About
On June 21, 2026 Make Music Day E Jefferson County celebrated the start of summer and Father’s day with music-making festivities free for all. From 10am to 10pm concerts, workshops, jam sessions, teach-ins and more took place at 15 venues from Port Townsend to Quilcene, Chimacum to Port Ludlow. More than 120 musicians performed, taught, and facilitated sessions. More that 1,000 neighbors and visitors to our rural county came to play, sing, listen, and learn. We were all ages from babies (youngest 4 mos.) to elders 80+ (including our eldest teacher age 88). MAKE MUSIC DAY is for everyone — from professional musicians to folks who’ve never picked up an instrument or dared sing out loud. Everyone is invited!
If you joined us in 2026, thank you! If you missed it and want to help make 2027’s festival happen — contact us.
Support
OUR SPONSORS ROCK!
Our sponsors enjoy visibility throughout Jefferson county and the wider Olympic Peninsula and Salish Sea counties of Clallam, Kitsap, Whatcom and Island.
Your participation gives folks of all ages, abilities, and musical tastes a day of free classes, concerts, jam sessions, instrument giveaways and more. We celebrate you for making this all-ages, all-access event available for everyone!
What’s more, your support boosts the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social vitality of individuals, and our collective community. Your sponsorship brings the proven health benefits of music-making to all – especially to those who may not otherwise have access.
Here’s What Happened in 2026
All performances were free and open to the public. All official festival venues were ADA accessible.
Search the 2026 Listings to See Who Played and What Was Offered
Who else is taking part?
Over 81 artists, including:
- "Ragtime Charlie" Chenruk --
- 100 Harmonicas Giveaway Begins --
- A CAPPELLA ZONE opens! : VOCAL WARM UP with Judith-Kate --
- A CAPPELLA ZONE: CIRCLE SINGING - JES Schumacher, Conductor --
- A CAPPELLA ZONE: CIRCLE SINGING - James Rian O'Keeffe, Conductor --
- A CAPPELLA ZONE: CIRCLE SINGING - Judith-Kate Friedman, Conductor --
- A CAPPELLA ZONE: CIRCLE SINGING - VOCAL IMPROV for all - Judith-Kate Friedman, James Rian O'Keeffe, JES Schumacher, Vickie Dodd --
- A CAPPELLA ZONE: CIRCLE SINGING - Vickie Dodd, Conductor --
- A CAPPELLA ZONE: ROUND SINGING with Cecile Kummerer --
- A CAPPELLA ZONE: SINGING RESISTANCE - JES Schumacher and friends - Sing Along! --
- A CAPPELLA ZONE: VOCAL WARM UP with Mia Aimee Kelly --
- ANDY MACKIE Memorial HARMONICA BLOW-OUT & JAM --
- ANDY MACKIE Memorial HARMONICA BLOW-OUT & JAM - Led by George Radebaugh --
- ANDY MACKIE Memorial HARMONICA BLOW-OUT & JAM - Led by George Yount --
- Andy Mackie Memorial HARMONICA GIVEAWAY (First come, first served) --
- Andy Mackie Memorial Harmonica Blow-Out --
- Aurora Kingslight - CANCELLED --
- BIOFIELD TUNING with Sharon Buck --
- Baila Dworsky and Friends (including Loose Strings and Others) - Traditional and Original Folk plus open stage - sign up at the Market --
- Bertram Levy and Danny Barnes --
- Bertram Levy and Ryan Hoffman Tango Duo --
- Buzz Rogowski --
- CLOSING CONCERT - Judith-Kate Friedman, MC --
- CLOSING CONCERT - Robert Komishane, Poet --
- CLOSING CONCERT - Victoria Reddick and James Baburek --
- CLOSING CONCERT: SONGS, POEMS & STORIES Celebrating Culture & Community --
- Carolina - Salsa Dance Lesson --
- Carolina - Salsa Demo and Dancing --
- Carolina Noel --
- Chill Space - Mingle - Meet & Greet --
- Clayton Jennings --
- Daniel Denman - Celtic and Classical Guitar --
- Deadwood Revival (Kim Trenerry and Jason Mogi) --
- Derek "Tendersong" Washington - Original compositions on Harp and Guitar --
- Drum Circle - Tarek Weber --
- Dunava - Balkan/Eastern European Women's Choir --
- ECO-MUSIC ADVENTURES with Victoria Reddick and James Baburek at Finnriver Solstice Salmon Day --
- Each One, Teach One -- Acoustic String-Centric Space --
- George Yount --
- Group Sound Bath - Tarek Weber --
- Iraqis in Pajamas --
- Jamie Findley Duo --
- Judith-Kate Friedman --
- KITCHEN BAND - Victoria Reddick and James Baburek at Finnriver Solstice Salmon Day --
- Loose Strings --
- MALLET-MAKING WORKSHOP and FLOWERPOT MUSIC with Victoria Reddick and James Baburek (bring your own flower pot if you like) at Finnriver Solstice Salmon Day --
- Mallet Percussion --
- Mia Aimee Kelly (Conductor) - A CAPPELLA ZONE: CIRCLE SINGING - VOCAL IMPROV for all --
- Midsommar Goats - Swedish folk --
- OPEN BUSKING SPACES --
- OPENING CELEBRATION and WELCOME - Judith-Kate Friedman, MC --
- OPENING CELEBRATION and WELCOME - Various Artists and Speakers --
- OPENING CELEBRATION and WELCOME - Victoria Reddick and James Baburek --
- Open Garden Stage --
- PANEL: MUSIC & WELLNESS --
- PANEL: MUSIC & WELLNESS - Judith-Kate Friedman, Moderator --
- PANEL: MUSIC & WELLNESS - Sharon Buck - Sound Healing --
- PANEL: MUSIC & WELLNESS - Vickie Dodd - Sacred Soundworks --
- PIANO OPEN MIC on the Key City Stage --
- SESSION: PT Old Time Music --
- SONG BATHS with Threshold Choir --
- SONG CIRCLE in memory of Laura C. Martin, led by Bruce (MysterC) Clithero --
- SONGS BY, WITH and ABOUT DADS including Bruce (MysterC) Clithero --
- SONGS BY, WITH and ABOUT DADS including James Rian O'Keefe --
- SONGS BY, WITH and ABOUT DADS including Judith-Kate Friedman --
- SONGS BY, WITH and ABOUT DADS: FATHER'S DAY CONCERT - Singer-Songwriters & Open Mic - MC: Stephen Sklar of Edward Jones --
- Solstice Salmon Day --
- Stacey Eliason --
- Stacey Eliason - Mentoring Session --
- Stacey Eliason - Piano Performance --
- THE ROCK ZONE: Iraqis in Pajamas --
- THE ROCK ZONE: Shut Up Mom's Asleep! --
- Tarek Weber --
- The Good Time Kelly's --
- The Squeezebox Rebellion --
- Ukuleles Unite! --
- WORKSHOP: Bucket Drumming with Port Townsend Democracy Bucket Brigade --
- WORKSHOP: Freestyle Singing with James Rian O'Keeffe --
- WORKSHOP: Musical Saw with Christopher Bricker --
- WORKSHOP: The Newspaper Orchestra with Christopher Bricker --
- YOUTH, TEENS & FRIENDS - OPEN MIC!
Over 15 venues, including:
- Chetzamoka Park --
- Chimacum Farmers Market --
- Cotton Building --
- FairWinds Winery at FairWinds Farm --
- Finnriver Farm & Cidery --
- Healing Sound Studio at Ellen Falconer's Studio --
- Key City Public Theatre --
- Pope Marine Building --
- Pope Marine Plaza --
- Q Gardens --
- TAPS --
- The Resort at Port Ludlow --
- The Teaching Tent behind the Cotton Building --
- Tyler Street Plaza --
- Vintage Wine Bar
Participate – Keep The Music Going in 2027
To get involved making 2027’s Make Music Day happen contact us.
How it works
Artist profiles include contact info, audio/video samples, and the type(s) of music you perform, plus optional photos, websites, and social links.
Artists and venues sign up using our online match-making platform. Each participant creates a profile.
Venue/Space profiles include contact info, preferred hosting hours, what styles of music you’re interested in, and what you can provide (power, chairs, water, shade, etc.). Photos, links, and social handles are welcome.
Volunteers are needed behind the scenes as well!
Once you’re confirmed
Confirmed performances appear on our live, interactive map so the public can explore the day in real time and plan their route across East Jefferson County.
Match-making
2026 registration is now closed.
Usually, when you register you will be asked to create a free account to access the profiles of venues and other musicians. Artists can browse venues and venues can browse artists. Both sides can send requests to the other, including the desired set length and timing. Requests can be accepted or declined by either party, and once confirmed, your performance is officially scheduled.
Who can join?
Everyone! All ages, all genres, all levels of ability. Come learn, practice, jam, perform, improvise or just enjoy the many concerts and sessions that will be happening.
All kinds of music!
We welcome all genres of music from jazz to folk, hip-hop and classical, improv and spoken word to rock, pop, blues, choro, country, and gospel, and more. Homegrown music pipes up in backyards, on porches, at schools, care facilities, and farms. Favorite venues host stages. In 2026 the Port Townsend Cotton Building served as Festival HQ 10am to 10pm with hubs of music happening in Chimacum, Port Ludlow, and Quilcene.
Contact
Get in touch with us at songwritingworks at gmail dot com
Phone: 360.385.1160
