Heritage Days Food & Music Fest 2026 Line-Up Shaping Up
While June seems so far away, the county's premier annual celebration will be here before we know it, and Visiting Unforgettable Forgottonia (dba the Macomb Convention & Visitors Bureau - MACVB), and its Heritage Days Committee, is getting their main stage line-up lined up.
From up-and-coming country singer and Texas cowboy Angel White to the electrifying blues rock of guitar queen Joanna Connor of Chicago to the high-energy punky garage rock of New Duncan Imperials from Chicago to the 80s mainstay The Fleshtones to the 10-piece horn SOUL sounds of The Midnight Sun to the psychedelic spy jazz or genre defying music of The Ex-Bombers, the Heritage Days mainstage will once again provide free entertainment each evening for lovers of live music. The ever-popular local Macomb Municipal Band will kick off the 2026 event beginning at 5 p.m., Thursday, June 26. The local favorite JAB also plays Thursday night event.
'We've got an incredible line-up once again this year,' said Jock Hedblade, director of the MACVB. 'From what started 44 years ago as a small community festival with local bands and other locally-produced entertainment and programs has grown into a three-day event featuring outstanding food, music and other events in and around Chandler Park.'
Sponsorships, along with a few specialty features such as the beer and cocktail tent near the main stage and the carnival midway, make the annual event a go, including keeping the lively entertainment and other programs, such as the petting zoo and games for kids, available to festival goers at no cost. Hedblade noted they're always looking for new sponsors, as, like anything else, costs continue to rise.
'Since 2020, our costs have nearly doubled, so sponsorships really help offset the costs for the community festival, which is our version of the county fair, that everyone can enjoy,' he added. 'The crowds have come to expect great entertainment from different groups. We really try to have a diverse line-up that appeal to many different people, and we're really proud of how we've grown Heritage Days over the years. It's hard to scale back after the success we've had over the last decade.'
Hedblade said they work diligently to spend the funds to get the best bang for their buck; for example, he was able to find a new vendor for the stage – including set up, sound and lighting - at a slightly lower cost this year. Besides working on obtaining additional sponsors, Hedblade, assistant Jan Armstrong and the committee are bandying about some creative and novel new fundraising ideas.
'Heritage Days Food & Fun Festival is a win-win for our region. Our hotels are booked, restaurants are full, people are shopping and keeping money local,' Hedblade shared. 'Not to mention all the out-of-town visitors along with the reunions and bring so many back home again. It's something we look forward to every year, and we want to make the weekend special.'
To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact [email protected] or (309) 833-1315.
