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HarmonyFest returns for 33rd year in Downtown Three Rivers

The event has long been a staple of the city and its downtown block, and 2026 will be no different, as festivities will take place on North Main Street from 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday, September 6.

In addition to the live music, there will be food trucks and a kids zone from 1 to 4 p.m., while businesses in the Main Street Commons will also be open.

A previous year’s HarmonyFest in Downtown Three Rivers

Harmony Fest returns for its 33rd annual celebration of music and community in downtown Three Rivers. 

The event has long been a staple of the city and its downtown block, and 2026 will be no different, as festivities will take place on North Main Street from 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday, September 6. 

“I think we got some great music, a lot of variety, ” said Charlie “John” Wolgamood, chair of the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority Board and its promotions committee. “It’s going to be good.”

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The afternoon and evening will feature a wide range of music, including country, R&B, blues, funk, rock, and a pipe band. 

The full setlist with times can be viewed here:

(Courtesy: Three Rivers HarmonyFest Facebook page)

One of the scheduled performers, Paul Jellico, is the stage name of Third District City Commissioner Anthony Stanfill.

For Wolgamood, part of the appeal is hearing live music fill downtown. 

“We bring the professional sound guy in, and it’s just amazing when you get the sounds bouncing off those buildings,” he said. 

In addition to the live music, there will be food trucks and a kids zone from 1 to 4 p.m., while businesses in the Main Street Commons will also be open. 

The kids zone is expected to include face painting, a magician, games, bubbles, and a foam party near the amphitheater. 

Participating food trucks include Burgers N Bows, Cousins Maine Lobster, Kona Ice, McTasty’s Food Truck, The Mobile Crave, SWAT (Sweetness with a Twist), Weenie Kings, and Wiz BBQ. 

Several downtown restaurants and businesses are also expected to be open during the festival. 

Beyond the entertainment, Wolgamood said he sees HarmonyFest as a way to bring together people who might not otherwise interact. 

“The more you can get people together, rub elbows for events — especially some fun events — I think it’s a good thing,” Wolgamood said, calling for more “social friction.” “The more you can see that we’re together, they’re not that much different from each other.” 

HarmonyFest was previously organized as its own entity before the DDA took over the event, according to Wolgamood. 

Admission is free, though donations will be accepted throughout the day. 

Following the conclusion of the main stage performances at 10 p.m., an afterparty will continue the festivities in East Alley, featuring performances from Brian Parrick and Faux Beamage. 

Author

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Maxwell Knauer attended Ohio State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in philosophy and political science.

He previously worked for Ohio State’s student newspaper, The Lantern, and interned with the Columbus lifestyle magazine CityScene before relocating to Kalamazoo.

Knauer, 23, enjoys watching movies, reading books, and playing basketball. Some of his favorites include RoboCop, My Dinner with Andre, and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

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