PhotoLinks
Banner
Hello, music friends! 🎶
The Midland Folk Music Festival is just around the corner, and we can't wait to welcome you for another incredible weekend of music, friendship, and fun!
📅 Festival Dates: August 27–30, 2026
📍 Midland County Fairgrounds
6905 Eastman Ave., Midland, MI 48642
If you're planning to camp with us, you're welcome to arrive as early as 8:00 AM on Monday, August 24.
Camping: $35 per day
Festival Ribbon: $10 for members | $20 for non-members
* If you arrive before Monday, the fairgrounds charges $100 per day for early arrivals.
Please note that there will also be a horse show taking place at the fairgrounds that weekend. We have a designated camping area reserved for our festival, and board members will be available to direct you to the correct location when you arrive.
If you've attended our festival before, you already know what makes it so special—outstanding workshops, music-filled jam sessions around the campground, talented performers, wonderful vendors, and the chance to reconnect with old friends while making new ones.
Come hungry! We'll have plenty of delicious food and beverages available throughout the weekend, including:
🎵 The Pop Doc (home of the famous dirty sodas)
🍔 Ellie Mae's Food Truck
☕ Three Birds Coffee & Tea
🍦 Great Lakes Ice Cream
Whether you're a longtime festival family member or planning your very first visit, we look forward to welcoming you. Bring your instrument, your friends, and your love of music for a weekend filled with learning, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
We'll see you August 27–30 at the Midland Folk Music Festival!
Volunteers Make the Festival Possible! ❤️🎶
As you enjoy everything the Midland Folk Music Festival has to offer, please consider volunteering for a shift or two. Our festival is made possible by the generosity of volunteers, and we'd love to have your help!
We are especially looking for volunteers to staff the Welcome Table in the Gerstacker Building. Volunteer duties include:
- Greeting visitors and answering questions
- Accepting donations
- Selling festival ribbons
- Selling pre-packaged ice cream from our nearby freezer
There are also several other volunteer opportunities available throughout the festival.
If you're interested or would like more information, please contact:
- Melissa Lile – lilemelissa@gmail.com
- Julia Dryzga – juleinthepines@tds.net
You can also sign up at the volunteer board during the festival.
Whether you can give an hour or a full shift, your time makes a difference. Thank you for helping us create a welcoming and memorable festival for everyone!
Festival Update
The updated Workshop Schedules are here! The lyric songsheets for the Motown and Beatle workshops are available.
Click on this link or the banner ‘Midland Folk Music Festival’!
We have several other exciting events scheduled throughout the week:
Wednesday
8:00 PM – Gospel Sing Along with Jim Janofski in Area 5
Thursday
Noon – Open Jam with Jolly Hammers in the Fair Center
7:00–9:00 PM – Join Johnny Hunt for a 70’s Sing Along in the Fair Center
Friday & Saturday Evening Activities
Friday
6:00–8:00 PM – Jam for All Levels! For Everyone! in Area 1 (Merchant Building)
7:00–9:00 PM – Contra Dance in the Fair Center
8:00 PM – Uke and Friends Jam in Area 5
Saturday
3:00 PM – Music: A Patchwork of Sound with Marsha Kozlowski and Alice Gajewski in Area 5
Why do so many musicians also enjoy the craft of quilting with needle and thread? Music: A Patchwork of Sound explores that connection through a delightful display of music-themed quilts. Enjoy a music program and playlist that you can take back to your own community to create a program celebrating music, creativity, and community.
Presented by Marsha Kozlowski and Alice Gajewski, this special program takes place Saturday at 3:00 PM in Area 5.
5:45 PM – SUGAR performs before the Stage Show in the Fair Center
6:20 PM – Jolly Hammer & Strings perform before the Stage Show
7:00 PM – Evening Stage Show!
Three Unique Drum-Making Classes with Karen Brown
Karen Brown – Drum Making
These drums are works of art and sound beautiful! There are three different types of drums to choose from. You will not be disappointed! To register for any of these classes please email Karen kahb69@gmail.com or call 616-706-9685.
Bang Your Drum class will be on Thursday, August 27th. Fee: $65, Max 12 students. Each student will make their own gourd drum in this fun class. Color and design up to the students. Class length: 9:00am-4:00pm with a lunch break. All materials are provided by the teacher. Kit includes: Gourd shell, Drum hide head, Lacing, Ring, Stencils, Colors, and Finish.
Ocean Drum class will be on Friday, August 28th. Fee: $65, Max 12 students. Each student will make their own ocean drum during this all-day class 9:00am-4:00pm with a lunch break. This is a unique gourd drum to add to anyone’s instrument collection. All materials are provided by the teacher. Stencils of ocean themed items will be used as patterns, wood burning and ink for colors to add to the piece will be available. Kit includes: Gourd shell, Drum hide head, Lacing, Ring, Stencils, Colors, and Finish.
Thunder Drum class will be held on Saturday, August 29th. Fee: $65, Max 12 students. Thunder drums are a non- traditional drum that is shaken to produce the sound of Thunder. Each student will be designing and decorating their drum during this all-day class, class length is 9:00am-4:00pm with a lunch break. All materials are provided by the teacher. Kit includes: Gourd Shell, Rawhide, Ring, Lacing, Stencils, Colors, and Finish.
|
|
|
|
Ottawa County Bluegrass Live at Mi Element – April 24 in Midland
The Folk Music Society of Midland is delighted to announce a special evening of wonderful bluegrass music on April 24th from 6–8 PM at Mi Element in Midland, MI. Join us for a lively performance by Ottawa County Bluegrass, featuring Joe Mitchell on banjo, Dennis Mitchell on guitar, Danny Bryant on mandolin, and Simon Edwards on upright bass.
A suggested donation of $15 at the door will help support the Folk Music Society of Midland. Come enjoy rich harmonies, toe-tapping rhythms, and an evening of timeless folk tradition.
DECEMBER 2025 SUGAR HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA OF EVENTS – it’s time for holiday music!
Monday, December 1 – Bickford – 101 Joseph Drive @ Joe Mann - 10:30-11:30,
… then to M’s Cafe – 5103 Eastman, eat first, then play 11:45-1:30
Tuesday, December 2 – SVSU Alumni Lounge – 7400 Bay Rd., University Center Alumni Lounge in Curtiss Hall – Park in Lot J2, which is #12 on SVSU map link to map: https://www.svsu.edu/media/visit/docs/Campus%20Map
Socializing with students and others 4:00-4:30, Play from 4:30-6:00
Thursday, December 4 – Dow Gardens (in the barn), play 5:00-5:50,
Monday, December 15 – Barton Woods – 9472 Kochville @ M-47, Freeland - 1:00-2:00
Wednesday, December 17 – Krzysiak’s – 1806 Michigan @ Cass Ave. in Bay City - Eat 4:30-5:15,
play thereafter 'til quittin’ time 
Saturday, December 20 – MI ELEMENT – 3124 Jefferson – 10:30-12:00
Th-Th-Th-That’s all, Folks! Happy Holidays and thanks for a great 2025!
Midland Traditional Dances 2025-2026
Join us for a lively evening of traditional dance at the Midland Community Center!
-
Warm-up/Pre-dance Lessons: 6:30 PM
-
Dancing with Live Music by Swollen Fingers: 7:00 – 9:00 PM
-
Cost: $10 | $5 for Silver Sneakers & Community Center members
Bring your friends, enjoy great music, and have fun learning and dancing traditional styles!
For more information, contact:
Cilla Jones – 989-631-0345
There have been a few inquiries about what pre-planned events and gatherings happen at what time at the festival, so here is a brief outline... (subject to tweaks!)
!!! If you are able to help get people registered and get them their attendance ribbons at the registration tent for an hour or two at a time, that would be warmly welcomed by those few who end up carrying far too much of that load!!! Volunteers are always welcome and appreciated.
Wednesday - set up the stage etc. in Gerstacker Building at 4pm (another way to really help!), and after dinner, there is a gospel sing-along with Pastor Jim in one of the tents at dusk.
Thursday at 7pm - Peter, Paul, and Mary sing-along in Fair Center.
Friday - 9am-5pm workshops throughout the grounds, open jam/stage in merchant building 7-9pm, traditional dance in the Fair Center at 7pm
Saturday - more workshops 9am-5pm all over the place, stage show at 5:45 with SUGAR ukulele group, 6:15 with Jolly Hammers and Strings, opening comments and Star-Spangled Banner at 7, and then a wonderful stage show immediately afterward.
Sunday - gospel sing with the Rostollans from 9-noon
Also, you can offer your "spare instruments" (is there such a thing?) for sale in the Fair Center by listing a description, price, and your cell phone number with the instrument and then make arrangements privately with interested buyers.
There have been a few inquiries about what pre-planned events and gatherings happen at what time at the festival, so here is a brief outline... (subject to tweaks!)
!!! If you are able to help get people registered and get them their attendance ribbons at the registration tent for an hour or two at a time, that would be warmly welcomed by those few who end up carrying far too much of that load!!! Volunteers are always welcome and appreciated.
Wednesday - set up the stage etc. in Gerstacker Building at 4pm (another way to really help!), and after dinner, there is a gospel sing-along with Pastor Jim in one of the tents at dusk.
Thursday at 7pm - Peter, Paul, and Mary sing-along in Fair Center.
Friday - 9am-5pm workshops throughout the grounds, open jam/stage in merchant building 7-9pm, traditional dance in the Fair Center at 7pm
Saturday - more workshops 9am-5pm all over the place, stage show at 5:45 with SUGAR ukulele group, 6:15 with Jolly Hammers and Strings, opening comments and Star-Spangled Banner at 7, and then a wonderful stage show immediately afterward.
Sunday - gospel sing with the Rostollans from 9-noon
Also, you can offer your "spare instruments" (is there such a thing?) for sale in the Fair Center by listing a description, price, and your cell phone number with the instrument and then make arrangements privately with interested buyers.
You can even come Monday, August 18th after 9am and get your RV hooked up. After years of asking campers to not come until Monday morning (after the county fair), the Fairgrounds has implemented a $100 charge (payable to the Fairgrounds) for coming early on Sunday and disturbing the County Fair people who need to pack up and leave.
Admission ribbons for the whole week (what a bargain!) are available for $20 to all who are NOT YET members of the Folk Music Society of Midland, and for $10 to FMSM members. There is a GREAT NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS, especially in the areas of the admissions tent, the information table in the Fair Center (Gerstacker Building), and the stage set-up and tear-down.
Donuts, muffins, and bagels will be available in the registration tent Thursday morning from 8:30-10:00 am.
Join us for a Jam Friday evening from 6pm-8pm in the Merchant's building next to the Gerstacker building.
There will be workshops for all sorts of genres, instruments, and experience levels on Friday from 9am-5pm and Saturday from 9am-5pm. If you still wish to present a workshop, please contact Ruth ASAP at workshops.fmsm@gmail.com for directions.
There will be workshops for many different instruments, genres, and various music-related topics as well as childrens' activities during the day on Friday and Saturday (possibly Thursday, too), and a tent gospel jam/sing on Wednesday evening at dusk.
Fifteen vendors (yes, FIFTEEN) will be exhibiting their wares this year both in the Fair Center and outdoors as well, and there are both musical and non-musical things to check out. You just might get all your Christmas shopping done during the festival!
Then in the Fair Center (Gerstacker Building), there will be a Peter, Paul, and Mary sing-along on Thursday evening, traditional dancing on Friday evening, and a tremendous stage show on Saturday evening, with the festival winding up with a gospel sing-along on Sunday morning.
You can learn more about FMSM at their website, www.folkmusicsociety.org, as well as information regarding the Jolly Hammers and Strings, the SUGAR ukulele group, and the Midland Traditional Dancers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)