There is no shortage of reasons why the Chippewa Valley is lauded for its arts scene, and among the most exciting highlights each year are the incredible music festivals held right in our neck of the woods. From Americana to blues and jazz music, to country, rock, and more, there's something for everyone – including the whole family! Check out eight of the biggest festivals coming up this summer:

Reverb Music Festival

GET LOUD. Reverb Music Festival made its debut last summer, and this year, will return with one full day of hip-hop and one full day of alternative music. (Pictured: Mayday Parade from 2023. Photo by Luong Huynh)

WHEN: Aug. 16-17

WHERE: Eau Claire Event District

Returning for its second year, Reverb Music Festival is also putting on a second full day of music – and they’re expanding the festival’s sound, too! First launching as an early-2000s pop-punk and alt-rock music festival, Reverb will now bring throwback hip-hop music into its lineup. For the ultimate 2000s-era experience, snag tickets with your friends and mark your calendars to ensure you don’t miss out on hip-hop artists T.I., Ginuwine, Bubba Sparxxx, and more, plus alternative musicians like Yellowcard, Story of the Year, Secondhand Serenade, and others.

For more information on this year’s festival, visit reverbwi.com.

Country Fest

THE LARGEST PARTY IN A HAYFIELD. Country Fest will return with some brand new features and the same boot-stompin' vibes this year. (Pictured: LoCash in 2022. Photo by Mark Oliver)

WHEN: June 27-29

WHERE: Festival Grounds, Cadott

For more than 30 years, Country Fest has been one of country music’s staple music festivals – heck, it even dubbed itself “The Largest Party in a Hayfield” – bringing in folks from around the nation to Cadott, Wisconsin. Known for bringing huge names in the country game to our slice of the state, this rowdy multi-day festival will bring headliners Eric Church, Keith Urban, and Jake Owen to its main stage, as well as more stars like Scotty McCreery, Ashley McBryde, Morgan Evans, Cooper Alan, and others.

Plus, this year’s Country Fest is bringin’ some new features: the Campground Afterparty called Club fleX; a new locker rental service to stash your stuff; more jumbo-sized games around the grounds; and a ton of new upgrades as well, including luxury on-site restrooms, artist headquarters, and more. Put on your best boots and a cowboy hat, pack your bags, and head out to the Wednesday-Saturday festival.

For more information visit countryfest.com.

Blue Ox Music Festival

A DECADE OF BLUE OX. This summer will be Blue Ox Music Festival's 10th year, and it's a can't-miss! (Pictured: 2022 Blue Ox vibes. Photo by Mike O'Brien)

WHEN: June 27-29

WHERE: Whispering Pines Campground, Eau Claire

This year won’t be like any other Blue Ox Music Festival: Year 10 is officially here! One of the Chippewa Valley’s favorite, most unique festivals, Blue Ox takes place on the outskirts of town, creating a near-fantastical, idyllic setting to foster community and good times with bluegrass and Americana musicians welcomed to its stages. For this milestone year, the lineup is bigger than ever before, featuring favorites like Band of Horses, Pert Near Sandstone, Sierra Ferrell, Sam Bush Band, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Them Coulee Boys, and so many more. You’ll find campers, tents, and hammocks strung up throughout the Whispering Pines Campgrounds, the festival a favorite for families and folks of all ages.

Blue Ox also offers activities like The Soul Sanctuary, a wellness tent to find balance and restoration with events like yoga and sound meditation, a variety of music workshops held on the grounds, late night sets in the forest, craft and goods vendors, and more! New this year are guided tours by local business Eau Claire Outdoors, encouraging visitors to get to know the area’s waterways and plant life.

For more information visit blueoxmusicfestival.com.

Rock Fest

GO BIG OR GO HOME. Let out your inner rocker and let your hair run wild, Rock Fest is back this July! (Pictured: A local hair band – 'er, band of friends, at Rock Fest 2022. Photo by Branden Nall)

WHEN: July 17-20

WHERE: Festival Grounds, Cadott

If you’re itchin’ for a space to just rock out, there is quite possibly no better place to that than Rock Fest. Raging and head banging every year in the acres of its grounds in Cadott, Wisconsin, fans from across the country gather to enjoy more than 75 bands across five stages over three days. With more than 7,000 campsites, campers and rockers stay within walking distance of the concert grounds if they please, and this year’s lineup is sure to deliver a Rock Fest unlike any other before. With headliners Jelly Roll, Shinedown, and Thirty Seconds to Mars, plus more performances from Of Mice & Men, Parkway Drive, Chevelle, Beartooth, and more, new and old rock fans alike will enjoy longtime favorites and breakout artists. As of this year, Rock Fest is introducing official moshing areas – embracing that rocker culture – as well as mocktails for folks looking to vibe out alcohol-free.

When your neck needs a break from headbangin’, enjoy jumbo lawn games, public hammock areas, theme days, and tons of other attractions.

For more information visit rock-fest.com.

Country Jam

RIDIN' SHOTGUN. Jammers are known to party hard, and even the performing musicians get in on the action! (Pictured: Priscilla Block after an audience member gave her a Busch Light at Country Jam 2023. Photo by Branden Nall)

WHEN: JULY 18-20

WHERE: Eau Claire Event District

One of the nation’s longest-running festivals, Country Jam USA has been jammin’ for more than 30 years, and will return to the area’s newest grounds, the Eau Claire Event District, again this year. The three-day annual music festival rallies some of country music’s biggest and best stars to Wisconsin, with this year’s fest welcoming headliners Hardy, Brothers Osborne, and Thomas Rhett. Across several stages each day, more performances from favorites and rising stars like Ernest, Jackson Dean, Ella Langley, and others will keep the good vibes goin’ strong.

As usual, folks are invited to campout on the grounds, and all Jammers can enjoy jumbo lawn games, tons of food and drink options, the popular Party Pit, and more. Unleash your boot-stompin’, mug-raisin’, country music lovin’ self at this year’s Country Jam!

For more information visit countryjamwi.com.

Blues on the Chippewa

FEELIN' BLUE IN THE BEST WAY. Blues on the Chippewa, a three-day benefit festival, will get you movin' like no other. (Pictured: Late night performance in 2023. Photo by Mike O'Brien)

WHEN: Aug. 1-3

WHERE: Downtown Durand

For a genuinely good time, this bluesy annual festival should definitely be on your summer music festival bucket list. This three-day benefit blues festival brings folks to the Veteran’s Memorial Park in downtown Durand each year, and the 2024 lineup is a crowd pleaser. Australian musician Lacy Doley, funky female bassist Nik West, the Mike Wheeler Band featuring Demetria Taylor, Grand Marquis, and more will make for a show to remember.

Notably, Blues on the Chippewa is a benefit festival – and it’s free to attend. Organizers urge attendees to make donations throughout the festival to support organizations, and in the past have worked with the Durand Food Pantry, Pepin County Humane Society, senior citizens programs, and many others.

For more info visit bluesonthechippewa.com.

One Fest

THE CHOSEN ONE (FEST). This Christian music festival welcomes thousands each year, the family-friendly event an annual favorite. (Pictured: Colton Dixon from One Fest 2023. Photo by Branden Nall)

WHEN: Aug. 2-4

WHERE: Festival Grounds, Cadott

This annual Christian music festival will return to the area with a lineup you won’t want to miss! Headliners Jeremy Camp and Toby Mac will light up the MainStage, and more performances from Anne Wilson, Tenth Ave North, and many others will join more acts and local musicians. The third and final day of the fest, Sunday, Aug. 4, will be free to attend, opening up for even more folks to enjoy the festivities. 

For more information visit one-fest.com.

Ashley for the Arts

'TIL THE SUN GOES DOWN. Ashley for the Arts continues to be an area favorite, bringing in huge names in the music industry and raising money for nonprofits and arts programming. (Pictured: The crowd getting even more full as the sun went down at the 2023 event. Photo by Ricci Wagner)

WHEN: Aug. 8-10

WHERE: Memorial Park, Arcadia

Each year, Ashley Furniture throws a multi-day music and arts shindig in Wisconsin – and it’s also one of the state’s largest charity events. Raising nearly $700,000 in 2023 for more than 70 nonprofits, this annual festival not only brings good vibes, but spreads some goodness as well. This year, big names across several genres will headline and perform throughout the festival, including Journey, The Script, Bret Michaels, LoCash, Neal McCoy, and more, including the Valley’s own Them Coulee Boys.

Throughout the festival, enjoy two miles of walkways filled with art and craft vendors, side stages, a hot air balloon launch, a kid’s playground, lots of food and beverage vendors, and more!

For more information visit ashleyforthearts.com.