Bellevue will play host to the annual Wintergrass music festival for the next eight years after Tacoma failed to retain the 16-year regional event.

The bluegrass festival will take place until 2014 at the expanded Hyatt Regency Bellevue, which includes a new 20-story tower with 351 guest rooms and 43,000 square feet of additional meeting space.

“It’s a great start for us,” said Kristi Kosmata, director of sales and marketing for the hotel. “It’s a fantastic group for our hotel, and it’s great for Bellevue to have another event like this.”

Wintergrass director Patrice O’Neil said the Hyatt Regency won her over with “hugely attractive” rates, as well as a long-term contract that the previous venue, Tacoma’s Hotel Murano, couldn’t match.

“The stability that the Hyatt could offer us was overwhelmingly appealing,” she said. “For the long-term health of the festival, this is a good move – a tough move, but a good move.”

Wintergrass is mainly for folk lovers, though, and that’s a group that often takes exception to change. Think of the response Bob Dylan got when he went electric at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.

O’Neil said there’s been some hue and cry over the move.

“I can’t even tell you how much hate mail I’m getting,” she said. “It’s a desperately difficult situation.”

But it’s not just the change of venue that presents a problem. The festival’s organic regulars also have to get over any preconceived notions they might have about upscale Bellevue.

O’Neil said she’s used to overcoming negative stereotypes, noting that Wintergrass was founded in Tacoma prior to urban renaissance that helped subdue the city’s reputation for squalor.

“There were people who had some entrenched ideas about the city being dirty and dangerous,” she said. “We enjoyed blasting through those stereotypes, and we look forward to blasting through any stereotypes about Bellevue as well.”

One thing the regulars won’t have to worry about is losing the impromptu jam sessions that have become a signature of the festival. The Hyatt Regency has agreed to allow music in the venue’s open spaces during the event.

“That’s a huge part of the culture,” O’Neil said. “It’s an identifying part of the festival.”

Wintergrass, which draws over one thousand visitors on average, used to be spread out between several Tacoma hotels – mainly the Murano – and a church. The Hyatt’s newly renovated facility allows the festival to take place under one roof.

Not everyone appreciates the convenience. O’Neil says some of the regulars liked moving about and exploring Tacoma.

The upside: festival goers can walk around in their bare feet for the entire weekend at the Hyatt.

Wintergrass takes place Feb. 25-28, with over 30 bands expected to perform. Grammy winner Tim O’Brien will be one of the headlining acts.

Individual ticket prices for adults range between $15 for a day pass and $110 for a weekend.

Dozens of workshops are also taught by performers, with participation included in the price of each pass.