MACKINAW CITY — The 2025 Music in Mackinaw Summer Concert Series returns Friday, July 4, with a performance by the Straits Area Concert Band followed by fireworks.
Now in its 42nd season, the Straits Area Concert Band will perform again on eight consecutive Tuesdays at 8 p.m. through Aug. 26. The group, directed by Doug White and several guest directors, draws more than 70 volunteer musicians from across Northern Michigan, with some commuting more than 100 miles to participate.
In addition to the Tuesday night performances, a wide variety of musical acts will take the stage at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in July and August. Genres in this year’s series include bluegrass, classic rock, folk, pop, piano, country, blues, rockabilly, Caribbean, patriotic marches, jazz, and vocal harmony.
The concert series is organized by a volunteer committee in cooperation with the Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Mackinaw City. Local businesses and community donors fund the program.
2025 Music in Mackinaw schedule:
July
- July 4, 9 p.m. – Straits Area Concert Band (Marches, show tunes, pop)
- July 8, 8 p.m. – Straits Area Concert Band
- July 11, 8 p.m. – A Place to Land (Acoustic folk/country)
- July 12, 8 p.m. – Motor City Memories (1950s–80s classic rock)
- July 15, 8 p.m. – Straits Area Concert Band
- July 18, 8 p.m. – Northern Ground (Country/rock)
- July 19, 8 p.m. – The Mickeys (Americana, folk, country)
- July 22, 8 p.m. – Straits Area Concert Band
- July 25, 8 p.m. – Bruce and the Originals (Bluegrass, swing, blues)
- July 26, 8 p.m. – Janel Anderson (Americana, roots)
- July 29, 8 p.m. – Straits Area Concert Band
August
- Aug. 5, 8 p.m. – Straits Area Concert Band
- Aug. 8, 8 p.m. – Delilah DeWylde (Honky-tonk, blues, rockabilly)
- Aug. 9, 8 p.m. – Rachel Brooke (Classic country)
- Aug. 12, 8 p.m. – Straits Area Concert Band
- Aug. 15, 8 p.m. – The Half-Pints (Rock, bluegrass, folk)
- Aug. 16, 8 p.m. – Bob Milne (Ragtime piano)
- Aug. 19, 8 p.m. – Straits Area Concert Band
- Aug. 22, 8 p.m. – An Exceptional Chorus (Youth chorale)
- Aug. 23, 8 p.m. – The Chitans (Caribbean)
- Aug. 26, 8 p.m. – Straits Area Concert Band
All concerts are free and open to the public.