HarmonyFest brings a full day of music, food, and family fun to Three Rivers

HarmonyFest returns to downtown Three Rivers this weekend with a hand-picked lineup of music, food, and family fun. The completely free event, organized by volunteers and hosted by the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority, will fill the city’s historic downtown with live performances, food trucks, and activities for all ages in its 32nd year.

“This is a labor of love,” said Three Rivers DDA Board Chair John Wolgamood. “We do it for the community. We see a lot of people that don’t show up for other things, but they’ll show up downtown for this. People come from both sides of the tracks—all different types of people—and that’s what I love about it.”

Music will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday and continue until 10 p.m., when the party shifts to the East Alley for an after-party performance by Faux Beamage.

Here’s this year’s lineup, with descriptions provided by HarmonyFest organizer John Wolgamood:

This Year’s Lineup

1 p.m. – David Michael
“Young guy, real polite, funny, with a great voice. He does mostly soul, some originals and covers—but always puts his own spin on it.”

2 p.m. – Tornado Warning
“They do all original stuff—kind of art-rock with a cosmic trip vibe. His voice reminds me a little of Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins.”

3 p.m. – Allison Downey and the Austins
“Award-winning contemporary folk with heartfelt lyrics and catchy hooks. She really strikes a tone with the audience.”

4:45 p.m. – New Jerusalem Choir
“Arguably one of the best choirs around Three Rivers—very inspirational with great harmonies and a wide age range.”

5:30 p.m. – Trinity Prep Center (Dance Group)
“Energetic youth dancers whose determination and polish make them a joy to watch.”

5:45 p.m. – Kalamazoo Pipe Band
“I don’t do a HarmonyFest without bagpipes. They motivate you, get you up to do whatever battle you’ve got to do in the world.”

6:30 p.m. – Chirp (Detroit-based jam band, a last-minute replacement)
“A genre-hopping jam band with influences from Steely Dan, James Brown, Vulfpeck, and the Beatles. When they confirmed, I literally started dancing around my basement at two in the morning.”

8:15 p.m. – The Claudettes
(No Wolgamood quote available, but the Chicago group is known for blending blues, R&B, and punk-spirited energy with theatrical flair.)

East Alley After-Party – Faux Beamage
“Local boys that like to jam—kind of a cross between Primus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.”

Food & Family Fun

Also featured will be a wide variety of food trucks such as McCasy’s Food Truck (serving sausage sandwiches, nachos and more), Mobile Crave (Mexican favorites), Sweets with a Twist (hand-dipped ice cream and waffle cones), Dreamers, the Lions Club’s classic Ox Roast, and Wiz’s Barbecue (a Georgia-style vendor known to sell out fast). Kings Concessions will return with lemonade and slushies, while local vendors round out the festival with arts, crafts, and other handmade goods.

Parents can enjoy the music, food, and drinks kid-free thanks to the Kids Zone, running from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Free activities include magician Kevin Long, a face painter, games with prizes, and a community art project hosted by Peter Butts and the Three Rivers Library. Children can also explore fire trucks and police cars up close.

“Forget about politics. Forget about everything right now. Just come down, enjoy music, grab a corn dog or taco, a beer, let your kids run around, and just sit back. You don’t have to do anything—just show up and have fun,” Wolgamood said.

Graffiti Supply Co. soft launch & fundraiser

HarmonyFest will also serve as the soft launch for Graffiti Supply Co., a new downtown shop at 5 N. Main St. that blends streetwear, accessories, and lifestyle goods with a focus on creativity and community. Festival-goers will get the first look at its rotating lineup of t-shirts, hats, and other drops, designed to bring a sense of culture and collaboration to Three Rivers’ historic downtown.

To celebrate its launch, Graffiti has partnered with Watershed Voice on a limited-edition collaboration T-shirt, available exclusively at HarmonyFest for $20. Half of all proceeds will go directly to supporting local journalism and Watershed Voice’s mission of elevating community news and local voices.

Graffiti has already worked with local brands like Confluence Cannabis, Twisted Bee, and Ripp’d Worx, and aims to continue building partnerships that keep creativity, opportunity, and economic impact rooted in the community.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice