Blab Music
Beloit Welcomes Fourth Annual Make Music Day with Free Concerts Across the City
Beloit, Wisconsin, will host its fourth annual Make Music Day on Sunday, 21 June 2026. The city will offer free performances in parks, bookstores, restaurants and antique malls, featuring a mix of jazz, country, folk and other genres.
Make Music Day, a global celebration that began in 1982 in Paris, is now observed in more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries. The event encourages musicians of all levels to play outdoors and in public spaces, and it has become a key driver of local tourism and community engagement.
According to Savannah Schindler, director of communications for Visit Beloit, the event has grown each year. “We have a lot of new venues and a lot of new musicians this year,” she said. Schindler added that the influx of performers and music fans brings an economic boost to the area, citing increased foot traffic for local businesses.
The 2026 lineup includes several new venues. Beckman Mill Park on County Road H will host Gene Shepherd from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. with bluegrass, country and gospel. The Beloit Historical Society on Hackett Street will feature Shepherd again from 11 a.m. to noon. The Stateline Jazz Collective will perform at the Historical Society from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., playing jazz, Latin and standards.
Other highlights include: - Best of Beloit Vintage Mall (South Beloit) – Kristin Toon, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., country, rock, pop. - The Club Tavern – Cass, 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., country, folk, pop. - Downtown Den Tavern – Cass, 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Nick Jones, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Reed Between the Notes, 2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.; Matthew Buckley, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; June 3ighth, 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Ian Swick, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Grand Ave. Pub – Eclectic Red, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Cass, 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; June 3ighth, 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Stateline Jazz Collective, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Henry Dorrbacker’s – Darious Pro Pitman, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Paul Hieser, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; June 3ighth, 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Cass, 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Eclectic Red, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Liberty House Grill – Kristen Toon, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Nature at the Confluence – Tim Shaffer, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. - Rogue Bookshop – Barney Flynn, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; June 3ighth, 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Superb Skateshop – Darius Pro Pitman, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Rooftop at Hotel Goodwin – DAU, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Ian Swick, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Angel Rodriguez, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Nick Jones, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. - truk’t – Luke Eiden, 11 a.m. to noon; Mathew Buckley, noon to 1 p.m.; Ian Swick, 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Cass, 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Nick Jones, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Songs and Stories with The Kipster, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Acoustic Thunder, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; June 3ighth, 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Maxine’s Social – Chente Medina, 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.; Reed Between the Notes, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Darius Pro Pittman, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The event is organized by local volunteers and supported by the Beloit tourism board. While the schedule is extensive, all performances are free and open to the public. The city’s mayor and several business owners have noted that the influx of visitors typically boosts sales for restaurants, retail shops and nearby hotels.
Make Music Day is a longstanding tradition that encourages community participation. In 2026, Beloit will again showcase its diverse musical talent and provide a platform for both established and emerging artists. The event is expected to attract music lovers from across the region and to reinforce Beloit’s reputation as a cultural hub.
The city has not yet announced a specific ticketing or registration process, as all concerts are free. Visitors are advised to arrive early for popular venues, as space may be limited. For more information, residents and visitors can consult the Visit Beloit website or local community bulletin boards.
As the event approaches, local musicians and venue owners are preparing to welcome audiences. The city’s participation in Make Music Day continues to support the local music scene and to stimulate economic activity during the summer solstice.
Make Music Day, a global celebration that began in 1982 in Paris, is now observed in more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries. The event encourages musicians of all levels to play outdoors and in public spaces, and it has become a key driver of local tourism and community engagement.
According to Savannah Schindler, director of communications for Visit Beloit, the event has grown each year. “We have a lot of new venues and a lot of new musicians this year,” she said. Schindler added that the influx of performers and music fans brings an economic boost to the area, citing increased foot traffic for local businesses.
The 2026 lineup includes several new venues. Beckman Mill Park on County Road H will host Gene Shepherd from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. with bluegrass, country and gospel. The Beloit Historical Society on Hackett Street will feature Shepherd again from 11 a.m. to noon. The Stateline Jazz Collective will perform at the Historical Society from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., playing jazz, Latin and standards.
Other highlights include: - Best of Beloit Vintage Mall (South Beloit) – Kristin Toon, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., country, rock, pop. - The Club Tavern – Cass, 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., country, folk, pop. - Downtown Den Tavern – Cass, 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Nick Jones, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Reed Between the Notes, 2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.; Matthew Buckley, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; June 3ighth, 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Ian Swick, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Grand Ave. Pub – Eclectic Red, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Cass, 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; June 3ighth, 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Stateline Jazz Collective, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Henry Dorrbacker’s – Darious Pro Pitman, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Paul Hieser, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; June 3ighth, 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Cass, 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Eclectic Red, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Liberty House Grill – Kristen Toon, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Nature at the Confluence – Tim Shaffer, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. - Rogue Bookshop – Barney Flynn, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; June 3ighth, 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Superb Skateshop – Darius Pro Pitman, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Rooftop at Hotel Goodwin – DAU, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Ian Swick, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Angel Rodriguez, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Nick Jones, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. - truk’t – Luke Eiden, 11 a.m. to noon; Mathew Buckley, noon to 1 p.m.; Ian Swick, 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Cass, 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Nick Jones, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Songs and Stories with The Kipster, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Acoustic Thunder, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; June 3ighth, 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Maxine’s Social – Chente Medina, 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.; Reed Between the Notes, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Darius Pro Pittman, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The event is organized by local volunteers and supported by the Beloit tourism board. While the schedule is extensive, all performances are free and open to the public. The city’s mayor and several business owners have noted that the influx of visitors typically boosts sales for restaurants, retail shops and nearby hotels.
Make Music Day is a longstanding tradition that encourages community participation. In 2026, Beloit will again showcase its diverse musical talent and provide a platform for both established and emerging artists. The event is expected to attract music lovers from across the region and to reinforce Beloit’s reputation as a cultural hub.
The city has not yet announced a specific ticketing or registration process, as all concerts are free. Visitors are advised to arrive early for popular venues, as space may be limited. For more information, residents and visitors can consult the Visit Beloit website or local community bulletin boards.
As the event approaches, local musicians and venue owners are preparing to welcome audiences. The city’s participation in Make Music Day continues to support the local music scene and to stimulate economic activity during the summer solstice.
