About to celebrate its 48th year, the Shawano Folk Music Festival is set to return to the Mielke Park and the Mielke Arts Center on Aug. 7-9.
Co-directors for the 2026 festival are husband and wife Linda Blohowiak and Mike Stiefvater. The two had been crossing paths at the festival for more than 30 years without realizing it. A few years ago, they met up at a house concert, and their mutual love of live music – and each other – resulted in an exchange of wedding vows July 20, 2024.
“Our wonderful, hard-working committee has been working and playing all year long to bring you some of the best music around,” they said in a joint statement. “We’ve rounded up talented artists, crafters and food vendors. So, get ready to sit back and relax, sing along, get a few good laughs and maybe shed a tear or two.”
Anne Hills is the honorary director.
“Selecting musicians … actually begins on the last day of the festival (Sunday) when we select an honorary director from among the current year’s musicians,” said Norm Cook, one of the organizers. “We look for someone who understands the kind of festival we try to create. That person is the first booked artist for the following year.”
The honorary director then suggests two or three others not on the radar of the organizing committee.
“We’ll choose one of them, and if they’re available, interested and affordable, we’ve got two artists,” Cook said.
From there, organizers select six artists for the evening concerts and a few others for daytime shows only.
“Committee members submit names of solo artists and bands that they know,” Cook said. “We’ll listen to their music and debate each one. Eventually, we’ll have a list that we think will make a great festival. We look for a weirdly eclectic mix of musicians – men, women, solo artists and bands; folk musicians, blues, jazz, bluegrass, classical, pop, dance music, string bands and anything else we run across.
“It’s the eclectic mix that sets us apart from many other festivals.”
The list is given to the directors who contact the artists, check availability and affordability, and fill the schedule with a mix that’s unique.
A pair of evening concerts are scheduled in the air-conditioned theater.
Pat Wiley and John Wilson will be masters of ceremonies Aug. 7. Performing will be Tom Pease; Ellis, Cohen and Ellis; Hills; and Steve March-Torme.
March-Torme is the master of ceremonies Aug. 8. Playing that night will be Wiley and Wilson, Ilene Weiss, Patty and Craig, and Art Stevenson and High Water.
There are three outdoor venues during the day featuring musicians, crafters and food vendors.
Test out your own voice with an open mic all day Aug. 8 in the food tent.
The evening concert performers will also play at these venues and will be joined by Door County Sound, Anything You Want, Wattle and Daub, Schwenke and Srubas, Cigar Box Scott, Pinolio, Dayshawn Taylor, and Brenda Belongia.
The theater comfortably holds 250 for the evening concerts. There are about 500 people attending the festival each day.
“Many audience members are local; others come from across Wisconsin and neighboring states. A few will come from farther away,” Cook said. “Many come back year after year, greeting the friends they’ve made. A few have been coming since the first year.”
He said there are many reasons audience members return year after year.
“We’re the only weekend-long folk music festival in the area (there’s one in La Crosse and another in Marquette Michigan),” Cook said. “We’re small enough for it to be an intimate musical experience and big enough to attract regional and national artists. The artists come for the weekend, not just for a single set, so the audience has a chance to really get to meet them.
“The Mielke Park setting is a perfect site for this kind of festival — beautifully wooded and big enough for multiple outdoor stages for daytime programs, and small enough to be easily maneuverable.”
Cook said artists often ask to return as well, knowing the festival doesn’t feature any artist more than two years in a row.
“Some tell us it’s their favorite small festival — friendly staff, friendly appreciative audience, incredible site,” he said. “And they all mention how much they enjoy spending the weekend with other musicians. They comment on the high quality of the artists we get and how much they appreciate working with artists they’ve never met before, some in completely different musical genres. Some have even returned as audience members, driving from several states away.”
The festival tradition of a quilt raffle is back with this year’s quilt created by Jennifer Tagliapietra, Clintonville.
“This year’s quilt is my take on the Star Pop II pattern by Emily Dennis,” she said. “This uses the Sawtooth design. The Sawtooth Star is one of the oldest and most popular American quilt blocks, dating to the late 18th century, representing strength, protection and hope. Spring and summer time are my inspiration for the quilt, using contrasting colors throughout.”
The longarming was donated by Rose Fast.
Programs for children include arts and crafts projects, a chance to play percussion, dance and movement, clowning around, writing Haiku poems, making a washtub bass, giggling a tune and the rockin’ stompin’ buzzin’ music of Cigar Box Scott.
Souvenirs include the musicians’ recordings, T-shirts, book and other products. There are also festival T-shirts, hats, coffee mugs and the festival CD.
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: Shawano Folk Music Festival
WHEN: Aug. 7-9
WHERE: Mielke Park and the Mielke Arts Center, N5649 Airport Road, Shawano
COST: A daytime pass is $15 per day (free for those 12 and younger. Each evening concert is $30. A Saturday (Aug. 8) pass is $40 and includes the daytime events and evening concert. A weekend pass for both daytimes and both evening concerts is $80.
TICKETS: Available online at shawanofestival.ludus.com, in person at the box office (only open festival weekend) or the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce (exact cash or check), 1263 S. Main St., Shawano.
ONLINE: Visit www.shawanofestival.org for information.
Anne Hills is the honorary director of the 48th annual Shawano Folk Music Festival. She keeps busy with live performances, solo and collaborative recording projects, theatrical work and benefit work. (Contributed)
Pat Wiley and John Wilson are a duo that features original and traditional music in an “old time” style. Both play several instruments, including guitar, fiddle, clawhammer banjo, octave mandolin, tenor banjo, fiddlesticks, bones, jaw harp, washboard and spoons, and both sing as well. Both were original members of the Raiders of the Lost Barn string band from 1985-2005. (Contributed)
Art Stevenson and High Water have been performing traditional bluegrass music in Wisconsin and surrounding states since 1993. Since then, they have released seven CD recordings of well-chosen songs and original compositions. (Contributed)
In addition to his performing and recording career, Steve March-Torme is the weekday afternoon host on 91.1 FM The Avenue in Green Bay and Northeastern Wisconsin. (Contributed)
