Minnesota's Best Summer Music Festivals

Winstock
Winstead
June 19-20

For three decades now, this country festival, held less than an hour’s drive from the Twin Cities, has been the unofficial start of the summer festival season. Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson… you name ’em; if they’re twangy and famous, they’ve probably played Winstock. 

This year’s headliners are Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan. 

Twin Cities Jazz Festival
St. Paul
June 19-20

This festival centers on the delightful Mears Park in Lowertown, St. Paul. That’s where you’ll see big names like vibraphonist Stefon Harris and his band Blackout, veteran saxman Joe Lovano, and vocalists Karrin Allyson and Kandace Springs. (Prince once said her voice “could melt snow.”) 

The shows spread out from there, from Crooners Supper Club in the northern suburb of Fridley to the Dakota in downtown Minneapolis. Truly a Twin Cities-wide event.

Lakes Jam
Brainerd 
June 24-27

Lakes Jam has brought live music to Brainerd for more than 20 years, with the weekend divided into musical styles. One day is given over to rock, and two are for country music. 

This year’s headliners are Bailey Zimmerman, Tucker Wetmore and Neal McCoy, but the music is just the beginning of a festival that takes advantage of its rural setting. Expect plenty of outdoor activities, including mud trucks and watercross.

Taste of Minnesota
Minneapolis 
July 3-4

After a 20-year run in St. Paul and a brief break, the Taste of Minnesota was reborn in downtown Minneapolis, attracting 100,000 people to Nicolett Mall over its first weekend. To give you an idea of what to expect, last year's headliners were Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick, and Ludacris. 

Hungry? There will be plenty of food vendors on site.

Minnesota Yacht Club 
St. Paul 
July 17-19

The debut installment of the Minnesota Yacht Club festival hit Harriet Island in 2024 with the help of major concert promoters C3 Presents (Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo). Its debut was so strong — more than 60,000 gleeful fans watching everyone from Alanis Morissette to Gwen Stefani — that C3 added a third day to its second annual soiree, featuring major draws like Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Weezer, and the Prince-approved Alabama Shakes. 

That momentum continues in 2026 with a stacked lineup rounded out by The Lumineers, The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, The Strokes, Matchbox Twenty, and such beloved Minnesotans as Night Moves, Atmosphere and Semisonic. 

Bayfront Reggae and World Music Festival 
St. Paul 
July 18

Reggae gets top billing at Bayfront for good reason. Recent performers have included Jamaican-Americans Gramps Morgan, Alaine, and dancehall duo Tanto Metro and Devonte. Headliner Nigerian-American Rotimi (of the Starz hit “Power”) also introduced hot West African dance styles amapiano and Afrobeats to the mix in 2024. 

There may be no prettier vantage point for enjoying a concert in the state than the Duluth waterfront, too. 

WE Fest
Detroit Lakes 
Aug. 5-8

With typical attendance numbers often eclipsing the 100,000 mark, this three-day event bills itself as “America’s biggest country music and camping festival." Camping options abound, from quiet areas where you can actually sleep to rowdier spots for those who came to party. There’s even a glamping site. 

And of course, there’s music: This year’s headliners are Thomas Rhett, Lainey Wilson, and Brooks & Dunn.

Boats and Bluegrass
Winona 
Sept. 24-26

Summer may technically be over in late September, but it's arguably the most gorgeous time of the year to spend outdoors in Minnesota. Why not spend it on Prairie Island, on the banks of the Mississippi, in Winona? This year’s Boats and Bluegrass lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but previous bills drew performers of the caliber of Charlie Parr and Pert Near Sandstone. And if you want to get your summer concert season started early, head back to Winona in May for the Mid West Music Fest.

 Find out more about Minnesota's strong performing arts scene.