The BEST Michigan Summer Music Festivals

When summertime comes in Michigan, there are so many things that Michiganders can do to make their summers awesome. Attending some of the many Michigan summer music festivals is one of the best things to do.

In case you’re wondering, Michigan has lots of fantastic summer festivals dedicated to food, agriculture, history, animals, and all things in between. If you’re looking for a festival (or lots of festivals) to attend this summer, you can’t go wrong with a music festival.

No matter your taste in music, there are festivals all over the state where you can kick back, relax, and get your groove on. Here’s a list of more than two dozen to get you started!

June Summer Music Festivals in Michigan

Electric Forest | Rothbury

Come celebrate electronic music, jam bands, dance music, and more on the shores of Lake Michigan during this four-day festival. There are illuminated forests, interactive art displays, and more that make this a trippy experience indeed.

This year’s music lineup includes The String Cheese Incident, Nelly Furtado, The Disco Biscuits, Ludacris, Gigantic Nightmare, Seven Lions, and more.

Charlotte Bluegrass Festival | Charlotte

If you love guitars, banjos, and beautiful harmonies, this is the festival for you. Last year, the festival celebrated its 50th anniversary, and the Eaton County Fairgrounds will be a hoppin’ spot over three days.

This year’s lineup includes Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, David Peterson & 1946, Williamson Branch, and more.

Noreast’r Music & Art Festival | Mio

This festival, located on the Oscoda County Fairgrounds, is the perfect excuse to escape to Northeast Michigan in the summer. Attendees can enjoy rustic camping, arts and crafts, workshops, open mic nights, and great music.

This year’s lineup includes The Gasoline Gypsies, The Blue Water Ramblers, The Rough and Tumble, Chasin’ Steel, The Keynote Sisters, and more.

Blues Fest | Marshall

Get ready to party with plenty of blues, brews, and food. This free event is making a triumphant return and promises fun for the whole family. This year’s lineup includes The Sax Maniacs, Chris Canas, Who Dat? Blues Band, Tony Thompson & Friends, and more.

Jackson Blues Fest | Jackson

Attendees and fans of the blues will love this three-day bash. This year’s music lineup includes Funky Mojo Daddy, James Armstrong, Harmonica Hounds, Howlin Mercy, and more.

There’s plenty of family fun to be had here, even for kids. On Friday, the first 100 kids will receive a free harmonica, a T-shirt, sunglasses, a mini-lesson, and the opportunity to perform with musicians. Talk about an unforgettable experience!

Note: You can check even more events and festivals in Jackson Michigan.

Alpena Blues Festival | Alpena

This festival has been going strong for nearly 20 years and offers great music, good food, and cold drinks — all perfect ingredients for Michigan summer music festivals. The music starts at noon and the event promises to go on, rain or shine.

This year’s lineup includes Chris Crown and the Get Down Band, Charlie Millard, Motor City Josh & The Big 3, Erich Goebel and the Flying Crowbars, and more.

WYCD Downtown Hoedown | Clarkston

This festival is the perfect excuse to grab your cowboy hat and cowboy boots to boogie down. This event, which celebrates its 35th year this year, takes over Pine Knob in Clarkston, one of the most famous venues in Metro Detroit.

This year’s event will be headlined by Luke Bryan and also features Chase Matthew, HunterGirl, Ella Langley, Alana Springsteen, and more.

Michigan Summer Music Festivals in July

Detroit Music Weekend | Detroit

This one-day celebration seems to get bigger and better every single year. Not only do you get the chance to shop and eat around downtown Detroit, but there’s also plenty of live music to serve as the soundtrack to a perfect day.

Faster Horses | Brooklyn

For fans of summer music festivals, few things go together quite like camping and live music.

Located on the backstretch of Michigan International Speedway, this is a fun ride for anyone who’s a country music fan. With a giant waterslide, a Ferris wheel, and plenty of music, this is one of the biggest parties of the summer.

This year’s lineup includes Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Old Dominion, Sawyer Brown, Hardy, Cody Johnson, and more.

Uncle Sam Jam | Woodhaven

There’s nothing like a free live music festival, and this one packs tons of music in with plenty of family-friendly activities like carnival rides, monster truck rides, and a petting zoo.

This year’s lineup includes Queensryche, Lynch Mob, Let it Ride, Fuel, Simply Queen, and more.

Hiawatha Music Festival | Marquette

For more than 40 years, festivalgoers have flocked to the Upper Peninsula for this eclectic festival. The event features traditional music styles like bluegrass, country, folk, and Celtic, and nationally known artists perform alongside regional and local favorites.

Upheaval Festival | Grand Rapids

This two-day rock extravaganza takes place at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids and may be considered best for adults. For fans of rock and heavy metal, this festival features some heavy hitters, including Godsmack, Bad Omens, Dead7, Killswitch Engage, Saliva, and more.

Michigan Elvis Fest | Ypsilanti

Get ready to dust off those blue suede shoes to rock. This annual celebration of the undisputed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll is packed with Elvis impersonators and plenty of diehard Elvis fans. Rock out to the King’s classic songs, and nosh on tasty local food and beer while you do.

Dam Jam | Calumet

Few places in the state are more beautiful than the Upper Peninsula in the summer, and this festival is the perfect reason to head there! Head way, way up to the tip of the hat for this two-day festival that brings original music to Calumet Lions Park in a place that’s safe and fun.

Beaver Island Music Festival | Beaver Island

This festival has been going strong for 20 years and is nestled on Lake Michigan’s biggest island. This festival is unique in that you have to take a ferry over to the island. The festival also provides free camping with the purchase of a festival pass, so you can spend more time enjoying the music.

This year’s lineup includes Nicole Atkins, The Carpenter Ants, Katy Guillen & The Drive, Nathan Walton and the Remedy, and more.

Note: While you’re there, check out these other things to do on Beaver Island Michigan.

Blissfest | Harbor Springs

This is another wonderful festival that welcomes all kinds of music. You can expect to hear everything from world music to Celtic to jazz to blues to zydeco to bluegrass. Add in food and art vendors, as well as healing arts and craft vendors, and you have one heck of a festival.

This year’s lineup includes The Wood Brothers, Sarah Jarosz, Donna the Buffalo, Amythyst Kiah, Vieux Farka Toure, and many more.

Wild Thyme Music Fest | Allegan

Note: The Wild Thyme Music Festival will return in June 2025

Pack up the car with tents, lawn chairs, blankets, grills, bug spray, and whatever else you need for a weekend of camping, workshops, wild thyme, and live music.

This year’s lineup includes The Pickles, Bootstrap Boys, Metro Soul Band, Nicholas James and the Banwagon, Samuel Nalangira and Band and more.

August Music Festivals in Michigan This Summer

Farm Fest | Johannesburg

Some of the best Michigan summer music festivals are the most intimate ones. That’s exactly what you’ll find in Northern Michigan with local acts, on-site camping, amphitheaters, and more. This festival is big on being green-friendly, and you’ll see plenty of efforts to keep waste down as much as possible.

This year’s lineup includes Les Older, Hannah Rose Graves Band, Aaron Benjamin, Jake Allen, and more.

Excellency Music Festival | Bay City

This alternative music festival is a relative newcomer to the Michigan summer festival scene, but it packs a ton of music into a one-day celebration at Bay City’s historic Masonic Temple. This year’s musical talents include Rarity, Cascade Riot, Pallette Knife, Prince Daddy & The Hyena, and more.

Hoxeyville | Wellston

Set against a backdrop of the Manistee National Forest, this is arguably one of Michigan’s coolest (and most relaxed) music festivals. As a “testament to pure north country peace and celebration,” it’s not uncommon to see plenty of hammocks and lawn chairs on this sprawling farmland.

This year’s lineup includes Galatic, Elephant Revival, Lindsay Lou, The Kitchen Dwellers, Sam Bush, and more.

Breakaway Festival | Grand Rapids

This is one of the fastest-growing multi-city festivals in the Midwest and includes events in Tennessee, the Carolinas, Ohio, and Michigan.

This year’s lineup includes Marshmello, Slander, Louis The Child, Deeper Purpose, Alison Wonderland, and more.

Michigan Summer Music Festivals This September

Detroit Jazz Fest | Detroit

For almost 40 years, this festival in downtown Detroit over Labor Day weekend has been a celebration of Detroit’s history of jazz music. You can watch jazz veterans, rising stars, and even Michigan-based artists.

This year’s lineup includes Joshua Redman Group, Billy Childs Quartet; Mimi Fox Organ Trio, 2024 artist in residence Brian Blade, and more.

Wheatland Music Festival | Remus

This may be a low-key festival compared to some of Michigan’s bigger ones, but it also may be one of the most underrated. For more than 40 years, folks have been frolicking on the 160-acre grounds of this festival to hear a unique array of music, including drum circles, fiddles, jam sessions, and more.

Make Plans to Attend a Michigan Summer Music Festival

Head to a music festival in Michigan this summer. Summer music festivals combine all the best things about summer — awesome music, amazing food and drink, great weather, and great company. One thing is for sure, you’re never far from a music festival when summer comes in Michigan.

And, think about this: Michigan summer music festivals are the perfect places to make lasting memories. Longtime festivalgoers can remember vividly when they heard an up-and-coming artist just before they made it big or when something special happened during a concert.

So make plans with your friends, bring your family, and get ready to have a good time. No matter if you’re ready to rock out, slow dance, sit and tap your foot, or just listen to a band, any Michigan summer music festival will be an experience you won’t forget!

Do you have a favorite memory from attending a Michigan summer music festival? Let us know in the comments!