Each July, since 1984, the Hiawatha Music Co-op has invited musicians, families and guests from near and far to come to Tourist Park for a weekend of traditional music and arts, concerts, workshops and informal jam sessions. They call this the Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival. In the past thirty nine years, families have grown, children have grown, babies have come and now one will find many campsites with 3 and even 4 generations of family members, passing on the love of American traditional music.

This year’s music promises to once again please everyone with local, regional, national musicians and world traveling musicians.   The main stage on Saturday and Sunday will feature the music from The Barley Jacks, Johnny Gillette and Sarah Mittelfelhdt, Sones de Mexico, The Sweetwater Warblers, Pert Near Sandstone, The Cactus Blossoms, Bucking Mules, Jayme Stone’s Folklife, Dan Newton & the Café Accordion Orchestra, and All Strings Considered.

Step into your dancing shoes at the Friday-night dance starting at 6:30 p.m., with All Strings Considered, Dan Newton & the Café Accordion Orchestra and The Bucking Mules. Throughout the weekend, most main stage performers as well as local and regional musicians will present small workshops each day on Saturday and Sunday.

In the Teen Scene, Hiawatha’s teens ages 13-17 will enjoy dance and workshop appearances by Chris Crown and Black Jake & the Carnies. Both bands will be featured at the Saturday night ‘Teen-only’ dance.   Crafts and other activities designed for teens will also be featured. New to the Festival this year will be a ‘Tween Tent’ for youth ages 9-12 with activities and music tailored to their interests. The youngest Festival-goers will enjoy a busy line-up in the Children’s Area, with child-friendly crafts and activities, including the return of Papa Crow, Lake Effect, Randy Kaplan, Ron and Jan Fowler and Frank Youngman. A highlight of the weekend is the Sunday afternoon Children’s Parade with instruments made at the Children’s Area during the weekend, led by Frank Youngman. The Tourist Park beach is open during the day with city lifeguards for families to enjoy as well.

Another important Festival tradition is the Artists-in-the- Round art and craft show and sale. As always, this years artisans will offer a wonderful assortment of traditional homemade wares. The Festival will also feature a Young Artists Corner that will feature juried craft show and sale on Saturday afternoon.

A variety of local food vendors will also be on hand to provide hearty breakfast, lunch and dinner fare as well as snacks and beverages.

Camping is available to those wishing to stay on the Festival Grounds. On site parking passes are available for purchase and off site parking is available at no cost. A horse drawn shuttle is also available at no cost from the free parking area to Festival grounds. There is also a shuttle with a trailer at no cost from the free parking area to the Festival camping area. To learn more about camping and the Festival and to order tickets on-line, please visit the Hiawatha Music Co-op website at www.hiawathamusic.org. Ticket sales begin May 30th and are sold at the office, 129 W. Baraga Ave, Suite B, and on our website or via telephone (906-226-8575) 12:30 to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursdays. Early Bird Adult weekend tickets will be on sale for a discount May 30th – June 12th.