High Sierra Music Festival outlines scaled 25th anniversary plan; county officials pledge support for fairgrounds upgrades
Summary
High Sierra Music Festival producer David Margulies told Plumas County supervisors the event faces post‑pandemic cost pressures but plans a scaled 25th anniversary focused on core programming, local engagement and operational coordination with fairgrounds staff.
David (Dave) Margulies, sole producer of the High Sierra Music Festival, presented a 25th‑anniversary overview to the Plumas County Board of Supervisors and described financial pressures facing the festival, the group's efforts to reduce a multi‑million‑dollar budget and a request for closer operational coordination with county facilities.
Margulies said the festival has been held in Quincy since 1998 (with two pandemic years off) and that industry‑wide cost increases, artist fee escalation after the pandemic and depleted reserves have forced a strategy change. For 2025 he said the festival plans to reduce its overall budget by about 25–30 percent, focus on the festival's core programing and expand local access options such as day passes, volunteer roles and locally targeted pricing. He said the festival also needs short‑term fairgrounds safety fixestripping, grounding and electrical pedestals were mentionedand asked for a clearer county point of contact to expedite limited repairs and safety improvements.
Sheriff and fairgrounds comments
Sheriff staff said the festival's security plan and on‑site private security partners (festival security contractor plus auxiliary teams) have historically worked with the sheriffand they asked the festival to confirm security providers and operational leadership. County fairgrounds manager John Stefanik and board members said the fairgrounds is an important county asset and that supervisors will consider practical investments and improvements in the context of the county budget and the fairgrounds' own finances.
Local involvement and affordability
Festival organizers and local residents discussed options to ensure community members can attend and participate without being priced out. Margulies said the festival will continue to offer day‑ticket options and local discounts and said he welcomes greater community collaboration on greeter programs and local volunteer roles that connect residents to visiting attendees.
Ending
Supervisors praised the festival's economic contribution to local businesses and encouraged Margulies to continue working with fairgrounds management; several supervisors said they will support efforts to address short‑term safety work and explore longer‑term investments in the fairgrounds during upcoming budget discussions.
