If you have never attended the Shawano Folk Music Festival, we highly encourage you to check out this outstanding music festival. Don’t worry if you are not familiar with our featured performers. This festival has a reputation of always having really good music. Whether it’s for just one day enjoying music in the shade of the outdoor tents, taking in a Friday or Saturday evening concert inside the theater, or purchasing a weekend pass and enjoying the entire weekend, we invite you to discover Shawano’s best kept secret: the annual Shawano Folk Music Festival, the event that brings in the great musical talent of local, national, and sometimes international, performers making music under the trees in the gorgeous wooded setting that is Mielke Park.

The 2024 festival took place the weekend of August 11 – 13 and was a huge success, with fantastic music, talented artists and crafters demonstrating and selling their creations, and record daytime crowds.  John Stano, Milwaukee singer/songwriter, was the 2024 Honorary Director. Each year the honorary director gets to choose an individual or group to perform at the following year’s festival. John chose Mary Gaines and Chris Wagoner from Sun Prairie, WI, aka Gaines and Wagoner. Wow! What a great pick. Their eclectic mix of Americana music ranging from folk to jazz and their incredible knowledge of music really delighted the audience.

John passed the baton on to energetic, intimate, quirky and funny Heather Styka, singer/songwriter from Chicago who was selected as the 2025 Honorary Director. As such, Heather will be returning this year to be part of the 2025 line up. Also returning after a year off, back by popular demand, Bluegrass band Art Stevenson and High Water. Once the festival committee has booked the other main performers, they will be posted on our website.

Thank you to the Shawano County Arts Council for all their support.

Please visit the Shawano Folk Music Festival Website for more information.