Escanaba’s waterfront will come alive Saturday with music, food and summertime activity as Marina Fest 2026 returns to Ludington Park for a full day of free entertainment.
The festival will feature four live bands overlooking the city’s harbor on Little Bay de Noc, celebrating Escanaba’s boating heritage and vibrant waterfront.
“It’s one of the most beautiful spots in town,” said Lorne Watson, member of the Marina Fest and Escanaba Recreation Advisory Committees. “When I first moved here, that was the first thing I went to. I was like, ‘This is a magical spot.’ The music was nice and intimate, really nice and eclectic. It was one of the coolest events I went to the first summer I spent here.”
Watson credits former harbormaster Larry Gravatt for the unique style of the music festival. Marina Fest focuses on different music such as jazz, blues, bluegrass and classic blues-rock. He suggests bringing a lawn chair, relax by the harbor, and enjoy eight hours of outstanding entertainment at the signature summer event.
Bringing his own unique jazz style, Watson is performing with a group of musicians in the Lorne Watson & The Jazz Brigade at 2 p.m.
“Just trying to bring down some of these cats that live up in Marquette, he said. “There’s Ryan Dart playing guitar, Harry South on bass and Patrick Booth on saxophone. And, when I’ve done this before with them, everyone brings a piece of original music to the table.”
By using out-of-town musicians, the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority was able to secure a Touring Grant from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council to help pay some of the travel expenses for those playing at the festival.
“The grant helps to bring in music that we might not always hear,” said Craig Woerpel, DDA director. “It allows us to continue to provide a unique line-up of different music styles.”
Kind of Blues at 4 p.m. features musicians from the central Upper Peninsula with their signature “Straight U.P. Blues,” combining classic blues favorites from artists including B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan with soulful jazz influences.
The bluegrass band Chasin’ Steel at 6 p.m. delivers hard-driving bluegrass music with a rock-and-roll attitude. Their unique sound features banjo, mandolin and hammered dulcimer while blending original songs, bluegrass favorites and music inspired by fly fishing.
Closing out Marina Fest is the Flat Broke Blues Band from Marquette. For more than 25 years, they have entertained audiences with a powerful mix of electric blues, rock, soul and R&B. Featuring Walt Lindala, Mark Johnson, Mike Letts, Jim Cohen and Lorrie Hayes, the band has shared the stage with legendary artists including Koko Taylor, Tab Benoit and Shemekia Copeland.
Activities around Marina Fest this year include excursions by Inland Seas, a 77-foot schooner and Mi Fresh Fish Fry from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, featuring cooking lessons, family fishing activities, and fresh fish to eat.
“This is creating an awareness of where does that fish come from, how does it get to your plate and bringing awareness of our commercial fishery, aquaculture, charter fishery and sport groups. All around our love of fish,” said Lauren Stigers with Michigan Sea Grant.
Performing at the Mi Fresh Fish Fry at 5 p.m. Friday is the family musical group ‘SKI, a folk band based out of Escanaba. Marina Fest on Saturday is free and open to the public.
CAPTION: Marina Fest Saturday at the Escanaba harbor features live music from four bands in the Upper Peninsula, including jazz, blues, bluegrass and classic blues-rock. Last year, the festival included Nashville artist Karlee Metzger.
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