From Empty Field to Cannabis Paradise: How the 2026 Summer High Festival Blew Everyone’s Expectations Out of the Water

Two weeks before the 2026 Summer High Festival, I pulled into the property in Williamstown, New York, to meet up with Woodz Treez and Sammy Woodz. The mission that day wasn’t the festival—it was to film an episode of Strain’s Strain Reviews (Talk Cannabis) featuring what we called The 518’s Most Elite Cold Cure Rosin Challenge. Over the course of nearly two hours, we sampled and reviewed roughly a dozen different cold cure rosins back-to-back.

By the time we wrapped up, I was somewhere between “professional cannabis journalist” and “trying to remember why I walked over here.”

It was a blast.

But standing there that day, looking across what felt like an endless empty field, I couldn’t fully picture what was about to happen.

Two weeks later…

I couldn’t believe I was standing on the very same property.

Thanks to VIP passes generously gifted to me by Justin from The Basement Chronicles, my friend Miss Kryptonite and I rolled into the festival ready for a great time. What we weren’t ready for was the incredible turnout waiting for us.

That empty field?

Gone.

In its place was what looked like an entire temporary cannabis village.

Vendor tents stretched in every direction. Campers lined the property for what felt like football fields. Cars filled the landscape. Everywhere you looked, people were smiling, laughing, sharing stories, making new friends, and simply enjoying life.

If someone had blindfolded me and dropped me into the middle of it, I would’ve guessed I had wandered into one of the biggest cannabis gatherings in the Northeast.

And honestly…

I may have.

Every Direction Led to Something Cool

One of my favorite things about the Summer High Festival was that every time you thought you’d seen everything, you’d discover something completely different.

Toward the back of the property was a rave tucked away in its own area.

The DJs were absolutely crushing it while about a half-dozen to a dozen people danced nonstop with smiles on their faces. Colorful flow artists spun mesmerizing wheels and props that painted incredible patterns through the air. I can only imagine what those looked like through the eyes of someone enjoying a mushroom trip…

Let’s just say they were probably watching the universe perform interpretive dance.

Around them were festival-goers dressed in colorful outfits, unique skirts, creative costumes, and all kinds of eye-catching festival attire. Even though it wasn’t a massive dance floor, the energy was contagious. Everyone there was genuinely having fun.

The amazing part?

This was after four straight days of festivities.

Yet everyone still looked like they had just arrived on Day One.

Music Never Stopped

A short walk through the woods led to the main stage.

Whether it was the middle of the afternoon or late into the evening, there was always someone performing.

Bands.

Solo artists.

Musicians.

Entertainers.

There wasn’t a dead moment on that stage.

Nearby, people gathered around campfires listening to music while conversations flowed as naturally as the smoke drifting through the trees.

Walking farther along the wooded trails revealed another surprise.

Live artwork.

One incredibly talented woman stood surrounded by nature, painting a beautiful canvas while festival-goers stopped to admire her work. It perfectly captured what this event felt like—a celebration of creativity just as much as cannabis.

Tattoos, Vendors & Infused Slurpees

Then there was the tattoo trailer.

Whoever that tattoo artist was deserves an honorary endurance award.

Seriously.

I lost count of how many people proudly stopped me to show off fresh ink they had gotten during the festival.

Judging by the number of tattoos I saw, that artist probably forgot what sleep even looked like.

Of course, no cannabis festival would be complete without incredible vendors.

The selection seemed endless.

Food vendors.

Drink vendors.

Glass.

Merchandise.

Cannabis products.

Accessories.

If you wanted it, someone probably had it.

One stop that definitely deserves recognition was Higher Beings powered by Hudson Valley Green, who were handing out complimentary infused Slurpees.

On one of the hottest days of the summer, that frozen drink tasted absolutely incredible.

Refreshing.

Delicious.

Infused.

That’s basically the cannabis version of finding an extra nug at the bottom of your stash jar.

Other standout names included Higher Beings powered by Hudson Valley Green, Woodz Treez & Sammy Woodz, Best Budz, and countless others that helped make this event feel like one giant family reunion for the cannabis community.

Bigger Than I Ever Expected

I’ve attended quite a few cannabis events over the years.

Until now, the largest one I’d experienced was The Damn Sam Cannabis Cup.

Not anymore.

This festival honestly felt even larger.

More vendors.

More campers.

More people.

More energy.

More everything.

What makes that even more impressive is that before the event, I had heard whispers that attendance might be disappointing.

Well…

Whoever started that rumor owes Justin and his team an apology.

Because they absolutely knocked it out of the park.

Community Done Right

What impressed me more than the attendance wasn’t the size of the crowd.

It was the attitude of the people.

Nearly every single person I encountered was friendly, welcoming, respectful, and genuinely happy to be there.

There was no drama.

No egos.

Just people who love cannabis, love music, appreciate art, and enjoy spending time with like-minded people.

That’s exactly what this community should be about.

Hats Off to Justin & The Basement Chronicles

Events like this don’t happen by accident.

They happen because someone is willing to spend countless hours planning, organizing, solving problems, and bringing people together.

Justin and everyone involved with The Basement Chronicles deserve tremendous credit.

They created far more than just another cannabis festival.

They created an experience.

One that people will be talking about long after the tents come down.

On behalf of myself, OG Strain, and everyone at Strain’s Strain Reviews (Talk Cannabis), congratulations on an incredible event.

The cannabis community should be proud of what you and your team accomplished.

And before I wrap this up…

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

If the Summer High Festival is any indication of your planning skills, I’m pretty sure your wedding reception is going to need its own parking crew.

Here’s wishing you both a lifetime of happiness together.

We’ll see everyone next year.

Bring sunscreen.

Bring good vibes.

And maybe bring an extra lawn chair…

…because something tells me this festival is only getting bigger.