SeeCalifornia.com

GRASS VALLEY, CALIF. — Though California’s annual WorldFest is approx. six months away, the popular music and culture festival held in the famed Sierra foothills is selling ticket and camping discount passes now through Jan. 10, 2015. The signature summer event for the region was sold recently to The Center for the Arts (thecenterforthearts.org), a Grass Valley-based nonprofit organization that produces approx. 150 performances each year at its Grass Valley concert, art and meeting space venue. Current acts and events include classics such as Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, Taj Mahal, Jefferson Starship, Jeff Bridges and the Abiders, Amy Grant and the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. The Center’s executive directory, Julie Baker, said her organization sought a signature music festival in its programming, opening up opportunity for the nonprofit arts organization to grow. The music festival was owned for 18 years by Chico-based Maple Creek Presents, operated by the husband/wife team of Dan DeWayne and Christine Myers. They also established the Strawberry Music Festival and Chico World Music Festival. DeWayne and Myers have been asked to consult with Center staff for several years to ensure a smooth transition for the festival founded as a camping event that had a family-friendly atmosphere and beautiful setting at Nevada County Fairgrounds. WorldFest takes place July 16-19, 2015.