The Hiawatha Festival is the only event of its size and scope in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Without Hiawatha, local performers and fans would have to travel between four and six hours to the nearest comparable festivals. 

The Festival is held the next-to-last FULL weekend in July, at the Marquette, Michigan, at Tourist Park.

Each year's event features traditional-music styles that include Bluegrass, Old-Timey, Cajun, Celtic, acoustic Blues, and Folk - including singer-songwriters.  It also features traditional dance styles.  Mainstage acts include nationally known performers as well as regional and local favorites.  The Festival opens its gates at 1pm on Friday.  Events begin with the Opening Ceremony we call Thunderation!  It's followed by the Friday night Get Acquainted Dance at Second Stage.  These are the only events on Friday.  Food Concessions open when the gates open on Friday.  Children ages 0-8, Tweens ages 9-12, and Teens ages 13-17 activities and performances run all day on Saturday and Sunday with a special Teen only Dance Saturday night at Second Stage.  Various musician-led Workshops, open jams, dance sessions run throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.  The heart-warming and time-honored Children's Parade takes place late Sunday afternoon.  Artists in the Round, a juried traditional arts show, is on Saturday and Sunday, and our Young Artists Corner on Saturday afternoon. 

Schedule of Events:

Main Stage
11:00 am: OPEN MIC
12:30 pm: Stina Jackson
01:45 pm: Who Dat Brass
03:00 pm: Brittany Haas and Nic Gariess
04:20 pm: Crys Matthews
05:35 pm: Breabach
06:55 pm: Joe Robinson
08:15 pm: Mulebone
09:40 pm: Pixie and The Partygrass Boys
11:05 pm: Tony Trischka's Earl Jam Ft. Michael Daves

Dance Tent
08:30 am - 09:45 am: Yoga w-Barb Knox and Jim Pennell
10:00 am - 11:15 am: Morris Dancing w-Marquette Morris Dancers

Outside Dance Tent
10:00 am - 11:30 am: Aerial: Fabric, Lyra, Trapeze w-A.J Sheirkolk
12:30 pm - 02:00 pm: Aerial: Fabric, Lyra, Trapeze w-AJ Sheirkolk

Dance Tent
11:30 am - 12:45 am: Swing w-Janell and Brian Larson and Who Dat Brass Band
01:00 pm - 02:15 pm: Middle Eastern w-Carrie Biolo and Shannon Whitehouse and Maggie Barch
02:30 pm - 03:45 pm: Scottish Step Dancing w-Breabach
04:00 pm - 05:15 pm: Contra-Square Dance w-Dave Goodwin and Cold Springs Band

Workshops
09:00 am - 10:00 am Rise Up Singing w-Delight Lester and Larry Gephart
10:15 am - 11:15 am: Songs of Peace and Protest w-Crys Matthews and Michael Waite
11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Play Well With Others w- Pixie and The Partygrass Boys
12:45 pm - 01:45 pm: Delta Blues w-Mulebone
02:00 pm - 03:00 pm: Guitar and Vocals w-Joe Robinson and Michael Daves
03:15 pm - 04:15 pm: Songwriting Workshop w-Andy Langlois, Brian Wallen and Derrell Syria
04:30 pm - 05:30 pm: Fiddle and Banjo Workshop w-Tony Trischka and Brittany Haas
05:45 pm - 06:45 pm: Fiddle and Dance w- Brittany Haas and Nic Gereiss

Beach Tent
10:00 am - 11:00 am: Harmony Workshop w-Morski
11:15 am - 12:15 pm: Eastern Kentucky Songs via Bradley Kincaid w-John Hatton
12:30 pm - 02:30 pm: Old Time Jam w-Bruce Bauman
03:00 pm - 04:00 pm: Basic Fiddle Improv w-Janis Peterson and Dave Bett
04:15 pm - 05:15 pm: Beginning Ukulele Workshop w-Ben Hassenger
05:30 pm - 06:45 pm: Hiawatha Relaxation Station w- Nic Sheree and Shaina Levee

Teen Scene
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Crafts and Activities
12:00 pm: UKULELE WORKSHOP Luke Guindon Under the Song Tree
01:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Tie Dye (Bring your own or purchase T-Shirts-Bandanas at the Merch tent)
02:00 pm - 3:00 pm: CHASIN' STEEL WORKSHOP Jam - Under the Song Tree
03:00 pm - 4:00 pm: ORGANGRINDERS - WORKSHOP Jam - Under the Song Tree
05:30 pm - 6:30 pm: SETH BROWN DUO -SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE - Under the Dance Tent

Teen Dance
08:00 pm - 10:00 pm: CHASIN' STEEL
10:00 pm - 12:00 am: ORGANGRINDERS

Children's Area
10:00 am: MSO Fiddle Flash Mob
11:00 am: Troy Graham
12:00 pm: Cloverland
01:00 pm: Corinne Rockow
02:00 pm: Frank Youngman's Kids Open Mic
03:00 pm: Papa Crow
04:00 pm: Luunappi

Children's Craft Area
10:00 am - 5:30 pm: Tie Dying - All Day. Purchase your Kids T-shirt at the Merchandise Tent, and bring it over to the Children's Crafts Tent to add pizzazz!
10:30 am - 6:00 pm: Face Art, Pinwheel Making and Fairy Crowns