Hiawatha Music Festival

The Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival in Marquette, Michigan is held each year during the next-to-last full weekend of July and features traditional, acoustic, American music. Each year's main-stage line-up can include bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, Celtic, acoustic blues, Gospel, etc. The line-up includes national, regional and local performers, and singer/songwriters are always featured. The Festival also includes music and activities designed for teens and children. An arts and craft show sponsored by a local art organization is held in conjunction with the Festival. Many of the art and craft vendors sell earth-friendly items. The Hiawatha Festival began in 1979 in Champion, Michigan. Since 1984, the Festival venue has been the city-owned Marquette Tourist Park, where camping (up to 1,000 units) is available for Festival-goers. The Hiawatha Festival is conducted by the Hiawatha Music Non Profit Corporation, a 600-member, 501(c)3 non-profit commonly known as the Hiawatha Music Co-op.

The Hiawatha Music Festival is located in Tourist Park; a very beautiful forested area in Marquette. It is a great location for the festival and more than accommodates all campers to bathrooms with showers, a baseball field for activities, and a river. Note: that there was a lake in the campground, but a flood destroyed the dam and the lake bed became fed by the waters to create a river. Attendants to the festival were welcome to swim in the lake. However, in 2011 the area was sealed off, as they are implementing means to re-create the lake that was so special to the campground. The City expects the lake and beach to be fully restored for the 2013 Festival.

The music festival requires a year-round effort of many volunteers to keep it going. This group includes several of the original founders such as the recent long-term president - Susan Bertram.

Marquette profits hugely by the amount of tourists that come to the festival. They do not only stay on the grounds, but support local businesses in vital ways to keep the economy of Marquette strong in the wake of tough times in Michigan as of late. Each year's Festival includes a variety of licensed, contracted food concessionaires, as well as a juried arts and crafts show coordinated by Marquette's Oasis Gallery in conjunction with the Festival. There is a token system much like most festivals that people can purchase in the same area as the vendors. Musicians also use this vendor area to promote or sell their CDs and DVDs.

Camping in the park is a very great experience during the festival. There are quiet sections for families, a section for youths to commune and camp, and the rising favorite 'A' section where the musicians normally stay. Even after midnight when the main stage has seen its last act, the musicians and bands will mix and congregate to play music all throughout the night. This is a great way for amateurs to even step in and show what they've got. Fire pits are available for warmth and light and are usable from start to end.

Hiawatha and local authorities work to keep the festival a safe for all with a combination of experienced security volunteers, paid security and City officers.

Colin Bertram

Main stage during the Festival

External links

• http://www.hiawathamusic.org