Although separated by more than 470 miles, these two beloved and cozy Michigan music festivals boast a similar milieu, with lineups of top-shelf acts. Get the guides at Local Spins.
‘Tons of Things to be Excited About’: The Forest Trail Music Festival (Courtesy Photo)
EDITOR’S NOTE: August’s final weekend offers music lovers two northern Michigan festivals featuring a wide swath of artists. Get the lowdown on the Forest Trail Music Festival in Free Soil and the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival in Upper Peninsula’s Ontonagon.
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The seventh Forest Trail Music Festival taking place this weekend in Free Soil boasts some special enhancements for music devotees.
“Every year is special in its own way, but in 2026, we’re especially excited to showcase some of the new improvements to the grounds,” said Noah Cameron, co-founder and co-organizer of the festival.
“We expanded the stage area so there’s more room to spread out and have been working on cleaning up some of the trails. … We’re always doing small things to streamline operations, improve safety and add to the festivities.
“We’re thrilled to announce that Michigan Rustic Prints will be doing a live screen printing workshop along with Taide Henna doing a henna workshop. We also have wood turning and glass blowing workshops and presentations, and yoga and tie-dye will be returning again along with Millie’s ice cream social on Friday. Tons of things to be excited about.”
Of course, organizers feel the 2026 lineup is special, too, with Manitou Trucking Co., The Rebel Eves, The Smokin’ Dobroleles, Desmond Jones, Billy Gunther & The Midwest Riders, 1000 Watt Prophets, Seth Bernard and The Wild Honey Collective among the 20-plus acts performing at the three-day festival.
The cozy camping celebration attracts about 500 attendees and Cameron insisted Forest Trail intends “on staying small and manageable. I think part of what makes Forest Trail so special is the intimacy of the event. By the end of the weekend, you get to know everyone pretty well. It’s ultimately become more of a big family reunion, with the Forest Trail family gaining a few new members each year.”
General admission is $75, with single-day passes costing $30. Online sales end Tuesday (Aug. 25), but walk-in tickets will be available at the front gate. Get more festival details online at foresttrailmusic.com.
Free Soil is 114 miles from Grand Rapids, 164 miles from Kalamazoo and 250 miles from Detroit.
‘Keen Ear for Quality’: The committee choosing the Porkies Festival lineup each year. (Courtesy Photo)
PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS MUSIC FESTIVAL SET TO BRING MORE SMILES IN 2026
Cheryl Sundberg, longtime festival director for the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival amid the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Ontonagon, will mark her final year at the helm of this long-running festival, but she may have saved the best for last.
This weekend’s festival at the state park’s Winter Sports Complex — representing “a significant milestone” for the event as the leadership team makes a transition to new organizers — boasts performances by respected artists from across the globe, including Memphis soul and roots band Southern Avenue, Virginia’s The Steel Wheels, Atlanta Dixieland jazz outfit Blair Crimmins & The Hookers, Minnesota blues singer-songwriter Charlie Parr, Colorado bluegrass band The Fretliners, New Mexico Tex-Mex outfit Felix Y Los Gatos, Canadian swing/blues group Blue Moon Marquee, California folk band the Abby Posner Trio, Onekama native/Americana artist Cousin Curtiss and more.
“The festival lineup is unique as each artist is hand-picked, one at a time, selected by a committee of music lovers with a keen ear for quality,” Sundberg insisted.
“Our attendees are loyal and have placed remarkable trust in us, often purchasing their advance tickets before a single artist is announced, with the confidence that it’s going to be good. The variety of musical styles, combined with the spacious outdoor wilderness of the Porcupine Mountains State Park, allow one to unwind and listen to the artists closely, something never lost on them.”
Proof of the festival’s charm may lie in the reaction of the performers themselves.
“Many of the performing artists linger to watch their peers onstage, and never seem to be in a hurry to leave,” Sundberg said. “Seeing the smiles on the faces of young and old as they take in the experience, it’s a beautiful thing.”
Two-day passes are $145 and available online here, with discounts for children 7-12. Children 6 and younger admitted free. Day passes are $75 and available at the gate. A state recreation passport also is required to enter the State Park.
To get there, the drive is 531 miles (8 hours, 34 minutes) from Grand Rapids; 583 miles (9 hours, 6 minutes) from Detroit; 584 miles (9 hours, 34 minutes) from Kalamazoo; 524 miles (8 hours, 16 minutes) from Lansing; 411 miles (7 hours, 13 minutes) from Traverse City.
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