Make Music Chequamegon Bay is a FREE musical celebration on June 21 - the Summer Solstice - and happening on sidewalks and in parks in Ashland, Washburn, Bayfield, Red Cliff, Bad River & Cornucopia

About

What is “Make Music Chequamegon Bay”?

The 1st Annual MAKE MUSIC CHEQUAMEGON BAY will be a free, Chequamegon Bay area-wide celebration of neighbors going outside and making music as part of National Make Music Day. Featuring music makers of all ages and abilities, MAKE MUSIC CHEQUAMEGON BAY happens every June 21st from 2-7pm. This event is sponsored by CBAC, WI Public Radio, and Arts Wisconsin.

Beginning in 1982 in France as a national holiday known as “Le Féte de la Musique,” this event has grown to over 1000 cities and towns in over 120 countries, and is now known world-wide as MAKE MUSIC DAY. MAKE MUSIC CHEQUAMEGON BAY is the newest chapter in this world-wide phenomenon and encourages local musicians in Ashland, Washburn, Bayfield, Red Cliff, and Cornucopia as they go outside and “make music” on sidewalks, in parks, on docks, porches, bandshells, pavillions, and gazebos. The purpose is to celebrate the importance of music in our lives. All genres of music are welcome, and musicians and singers of all ages and abilities are invited to get outside and send their music and voices across the waves of Chequamegon Bay, located on the Lake Superior – the largest fresh water lake in the world.

DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, we are strongly discouraging any groups of more than 10 from gathering this year. The essence of MAKE MUSIC DAY is to simply go outside and make music. So with that in mind, individuals and smaller groups of less than 10 are strongly encouraged to gather safely, i.e., maintaining a distance of 6 feet from each other at all times.

For more info and/or to participate: Go to makemusicday.org/chequamegonbay

It’s a DIY celebration when almost any way to make music can and will happen – ANYWHERE. Get creative and be safe!

Who is involved?

Well, besides YOU – a special event like this takes a dedicated team of volunteers to bring it all together. We have a growing group of “Make Music Ambassadors” who focus on spreading the word, creating musical events, handling city relations, and publicity. Jan Lee is the current Lead Organizer of Make Music Chequamegon Bay. Other “Make Music Ambassadors” include Tom Mitchell, Tom Draughon, Chris Hulmer, Tiffany Darling, Andrew McInnes, Liz Woolworth, Joel Glickman, Kate Miller.

For more information, contact us at: chequamegonbay@makemusicday.org

SPONSORS NEEDED! If you would like to help defray some of the costs and make MAKE MUSIC CHEQUAMEGON BAY a success – become a MAKE MUSIC DAY SPONSOR. Just Click on the “Support” page! Your name will appear in advertising and on our Support Page as a Sponsor.

Now… June 21st will be here before we know it, so let’s get ready to get outside and make some music!

Participate

Since 1982, June 21st has been designated MAKE MUSIC DAY around the world. Locally,we are celebrating with our own Make Music chapter: MAKE MUSIC CHEQUAMEGON BAY!

Below is information and a list of just some of the possibilities of SAFELY experiencing MAKE MUSIC DAY in the Chequamegon Bay area. If you want to make music yourself, just go to a local park or sidewalk storefront, or the beach, or your own front porch or back yard – and play! See a list below of some of this year’s offerings. MAKE MUSIC CHEQUAMEGON BAY is a free, open-air event that invites people of all ages and abilities to participate SAFELY either as music makers or listeners. The entire world will be making music on Sunday – let’s join them by sending our music across the waves of the largest freshwater lake in the world!

We are strongly encouraging listeners to maintain a safe distance from other listeners and music makers. The essence of MAKE MUSIC DAY is to simply go outside and make music and go out side and enjoy hearing music. So with that in mind, we are encouraging individuals and smaller ensembles to take advantage of our local public parks, beaches, sidewalks, porches or any other place you can safely gather – and MAKE MUSIC!

“SO, WHERE CAN MUSIC BE MADE?”:

LOOK FOR THE “MAKE MUSIC HERE” SIGNS THAT WILL BE PLACED IN PUBLIC PARKS around our community in Washburn, Ashland, Bayfield, and Cornucopia. If someone is playing, just wait your turn or come back later.

Here are some locations where music can be made:

WASHBURN:

Wikdal Park (on Hwy 13 across from The Snug)

Legion Park (on Hwy 13 next to the Washburn Cultural Center)

ASHLAND:

Ashland Bandshell(on Hwy 2 next to the Chequamegon Hotel

Co-op Park (on Main Street across from Cheq. Food Co-op)

BAYFIELD:

Memorial Park Gazebo(at the bottom of Rittenhouse Ave on the lake)

ANOTHER WAY TO CELEBRATE:

WINDOW SERENADES – Another opportunity to make music is to go to the home of someone who is house-bound or to an ELDER CARE FACILITY and play outside their windows. Simply call and let them know you’re coming.

We also ask that you please take a photo of your music making on JUNE 21st and send it to us for our website, and so that we can also get an idea of how many people participated this year. Photos can be sent to: chequamegonbay@makemusic.org

Let’s fill the air with music and send it out across the waves! Cheers and stay safe!

Gallery

Support

SPONSORS NEEDED! Support this event by being a “MAKE MUSIC DAY SPONSOR”! Your generous contribution will help pay for publicity and ground support activities “day of” on June 21st! Your name will appear as a SPONSOR in our advertising and on our Support Page.

Please send your check, payable to “Make Music Chequamegon Bay” to: CBAC P.O. Box 25, Washburn, WI 54891

Make Music Chequamegon Bay is sponsored by CBAC and Arts Wisconsin, along with the help of a growing network of volunteers in our area – and YOU!

Want to get involved too?

Make Music Chequamegon Bay hopes to continue to develop a growing volunteer team of planners and musicians as we go forward each year. To get involved, email us at: chequamegonbay@makemusicday.org

Thanks to all those who make this amazing day of live music possible!

Contact

Get in touch with us at chequamegonbay@makemusicday.org