Thumbfest
A Traditional Music Festival on the shores of Lake Huron
Thumbfest is a traditional music festival sponsored by the Bluewater Folk Society.
The Bluewater Folk Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting traditional and acoustic music in Michigan's thumb area.
It takes place every year on Labor Day weekend in Lexington, Michigan along the shores of Lake Huron.
The festival features multiple stages, a dance hall, music workshops, areas for jamming, a song circle and craft vendors.
All of this takes place throughout the downtown area of Lexington.
For a weekend the quaint village of Lexington is transformed into a music festival.
From the shores of Lake Huron east to Main Street the town is filled with music.
Since it's inception, the goal of the festival has been to present a wide variety of acoustic and traditional music to as many people as possible.
It is a free festival open to anyone coming to the Village of Lexington.
It is made possible by donations on the day of the event, fund raisers throughout the year, sponsorship by local businesses, arts associations, musicians and numerous volunteers.
Through the years and growth Thumbfest has continued to be a peoples festival. As you walk from the traffic light to the harbor you will pass no less than five performances of some sort going on. Once at the harbor, either a main stage act will be playing or, a song circle will be taking place. Also at the harbor park, is an area for traditional crafter's and a children's area on the beach near the lake. Truly something for everyone! Whether you bring a cooler and sit all day at the harbor park, or, drop your stuff off at the park and walk or take a shuttle to various venues, you will hear some great music.
The majority of the musicians through the years have been Michigan based and a good portion of those have been locally based. Thumbfest and The Bluewater Folk Society pride themselves on introducing local artists and the best of the upcoming and established Michigan musicians. As the result of the atmosphere, the hospitality of the village and the people, Thumbfest has become a place where musician's wish to return year after year. Once a musician has played here, they are sometimes even willing to play for less than they usually ask or, for a share of the donations if there is anything left.
This is a testament to the atmosphere of Thumbfest.
It is unlike any other musical festival that we know of in that, it is free and, it take place throughout an entire city