MICHIGAN MUSIC FESTIVALS 2023
Scroll down for full festival listings, website links.
Want to advertise your event in the Michigan Music Festivals 2023 Guide and sponsor one of Local Spins’ most popular features? Email john@localspins.com.
All festivals in our annual guide are tentative and subject to change. Some festivals post schedules and lineups later than others; we make every attempt to add them to this list when we receive that information
If you’re the organizer of a Michigan music festival and your event isn’t listed here, email details, dates and location to liz@localspins.com and info@localspins.com.
ATTENDING A FESTIVAL? TIPS FROM LOCAL SPINS
WEATHER: Be prepared, check the forecast. Bring sunscreen, hats, ponchos and rain gear. Wear comfortable footwear good for long walks and standing.
HYDRATE: Water, water, water.
KNOW THE RULES: Every festival is a bit different, so what they allow or prohibit varies — from items that can be brought in to gate-opening times. Check festival websites.
PETS: Leave ’em at home. Most festivals prohibit pets. A couple smaller ones allow them, but check with the festival first.
KIDS: Many Michigan festivals are family-friendly and include children’s activities. Some bigger festivals don’t and definitely are geared toward adults. Be smart.
CELLPHONES: Make sure you’ve got one to keep in touch with partners or friends in your group so they know where you are. Keep ’em charged; many festivals have charging stations.
SAFETY: Be aware of your surroundings; know where exits, aid stations and security folks are located. Report any suspicious behavior to festival staff.
PARTY TIME? Sure, festivals can be a time to frolic. But imbibe slowly and with care. Don’t get carried away or security might have to carry you away. Moderation in all things.
BE COURTEOUS: Treat festival staff, security folks and fellow festivalgoers with respect. It goes a long way toward making your festival experience a memorable one.
PLAN EARLY: If you attend and love a particular festival, make plans for next year’s event early. Most festivals feature cheaper early-bird tickets. (Local Spins posts its initial Michigan festivals guide on Jan. 1 every year.)
FESTIVAL NEWS UPDATES
AUG. 11 – Traverse City’s Little Fleet will host the second annual All Call Music Festival on Sept. 3 with NOMO, Tunde Olaniran, VV Lightbody, Molly, Stoop Lee, and MRKT. Details at allcallmusicfestival.com.
AUG. 8 – Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. once again presents the Return to the River — a free music and art festival — in the North Monroe District of Grand Rapids Aug. 26-27, with live music on two stages, art installations and family activities. Details here.
(Scroll down for the full listings of Michigan festivals)
MICHIGAN MUSIC FESTIVALS 2023
Jan. 14
Winter Wheat
The Intersection, Grand Rapids
https://www.facebook.com/events/459543522956092
Jan. 27-28
Ann Arbor Folk Festival
Hill Auditorium/The Ark, Ann Arbor
https://theark.org/folk-festival/
Feb. 3-4
Ice, Wine, Beer & Blues Fest
Franke Center for the Arts, Marshall
https://www.facebook.com/icewinebeerbluesmarshall
Feb. 24
WYCE Jammie Awards
The Intersection, Grand Rapids
https://grcmc.org/wyce
March 4
Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival
Kalamazoo Valley Museum in Kalamazoo
https://kalamazoomuseum.org/events/fretboard-festival
March 17-18
Winter Roots Festival
Ore Dock Brewing, Peter White Library, The Fold, Forest Roberts Theatre
Marquette
https://www.facebook.com/winterrootsfest/
March 28-April 1
Funk Rivertown Fest
Rivertown Arts Center, Ypsilanti
https://www.facebook.com/FunkyRivertownFest
April 27-29
Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival
Hastings
https://www.facebook.com/events/415008903414856/
May 20
Local Spins Fest
Downtown Grand Rapids
https://themidtowngr.com/shows-events/detail/Local-Spins-Fest
May 26-29
Buses By The Beach
Camp Blodgett, West Olive
https://busesbythebeach.org/
May 27-29
Movement Electronic Music Festival
Hart Plaza, Detroit
https://www.movementfestival.com/
June 2-4
Festival of the Arts
Downtown Grand Rapids
https://festivalgr.org/
June 3
Fresh Water Music Festival
The Back 20, Baldwin
http://www.freshwatermusicfestival.com/
June 8-10
Jackson Blues Festival
10138 Tompkins Road, Rives Junction
https://www.facebook.com/JacksonBluesfest/
June 9-11
Nor-east’r Music & Art Festival
Oscoda County Fairgrounds, Mio
https://www.noreastrfest.org/
June 10-11
Hippie Fest
Treetoad Family Farm, 10834 W. Willard Road, Trufant
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hippie-fest-michigan-tickets-377849266327
June 15-18
Summerfest
Marysville Municipal Park, Marysville
https://summerfestinmarysville.com/2023-summerfest/
June 16-18
Buttermilk Jamboree
Circle Pines Center, Delton
https://circlepinescenter.org/music-festival/, https://www.buttermilkjamboree.org/
June 16-18
The Acorn Music Festival
Acorn Theatre, Three Oaks
https://www.acornlive.org/
June 17
B93 Birthday Bash
LMCU Ballpark, Comstock Park
https://b93.iheart.com/calendar/content/2023-06-17-birthday-bash-30/
June 17
Alpena Blues Festival
Alpena
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/19th-annual-alpena-blues-festival-tickets-603642520027
June 22-25
Electric Forest
Double JJ Resort, Rothbury
https://www.electricforest.com/
June 22-24
Charlotte Bluegrass Festival – 50th Annual
Eaton County Fairgrounds, Charlotte
https://charlottebluegrassfestival.com/
June 23-24
Big Ticket Festival
Otsego County Fairgrounds, 895 North Center Ave., Gaylord
https://bigticketfestival.com/
June 23-24
East Lansing Summer Solstice Jazz Festival
Downtown Lansing
https://eljazzfest.com/
June 23-24
Fledge Fest
The Fledge, Lansing
https://www.facebook.com/events/1567105647050775
June 23-25
Mighty Uke Day
University United Methodist Church, East Lansing
http://mightyukeday.com/
June 24
LBMA Fest
Pine Grove Park, Port Huron
https://www.facebook.com/LakeBonisteelMusic/posts/10158378469631771
June 28-29
Sol of the Lost Tamarack
Lost Tamarack Lodge, Wolverine
https://www.facebook.com/events/3197872730487598/
June 30-July 1
Dam Jam
Calumet Lions Park, Calumet
https://www.damjamup.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DamJamUP
June 30-July 2
Smiling Acres Music Festival
Trufant
https://smilingacres.org/
July 1-4
West Michigan Bluegrass Music Association Campout & Jam
Kent County Fairgrounds, Lowell
http://wmbma.org/
July 1
Black Squirrel Bluegrass & Americana Music Festival
Downtown Albion
https://www.facebook.com/events/938357384268295
July 6-9
Uncle Sam Jam
Woodhaven Civic Center Park, Woodhaven
https://www.unclesamjamfest.com/
July 7-9
Blissfest
3695 Division Road, Harbor Springs
https://blissfest.org/
July 7-8
Michigan ElvisFest
Wayne County Fairgrounds, Belleville
http://www.mielvisfest.com/
July 8
Alley Fest
Buckham Alley, Flint
https://www.facebook.com/FOTAFlint/
July 8-9
Ludrock
Waterfront Park, Ludington
https://ludrock.com/
July 8
River Rock Festival
Hersey
https://riverrockfestival.ticketleap.com/river-rock-festival-2023/
July 14-15
Upheaval Festival
Belknap Park, Grand Rapids
https://www.upheavalfest.com/
July 15
Battle Creek Caribbean Festival
Festival Market Square, Battle Creek
https://www.facebook.com/BCBattleCreekCarribeanFest
July 14-16
Faster Horses Festival
Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn
https://fasterhorsesfestival.com/lineup/
July 20-22
Beaver Island Music Festival
28599 Hideaway Trail, St. James, Beaver Island
https://bimf.net/
July 22
Walk the Beat – White Lake
Various Locations in Montague, Whitehall
http://walkthebeatwhitelake.org/
July 21-23
Dunesville Music Festival
Harmony Pines, Interlochen
https://www.dunesvillemusicfestival.com/
July 21-23
Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival
Marquette Tourist Park, Marquette
https://hiawathamusic.org/
July 21-22
Northern Lights Music Fest
Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds, Escanaba
https://visitescanaba.com/things-to-see-and-do/northern-lights-music-fest
July 23-29
Marshall Bluegrass Festival
Calhoun County Fairgrounds, Marshall
https://www.facebook.com/MarshallBluegrassFestival
July 28-29
Tamarack Music Festival
4285 170th Ave., Morley
https://www.facebook.com/TamarckMusicFest
July 28-30
Wild Thyme Music Festival
Fat Blossom Farm, 2086 20th St., Allegan
https://fatblossom.com/wild-thyme-music-festival
July 28-Aug. 5
Baroque On Beaver
Various locations, St. James, Beaver Island
https://www.baroqueonbeaver.org/
July 29
Smoke on the Water
Lions Pavilion, Manistee
https://app.promotix.com/events/details/Smoke-on-the-Water-tickets
July 29
Harsens Island Roots Music Festival
Playground of the Harsens Island Schoolhouse
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054402915556
Aug. 1-6
Michigan Fern Fest (Women’s Festival)
Manistee National Forest near Hart
https://www.michiganfernfest.com/
Aug. 3-5
Shagbark Music & Arts Festival (formerly Cowpie)
Shagbark Farm, Alaska
https://www.facebook.com/ShagbarkFarmMI
Aug. 3-5
Kingsford 100th Celebration
Kingsford
https://kingsford100thcelebration.com/
Aug. 4-6
Farm Block Festival & Reunion
Allouez
https://farmblock.com/
CANCELED: Aug. 4-6
LivelyLands
Burdickville
https://www.facebook.com/LivelyLands
Aug. 4-6
Grateful Bear Campout
Smiling Acres, Trufant
https://www.facebook.com/GratefulBearCampoutMI
Aug. 9-12
Unity Christian Music Festival
Heritage Landing, Muskegon
https://www.unitymusicfestival.com/
Aug. 11-13
Cannabis Music Fest
3060 N. Johnson Road, Trufant
https://www.facebook.com/events/5975933612536051
Aug. 11-12
Fest of All
11137 S. Dickinson, Holton
https://www.facebook.com/Festofall
Aug. 12
Walk the Beat
East Side of Grand Haven
https://www.walkthebeat.org/
Aug. 12
One Peace Hip Hop Festival
Martin Luther King Park, Grand Rapids
https://onepeacefest.org/
Aug. 12
Phil Denny’s Armory Smooth Jazz Fete
Armory, 330 Marshall St., Lansing
http://www.smoothjazzfete.com/
Aug. 12
Rock4Vets Music Festival
Osceola County Fairgrounds, Evart
https://www.facebook.com/Rock4VetsMI
Aug. 12
Sunrise Side Music Festival
Lost Lake Woods Club, Lincoln
https://sunriseside.ticketleap.com/sunrise-side-music-festival-2023/
Aug. 18-19
Tie Dye Festival
2129 Howard City Edmore Road, Howard City
https://www.facebook.com/tiedyemusiccelebration
Aug. 19-20
Breakaway Music Festival
Belknap Park, Grand Rapids
https://www.breakawayfestival.com/venues/michigan
Aug. 18-20
Hoxeyville Music Festival
Manistee National Forest, Wellston
https://www.hoxeyville.com/
Aug. 22
Rotary Rocks for ShelterBox
Garden Park, Rockford
https://www.facebook.com/events/3527563394231275
Aug. 24-27
Cedar Polka Festival
Downtown Cedar
https://cedarpolkafest.org/
Aug. 25-27
Holler Fest
Frog Holler Farm, Irish Hills
https://hollerfest.com/
Aug. 25-26
Porcupine Mountains Music Festival
Winter Sports Complex, Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park, Ontonagon
https://porkiesfestival.org/
Aug. 25-26
Meadowfest
Northern Michigan (Off-the-Grid)
https://www.facebook.com/TheMeadowfest
Aug. 25-27
Forest Trail Music Festival
352 W. Forest Trail Rd., Free Soil
https://www.foresttrailmusic.com/
Aug. 26
Burning Foot Beer Festival
Pere Marquette Beach, Muskegon
https://www.facebook.com/burningfootbeerfest/
Aug. 26
Walk the Beat – Albion
Downtown Albion
http://walkthebeatalbion.org/
Aug. 26-27
Return to the River Music & Art Festival
555 Monroe, Sixth Street Park, Canal Park in Grand Rapids
https://downtowngr.org/announcements/2023/07/return-to-the-river-2023
Aug. 27
Fair Ground Festival
Barry Expo Center, Hastings
https://thornapplearts.org/fairground/
Sept. 1-2
Minnehaha Brewhaha Music Festival
Arcadia
https://www.music-moves-me.org/
Sept. 1-4
Detroit Jazz Festival
https://www.detroitjazzfest.org/
Sept. 1-4
Marquette Area Blues Fest
Ellwood A Mattson Lower Harbor Park, Marquette
https://marquetteareabluessociety.org/
Sept. 2
LaborFest
Douglas Park/First Street Beach, Manistee
https://www.facebook.com/events/2184577871751565
Sept. 2
Thumbfest
Downtown Lexington
https://www.bluewaterfolk.org/
Sept. 3
All Call Music Festival
Little Fleet, Traverse City
https://allcallmusicfestival.com/
Sept. 8-9
Emerald Isle Irish Fe’ile
Beaver Island
https://irishfeile.com/
Sept. 8-10
Wheatland Music Festival
Pierce Road & 30th Avenue, Remus
https://www.wheatlandmusic.org/
Sept. 14-17
Michigan Irish Music Festival
Heritage Landing, Muskegon
https://michiganirish.org/
Sept. 15-16
Grand Rapids African American Arts & Music Festival
Rosa Parks Circle, Grand Rapids
https://www.facebook.com/GRAAAMF
Sept. 15-16 (kickoff concert Sept. 13, benefit concert Sept. 14)
Michigan BluesFest
Old Town, Lansing
https://www.micharts.org/about-bluesfest
Sept. 15-16
West Michigan Bluegrass Music Association Fall Fest
Kent County Fairgrounds, Lowell
http://wmbma.org/
Sept. 15-16
South Haven Jazz Festival
Huron Street Pavilion, Downtown South Haven
https://southhavenjazzfestival.com/
Sept. 15-17
Earthwork Harvest Gathering
Earthwork Farm outside Lake City
https://earthworkharvestgathering.com/
Sep. 16
Eastown Street Fair
Eastown Neighborhood, Grand Rapids
https://www.facebook.com/eastowngr
Sept. 16
Hal Beveridge Music Festival
Eastern Avenue Hall, Grand Rapids
https://www.facebook.com/HalBeveridgeMusicFestival/
Sept. 16-17
Fallasburg Arts Festival
Fallasburg Park outside Lowell
https://www.lowellartsmi.org/fallasburg-arts-festival
Sept. 22-23
Confluence Festival
Downtown Grand Rapids
https://www.confluencefest.com/
Sept. 25-Oct. 1
Sounds of the Zoo
Various venues in Kalamazoo
https://www.soundsofthezoo.com/
Sept. 30
CANCELED: October on Ottawa
Downtown Grand Rapids
https://www.socialhousegrmi.com/
Sept. 30
Leelanau Uncaged
Northport
https://www.leelanauuncaged.com/
Sept. 30
BlueChiliGrass Festival
Goodells County Park
Goodells
https://www.facebook.com/LakeBonisteelMusic/
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