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
12:25 pm: Make-Believe Spurs
01:35 pm: Mulebone
02:45 pm: Crys Matthews
03:40 pm: KID'S PARADE
04:05 pm: Joe Robinson
05:10 pm: Breabach
06:25 pm: Tony Trischka's Earl Jam Ft. Michael Daves
07:40 pm: Black Jake and The Carnies
09:05 pm: Pixie and The Partygrass Boys

Dance Tent
8:30 am - 09:30 am: Yoga w-Barb Knox and Jim Pennell
9:45 am - 11:30 am: Gospel Hour w-Crys Matthews, Make Believe Spurs, M. Daves and F. Youngman

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

Dance Tent
11:45 am - 1:00 pm Contra-Square w-Dave Goodwin and Cold Springs Band
01:15 pm - 2:30 pm: Highland Fling w-Breabach and Heather Dombrowski

Workshops
11:45 am - 01:00 pm Contra-Square w-Dave Goodwin and Cold Springs Band
01:15 pm - 02:30 pm: Highland Fling w-Breabach and Heather Dombrowski
11:45 pm - 12:45 pm: Rise Up Singing w-Larry Gephart and Delight Lester
01:00 pm - 02:00 pm: Songwriting Showcase w-Stina Jackson, Michael Waite and Derrell Syria
02:15 pm - 03:15 pm: Trad Under Cover w-Pixie and the Partygrass Boys
03:30 pm - 04:30 pm: Making Music with Trees w-Tom Wall
04:45 pm - 05:45 pm: How To Be a Carny w-Black Jake and the Carnies
06:00 pm - 07:00 pm: Guitar Workshop: Slide and Fingerstyle w-Mulebone and Joe Robinson

Teen Scene
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Crafts and Activities
01:00 pm: ZACH LANCASTER -APPALACHIAN BANJO WORKSHOP Under the Song Tree
02:00 pm - 4:00 pm: TIE DYE (if supplies last) (Bring your own or purchase T-Shirts-Bandanas at the Merch tent)

Children's Area
11:00 am: Troy Graham
11:30 am - 2:30 pm: Yooptone Musical Petting Zoo
12:00 pm: Corinne Rockow
01:00 pm: Cloverland
02:00 pm: Luunappi
03:15 pm: Frank Youngman and the Kids Music Parade

Children's Craft Area
10:00 am - 4:00 pm: All Day Rock painting and Instrument-making (for the Kids Parade)