California Roots Festival Reviews

I tried using the site to check tickets and set times, i kept thinking, “Am I missing something, or is this just not built for a screen reader?” The menus were confusing, a few buttons didn’t seem to have labels, and the contrast made things even harder. I wanted to just get it done myself, but after going in circles for a while, I gave up and asked a friend to help. Frustrating experience

I was disappointed with the vendor situation. It felt like I kept seeing the same kinds of food and merch booths over and over, with not much that really stood out.
For a festival that big, I expected a lot more variety, especially local vendors or more unique stuff to browse. After one quick lap, I already felt like I’d seen everything, which was a bummer.
The prices were high too, so that made it even more frustrating. I really wish I’d read reviews first because I probably would’ve adjusted my expectations or skipped it altogether.

I went in expecting a fun, laid-back festival vibe, but the crowd really threw me off. I’ve been to plenty of packed shows and festivals where people are still respectful and friendly, but this felt different. Lots of pushing, rude attitudes, and people not caring about personal space at all. I get that crowds can get intense, but this was more stressful than exciting. It was hard to enjoy the music when everyone around me seemed irritated or aggressive. i wouldn’t go back.

I went on californiarootsfestival.com to check the set times, it was just kind of annoying. Like, the times weren’t super easy to find, and then it felt like things kept shifting around a bit, so we were basically standing there trying to figure out what was actually happening.
By the time we finally sorted it out, we had already missed part of one of the sets we wanted to see, which was frustrating. I mean, for what the tickets cost, you’d think the schedule would be clearer and, you know, updated in a way that’s easier to follow

I was expecting a much better night, especially compared to other live sets I’ve been to. Most of the artists just sounded kind of off, and the energy never really picked up. The vocals were rough in a few spots, and some of the bands seemed like they hadn’t fully rehearsed. I kept waiting for it to get better, but I ended up leaving way earlier than I planned

i mean, the place was so crowded and noisy that it was hard to enjoy being there. It just felt like a messy, chaotic night overall.

I was expecting the place to be a lot greener based on how they present themselves, but it didn’t really feel that way once I got there. There was trash scattered around in a few areas, which was disappointing, and the recycling setup seemed like something they added last minute rather than a real priority. It just didn’t match the eco-friendly image they’re trying to give off.

I showed up genuinely excited, but wow, the sound was a disaster. The bass was all muddy, the vocals kept disappearing like they’d been swallowed by the room, and some sets were so quiet I felt like I was listening from a mile away. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but it killed the whole vibe for me. It’s hard to enjoy the music when you can barely hear it properly

I was expecting a bit more from the bands this time. The lineup felt kind of weak, and I wish there had been more info or updates beforehand because I ended up feeling a little left in the dark about what to expect...

I don’t think we were being difficult or asking for anything unreasonable, but the staff seemed annoyed almost every time we had a question. We were just trying to understand a few things and make sure we were doing everything right, so it felt a little uncomfortable.

I tried buying tickets twice and the site kept freezing on me. At first I thought maybe it was just my connection, but no, the fee still showed up anyway. Support eventually replied after a few days, which I guess is something, but it was still really frustrating. I was going to give it another shot, but no, I don’t think I’ll use it again.

Parking was a total headache. We were already feeling rushed trying to get in, and the shuttles took forever, which just made it worse. After the show, leaving was confusing and frustrating — nobody seemed to know where to go, and it felt like we were wasting so much time.

It was way too crowded and loud for us to enjoy with the kids. It didn’t feel very family friendly, and when I tried to raise a complaint, I had to chase them a couple of times before anyone really responded. Not the best experience.

We had a decent time for the most part and the place was busy, so I expected a few delays here and there. The staff seemed to be doing what they could, and we still managed to enjoy parts of the day. That said, after walking around for a while and trying to plan breaks between activities, the restroom situation ended up being really frustrating. There just didn’t seem to be enough bathrooms, and the lines were long pretty much the entire day.

I had a really good time with the music, but the food and drinks were disappointing. The lines were super long, and not saying it’s a scam, but the prices felt way too high for what you were getting. I also wish there were more options for people who don’t eat meat, because the variety was limited. The water stations could’ve been easier to spot too

I don’t know, I was expecting a bit more for the price and it just didn’t really feel worth it to me. Like, it’s not necessarily terrible, but for what you actually get, I kept thinking I could’ve spent the money better somewhere else.

I really wanted to love California Roots, and there were definitely some good moments, but the whole setup felt disorganized. The lines to get in and grab drinks were way too long, and half the time it seemed like nobody really knew where people were supposed to go. The signs didnt help much either.
Once we finally got settled, the music was great and the vibe was fun, but moving around the festival was more stressful than it shouldve been. The staff were nice, they just didnt seem to have much info. For what tickets cost, I expected things to run a lot smoother. I probably wont go back unless they fix the basic stuff.

Getting through the entrance was the most frustrating part of the day. The lines were confusing, people were being sent in different directions, and it didn’t seem like anyone working there had a clear plan.

Security didn’t help much either. They were moving really slowly and came off a bit rude, plus the rules seemed to keep changing while we were waiting. People had to keep reopening bags and pulling things out, which made the whole thing feel more stressful than it needed to be.

By the time we finally got inside, I was already irritated. For what tickets cost, the entry process should be a lot smoother. It just felt like a preventable mess that could’ve been handled way better with some basic organization.

I kept hoping the bathrooms would get cleaned at some point, but nope. Every time I went in, I was like, “Okay… maybe it’s just bad timing,” but they were filthy the whole time. It really made the whole place feel gross