Summertime is Jazz Festival Time in Michigan
Weekly Series
Aretha Franklin Amphitheater
The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater on the Detroit Riverfront features a number of well-known smooth jazz acts on Wednesday evenings June 10 through August 26.
John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz
The John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz at Ford Lake Park features free concerts Fridays July 31 through August 28 at 7:00 p.m. Ford Lake Park is at 9075 South Huron River Dr. in Ypsilanti.
Jazz In the Garden - Toledo
Toledo Metroparks puts on a Thursday evening jazz series July 9 through August 27. Concerts take place 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; the garden opens at 5:30. There will be a barbeque vendor on the grounds and baked goods will also be for sale. Tickets are $10 for general admission. The Gardens are located at 900 Oneida Street in Toledo (phone: 419-720-8714). Please park at Bancroft entrance.
Jazz Festivals
Summer Solstice Jazz Festival in East Lansing
The 30th annual Summer Solstice Jazz Festival makes its way to downtown East Lansing June 26 and 27, featuring the very best of local, regional and national talent. This free-to-all festival is centered around a large tent located in the heart of downtown East Lansing in Parking Lot 1, 230 Albert Ave., Ann Street Plaza, located on the northwest corner of the Albert - M.A.C. intersection and the Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum, 547 East Circle Dr.
Jazz at the Mansion
Saline’s third annual jazz festival, formerly Jazz in the Park, moves from Mill Pond Park to the historic Davenport-Curtiss House on Michigan Ave. The free event is Saturday, July 18, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Michigan Jazz Festival
The 31st anniversary Michigan Jazz Festival is Sunday, July 19, at Schoolcraft College in Livonia. The free all-day festival features music on eight simultaneous stages. See details in this issue.
Flint Jazz Festival
The Flint Jazz Festival features live jazz, art, crafts, food, drinks under the giant oaks in Riverbank Park July 31 through August 2. It is preceded by the Flint JazzWalk.
JazzFest Michigan
The annual JazzFest Michigan happens August 5–8 on the streets of Olde Town Lansing.
Detroit Jazz Festival
The Detroit Jazz Festival is Labor Day weekend in Detroit's Hart Plaza. The 2026 Festival is headlined by Joe Lovano. See details in SEMJA’s upcoming August issue.
Nearby Jazz Festivals
Elkhart Jazz Festival
The lineup for this year’s Elkhart Jazz Festival is impressive, as usual, as it includes some great names in swinging jazz. The list includes John Pizzarelli and the Jeff Hamilton Trio. The annual festival takes place June 18–21 in downtown Elkhart, Indiana.
Tri-C Jazz Festival
Cuyahoga Community College puts on the 47th annual Tri-C Jazz Festival on Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland June 25-27.
Blues Festivals
Alpena Blues Festival
The 22nd annual Alpena Blues Festival takes place Saturday, June 20, on the Alpena County Fairgrounds. The festival is organized by the Blues Coalition.
Blues by the Bay
The 23rd annual Blues by the Bay festival takes place in East Tawas August 28–30.
BluesFest Michigan
The BluesFest Michigan has been held in Lansing’s Old Towne since 1994. This year's festival is September 16–19.
Other Music Festivals
Top of the Park
The Top of the Park features several jazz and blues acts on the stage in front of Rackham on the central campus of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
Sterlingfest Art & Music Fair
The annual Sterlingfest Art & Music Fair features live music on the Jazz & Blues stage. The festival takes place on the city of Sterling Heights campus July 23–25.