Programs

Make Music Day Wisconsin

For immediate release
Contact:  Anne Katz, Create Wisconsin
608 255 8316 | info@createwisconsin.org
May 29, 2025

WISCONSIN TO CELEBRATE MAKE MUSIC DAY,
WORLD’S LARGEST ANNUAL MUSIC EVENT ON SATURDAY, JUNE 21 

Hundreds of free and family-friendly music-making events
are planned in 27 communities across the state
Full info at www.makemusicday.org/wi 

May 29, 2025 – Wisconsin has an impressive history of producing world-class musicians – Eau Claire's indie folk star Bon Iver, Milwaukee's R&B crooners Eric Benét and Tank and the classical duo Sista Strings, and Waukesha's guitar innovator Les Paul, to name a few. But you don’t have to be the next Liberace or Al Jarreau to join in on the music-making fun taking place all across the state on Make Music Day.

On Saturday June 21, twenty-seven cities and towns across Wisconsin – more communities than any other state – will join forces to present hundreds of free musical events on the summer solstice. It’s all part of Make Music Day, a global music celebration bringing people of all ages and skill levels together to experience the joy and camaraderie of making music.

Amery, Appleton, Ashland, Baraboo, Beloit, Cable, Cambridge, Cross Plains, DeForest, Dodgeville, Green Bay, Hayward, Kenosha, Land O' Lakes, Madeline Island, Madison, Marshfield, Middleton, Milwaukee, Monona, Oshkosh, Platteville, Shell Lake-Spooner, Stevens Point, Sun Prairie, Superior, and Verona are among the 150+ U.S. cities hosting thousands of Make Music Day performances nationwide, as part of the world’s largest annual music event. 

Make Music Day began in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, and today it is celebrated in thousands of cities around the world. Distinct from a traditional music festival, Make Music Day is a free and open invitation for everyone to perform, teach, learn, and experience the joy of making music on the longest day of the year. Reimagining their cities and towns as stages, every kind of musician – young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion – pours onto streets, parks, plazas, porches, rooftops, gardens and other public spaces to create and share music with friends, neighbors, and strangers.

In 2024, Wisconsin collectively presented 1,037 free musical events on June 21, and even more are expected in 2025. 

"We love helping people and communities connect through music, each year on the summer solstice,” said Anne Katz, Executive Director of Create Wisconsin. “Create Wisconsin is all about the power of the arts to bring people together, and Make Music Day is a great way to do that. We are glad to be involved in this global day of music from the ground up. Wisconsin's artistry and creativity is on full display during Make Music Day. We can't wait for June 21, and the chance to enjoy music all over the state!"

Highlights of Make Music Wisconsin include: 

• Amery is featuring “Explore the Harp” with harpists from the area, at the Amery Public Library, 11 am.

• Appleton: Appleton is pleased to be a part of Make Music Day for the 8th year. Activities include the revival of our popular ‘Roomful of Pianos’ event, a percussion jam, and – in conjunction with International Yoga day – a workshop with a variety of traditional flutes for full body relaxation and the opportunity to connect with culture through music.

• Ashland: The Chequamegon Bay area is the proud home of many talented musicians, and we are thrilled to bring Make Music Day to Downtown Ashland. Stroll along Historic Main Street with live performances dotted around, catch live music at the farmer’s market, and don’t miss The Garland City Consort at the Historic Bandshell overlooking Lake Superior later that evening.  

• Beloit: Make Music Beloit returns for its third year, with more than 30 performances scheduled throughout the Greater Beloit area. The lineup offers a diverse mix of musical styles and experiences, from revues to outdoor music festivals and more. The weekend kicks off with Friday evening performances, extending the celebration to three days of live music. 

• Cable: This Northwoods community of 825, nestled among the pines with a background chorus of birdsong and woodpeckers, invites you to our second Make Music Day. We will have everything from the Tai Chi Players on the village green and a Boomwhacker and body percussion performance to traditional music from local groups and singer-songwriters. New this year is an evening sing-along and jam around a campfire in the center of town. Everyone is welcome, so bring along your instruments and voices and join the fun.

• Cross Plains: Cross Plains is bringing music to our parks, businesses, and library! We’ll have students playing favorite pieces, experienced solo musicians and ensembles, and events exploring different ways to make music – in short, something for everyone to enjoy.

• DeForest: Enjoy the Solstice Brass Band at the DeForest Area Public Library, performances at Fireman’s Park, and live music around the village, including special sets at Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church. It’s a free, all-ages celebration of community and music! 

• Green Bay: Make Music Day will be celebrated this year across the Green Bay area, including a concert at the iconic Titletown, live performances at the igNight Market in partnership with the Levitt AMP Green Bay Music Series, and a concert at Austin Straubel Airport performed by the Civic Symphony of Green Bay.

• Hayward: 2025 marks Hayward's first-ever Make Music Day, which will fall on one of Hayward's busiest weekends - Musky Festival. We will have a wonderful walk through the Sherman Weiss Library nature trail with a singer/songwriter reading the book, Monet's Cat. At the Outdoor Library Classroom, visitors will hear the story, The Noisy Paintbox, about the artist Wassily Kandinsky who, as a child, experienced colors as sounds and sounds as colors. He painted the sounds of music and became one of the very first abstract artists. There will be a watercolor station and music to inspire artists, young and old. Two more singer/songwriters will perform downtown.

• Kenosha: For the fifth year, Make Music Kenosha is excited to hold a Block Party in beautiful downtown Kenosha, bringing together our diverse community. Beginning at noon, local artists including Malcolm Wright Music, The Linden Brothers, and The Nuke Plant Chickens will perform on a stage at 57th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue, while local businesses like 58 Below will host musicians throughout the day. Food trucks and a beer garden will also be available. 

• Land O’Lakes: At the top of Wisconsin, Make Music Day Land O’ Lakes will ring in the summer Northwoods-style through creativity and connection, with a special concert by local singer-songwriter Bobby Bullet and a campfire sing-along led by Brad Klabunde.

• Madeline Island:  With under 500 year-round residents, Madeline Island is the smallest community involved in Make Music Day anywhere in the country! Residents and visitors to the island will enjoy making music together on this global day of music.

• Madison: Make Music Madison is excited to present another incredible day of music with over 600 performances at 175+ venues. The city will become a stage with music of all styles, plus participatory performances including a community choir singing of Billie Eilish’s Birds of a Feather, and a “Sousapalooza” at Rennebohm Park celebrating the music of John Philip Sousa. The Mallards will host multiple musical interventions during their baseball game, from the entry gate to the seventh-inning stretch. We are also hosting two special community main stages to bring neighbors together at Allied Park in South Madison and Hawthorne Elementary in East Madison.

• Middleton: Make Music Middleton will feature music from 3pm – 9pm at our charming outdoor venue Stone Horse Green, located in the heart of Downtown Middleton. Many local businesses will join the fun by hosting music throughout the day. Stop by downtown, stroll around, and listen to performances from our talented local musicians! 

• Milwaukee: 2025 is our ninth year for Make Music Milwaukee, featuring concerts, performances, music lessons, jam sessions and other musical events on streets, sidewalks, parks and public spaces across the city! There will be folk sounds from the MOO Music Gathering at Beulah Brinton House, barbershop a cappella vocals from West Allis-West Milwaukee Suburban Singers, indie rock at West Allis City Hall-Centennial Plaza, and many other performances at a wide variety of venues. MMD is a rain or shine event, with Ope! Brewing Company serving as an alternate indoor location in case of inclement weather. 

• Monona: Make Music Monona brings the beat to the water’s edge, with local bands performing at scenic waterfront venues including San Damiano, Grand Crossing Park, Buck & Honey’s Balcony, and The East Side Club, plus a family-friendly outdoor stage at Aldo Leopold Nature Center. 

• Oshkosh: Make Music Oshkosh will feature vinyl mandala and band bracelet art projects at the Oshkosh Public Library, a kazoo parade through the Downtown Oshkosh Farmers Market, a folk/bluegrass jam with Angela & Steve Miller from Remington's Ride, a jam featuring Oshkosh Community Jazz Band at Heid Music, and the Oshkosh Area Ukulele Players. 

• Platteville: In its tenth year, Make Music Platteville will present many returning favorites – including Piano in the Park, Flute Choir Mass Appeal, a handbell ringing lesson, Prairie Lights String Band, The Plucky Strummers Ukulele Group, and artists in a plethora of styles throughout the community – as well as two new featured initiatives. Sousapalooza at Smith Park will bring area community band members together to play the music of John Philip Sousa. Also new is “Grown Up Solo & Ensemble – No Judgment,” a take-off on the Wisconsin School Music Association festival, for adult alumni of the spring festival. Participants will learn a piece from a specific list, and accompanists will be on hand to sight-read the music with their soloist! 

• Spooner-Shell Lake: Spooner and Shell Lake are delighted to host their second annual Make Music Day. Due to the enthusiastic responses from our participants, many of last year's events are scheduled again, including Yata and the Purple Pelicans, Bucket Drumming at the Beach, several singer/songwriters, and the Ukulele Funshop. New this year are performances from cellist Heather Fleishauer, a piano in Centennial Park, performances at Glenview Assisted Living (open to all), and hours of music at RoundMan, Klopp's, Economart and more. Both towns' downtown streets will be filled with music throughout the day, and visitors will be elated with the music streaming from so many places as they visit our businesses, galleries and parks.

• Stevens Point: Highlights for the Stevens Point event is the Mass Yoga and Sound Meditation Incident, a play off the Mass Guitar Incident that has been a popular part of the local scene in years past. We are also blessed to be part of a very walkable downtown, so that participants can enjoy a musical stroll through the area and take in all the sights and sounds at venues including Geppetto’s Workshop, On The Square, Wooden Chair, and Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum. A Juneteenth celebration will also be occurring nearby with live entertainment for the entire family. With the variety of hosting locations and music, there truly is something for everyone! 

• Sun Prairie: A fun slate of performances is taking shape at locations across the area, including Dream Park, Dave’s Guitar Shop, Radiance Music Studio, the Colonial Club Inc StrawberryFest and even the East Lane Street City Parking Lot! Whether you’re a professional who wants to show off your skills or an enthusiast who wants to learn and party with like-minded folks, there is something for everyone to enjoy. 

• Superior: MoSoPro is leading the charge for this year’s Make Music Superior, with a vibrant 8-hour music festival at The Lot, a brand-new outdoor stage nestled in the heart of Superior’s Business Improvement District. But the celebration doesn’t stop there—throughout the city, venues will come alive with music and activities while art, food, and craft vendors will add to the festivities, making it a full-day summer event perfect for the whole family.

• Verona: Verona's Make Music Day, themed "Pedal & Play," invites the community to celebrate with live music at the new Century School Park bandshell and engaging activities at the just-opened ART House 360. From line dancing and musical story time to a special performance by local favorite Paige Kleber, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss the bike station, where you can deck out your ride with musical accessories and join in on the music-making fun! 

Make Music Wisconsin is coordinated statewide by Create Wisconsin. Special thanks to Wisconsin Public Radio for partnership, support and promotion. 

For more information, contact Anne Katz, Create Wisconsin, 608 255 8316 | info@createwisconsin.org.  

About Make Music Day
Held annually on June 21 to coincide with the summer solstice, Make Music Day is part of the international Fête de la Musique taking place in thousands of cities across 120 countries. The daylong musical free-for-all celebrates music in all its forms, encouraging people to band together and play in free public concerts. This year, over 150 U.S. cities are organizing Make Music celebrations, encompassing thousands of music making opportunities nationwide. Make Music Day is presented by The NAMM Foundation and coordinated by the nonprofit Make Music Alliance. For more information, please visit makemusicday.org.

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