The three-day festival outside Trufant kicked off on Friday with a bevy of popular Michigan acts, and continues through the weekend. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
Sunshine and Smiles: The scene at Smiling Acres in Trufant on Friday evening. (Photo/John Sinkevics)
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Aptly name, Smiling Acres outside Trufant has hosted a growing number of happy and intimate musical celebrations in recent years.
In particular, its namesake Smiling Acres Music Festival has carved out a special place in the hearts of attendees and performers alike while serving as a warm-and-fuzzy showcase of top-shelf Michigan acts.
Friday’s opening salvo for the fifth annual festival proved to be no exception, with everything from established Michigan stars from different genres such as The Go Rounds, Roosevelt Diggs and The Legal Immigrants firing up the Main Stage to fast-emerging acts such as Candid Antics and Billy Gunther & The Midwest Riders.
Boasting the biggest turnout yet in its brief history, the festival opened on a storybook summer day, with the crowd growing as the evening progressed through the jazzy and groovy strains of Grand Rapids’ Candid Antics, the energetic, clap-inducing rock of The Legal Immigrants, the Southern rock-fueled Billy Gunther and crew, the crowd-pleasing Americana of Roosevelt Diggs and finally, on the main stage, psychedelic pop’s The Go Rounds, with the Kalamazoo band performing several songs from their most recent “Donut” release.
The late-evening fare including a silent disco set presented by Ruben Martinez and Lady Ace Boogie of The Push The City Cypher. The silent disco set featured prominent Grand Rapids hip-hop artist Ajax Stacks along with Grand Rapids based DJ James B.
And smiles really were everywhere, despite the intense heat and muggy conditions which left performers as well as spectators gleefully drenched in sweat.
Roosevelt Diggs (Photo/Anna Sink)
“This sense of community is a difficult one to hold together. The fact that they’re (organizers) doing that, while also expanding it, just says so much about this festival,” said festival attendee James Kehrer of Benton Harbor. “From the music they bring, to the vendors they have, to everything else they have here at this festival, it’s just fabulous.”
Noted festivalgoer Sam Verus of Howard City: “We’re all laid back and here to have a good time. We all look out for each other and there’s kids running around all day long blowing bubbles, it’s a family community absolutely.”
Passionate festival attendees Bob and Laura DeLine of Hudsonville called it “a big family reunion with live music. … We love to lend a helping hand wherever it’s needed.”
The musical excitement continues Saturday and Sunday, with Jason Singer of Michigander headlining on Saturday and May Erlewine on Sunday. Also performing this weekend will be Desmond Jones, Grace Theisen Trio, Cabildo, Djangophonique, Silver Creek Revival and many more. Southwest Michigan’s veteran “global soul” group Erin Zindle & The Ragbirds will perform their final show with the band’s current lineup at 9 p.m. Saturday — with a fireworks display at dusk.
Adult day passes without camping are $50 and available online here. Weekend camping passes are $135 at the gate.
PHOTO GALLERY: Smiling Acres Music Festival 2025 – Day 1
Photos by Anna Sink, John Sinkevics, Brayden Flodin
VIDEO: Smiling Acres Music Festival 2025 – Day 1
THE SMILING ACRES SCHEDULE: SATURDAY-SUNDAY
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