This weekend’s celebrations in Free Soil and in the farthest reaches of the Upper Peninsula both boast all-star casts. Get the lowdown, schedules, ticket links and more at Local Spins.
Striking Setting, Community Vibe: Forest Trail Music Festival returns this weekend. (Photo/Nicole Miel)
When it comes to reveling in music amid Michigan’s natural wonders, two August festivals have become cherished Mitten State traditions: Forest Trail Music Festival in Free Soil (northeast of Ludington) and Porcupine Mountains Music Festival in Ontonagon (two hours west of Marquette).
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These unique, family-oriented music festivals roll out this weekend, spotlighting not only Michigan favorites but performers with a regional and national following.
Today, Local Spins previews both, including lineups, details, ticket links and more.
FOREST TRAIL MUSIC FESTIVAL
For the past six years, Noah Cameron and his family have created more than a magnificent performing space with their Forest Trail Music Festival: They’ve created a community in the wooded countryside of northern Michigan.
“It’s about the culture that we’re trying to create. It’s about the greater sense of community,” Cameron said.
“Getting away from everything for the weekend and getting back to our roots, enjoying company in the woods. It’s just it’s a good time out here. There’s great camping and great music and great people. It’s this sense of family. Everyone just looks forward to it each year.”
‘Enjoying Company in the Woods’: Forest Trail Fest (Courtesy Photo)
Taking place in Free Soil, about 22 miles northeast of Ludington, the festival commences Thursday (Aug. 21) and runs through Sunday (Aug. 24), with gates opening at 9 a.m. General admission passes are $75 while single day passes are $30, available online here.
Festivalgoers are welcome to camp both rustically or in campers, which carries an additional $50 fee. Children 12 and under are free at the gate.
“We’re trying to make a space in the world that’s pure and good. We really just want to have people see through our lens of what this community can be and what we can create when we can come together for the right reasons.” Cameron said.
“We’re trying to kind of convey that through a weekend and hopefully people take some of that with them yeah their lives afterwards.”
Mark Lavengood (Photo/Local Spins)
The festival site is 111 miles north of Grand Rapids, 267 miles from Detroit and 75 miles from Traverse City. This year’s lineup features Myron Elkins, Gasoline Gypsies, Mark Lavengood, Candid Antics, Allison Mahal, Grace Theisen Trio and others for a packed four days of musical celebration. Other activities include community yoga, tie dye and evening campfire jams.
“I can’t wait to get back to Forest Trail Music Festival,” noted Michigan troubadour and dobro wizard Mark Lavengood, who performs at 6:30 p.m. Friday alongside his talented band.
“This will be my third time playing the fest and I absolutely love the community vibes that the committee is bringing to their neck of the woods in Free Soil. Fans can expect some new material to be released on my upcoming album and choice covers as well as standards from the Mark Lavengood Band repertoire.”
FOREST TRAIL MUSIC FESTIVAL 2025: THE SCHEDULE
PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Back for 2025: Porcupine Mountains Music Festival in Ontonagon. (Courtesy Photo)
Unfurling in the western corner of the Upper Peninsula, the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival at the Winter Sports Complex of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park not surprisingly draws lots of visitors from Wisconsin and Minnesota.
But this musical celebration oozes Michigan charm while also showcasing many internationally acclaimed artists who don’t perform at festivals in the Lower Peninsula.
So this year’s festival taking place Friday and Saturday (Aug. 22-23) will not only feature Grand Rapids’ own vintage country heroes The Bootstrap Boys, but diverse stars such as Celtic rock’s Scythian (Washington D.C.), Zydeco/Cajun’s Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Ils Sont Partis Band (New Orleans) and folk-bluegrass band Damn Tall Buildings (Brooklyn), among others.
Every year we can produce this grassroots festival is special to us,” said festival director Cheryl Sundberg. “Our Friday headliner Scythian is a dynamic band that we have been trying to book for years and this year the planets finally aligned to bring them to the U.P. and we couldn’t be happier.
Scythian (Photo/Jason Eib)
“We will be bringing Buckwheat Zydeco Jr and the legendary Ils Sont Partis Band to the Porkies’ stage as Saturday headliner, 15 years after his father, Stanley Dural Jr. (Buckwheat Zydeco) broke all of our attendance records in 2010.”
Sundberg noted that the non-profit festival derives its funding from grants, donors, sponsors, advertisers, and ticket and merchandise salles.
“You won’t find food trucks, vendors or beer sales, but what you will find is your new favorite band, lots of space to spread out and unwind as you soak up a variety of sounds — from bluegrass to Americana, rock, folk, blues, Zydeco, Celtic, and this year, our very first reggae band, Gizzae.”
The festival features “an intermission stage” indoors (featuring Big Rapids’ Stanley & Quiggle, among others) and a third stage — the all-acoustic Busking Barn.
“The Busking Barn hosts daily jam sessions, and performers of all ages and skill levels who play for tips in an all-natural sound environment,” Sundberg noted. “No wires, cables, amps or electricity, free and unencumbered sound. It’s a magical oasis and has a scene all its own.”
A two-day pass costs $120, available online here, with discounts for children. Day passes, $65, are available at the gate. A state recreation passport also is required to enter the State Park.
The drive: 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.
PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS MUSIC FESTIVAL 2025: MAIN STAGE SCHEDULE
Click here for Indoor Chalet Stage and Busking Barn Schedule.
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