- Hundreds of free music-making events are planned for all ages and skill levels
- Eighteen communities across Tennessee will participate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Sunday, June 21, 2026, 18 communities across Tennessee will join forces to present over 100 free musical events on the summer solstice as part of Make Music Day, a global music celebration bringing people of all ages and skill levels together to experience the joy and camaraderie of making music.
This year, music will ring out across the Volunteer State as Athens, Bolivar, Bristol, Centerville, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Columbia, Dyersburg, Greeneville, Henderson, Hohenwald, Jackson, Knoxville, Lawrenceburg, Macon County, Maryville, Murfreesboro and Nashville are among the 150+ U.S. communities with chapters hosting thousands of Make Music Day performances nationwide.
Recognized as the world’s largest annual music event, Make Music Day began in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, and today, it is celebrated in thousands of cities around the globe. Unlike a traditional music festival, Make Music Day is a free and open invitation for everyone to perform, teach, learn and experience the joy of making music on the longest day of the year. Reimagining their cities and towns as stages, every kind of musician – young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion – pours onto streets, parks, plazas, porches, rooftops, gardens and other public spaces to create and share music with friends, neighbors and strangers.
Make Music Tennessee is made possible thanks to support and coordination from the Tennessee Entertainment Commission (TEC) and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD).
“Make Music Day shines a spotlight on the incredible creativity that exists in every community,” said TEC Executive Director Bob Raines. “By joining this national celebration, we’re encouraging more towns and cities across Tennessee to come together, make music and strengthen the connections that make our state such a vibrant place to live.”
This year, Make Music Chattanooga celebrates its 10-year anniversary with live music across the city, from local bands to a “circle singing” workshop at Chattanooga Culture. Mainstreet Cleveland is organizing musical events at the Farmers Market, on the patio at Mash & Hops and on the porch of the historic Hardwick-Jarnagin House.
Dyersburg brings Tennessee into the national “Sousapalooza” program, where hundreds of wind band players gather to sightread the quintessentially American music of The March King, John Philip Sousa (conducted by Nicolas Andrade at Dyer County Performance Center).
Henderson community members will sing on the courthouse lawn, listen to banjo music in their downtown park and perform on a coffee shop stage while Hohenwald will invite everyone to join a “bluesy harmonica” event (with free harmonicas donated by Easttop) and “Drumming with Dave” (with drumsticks provided by Vic Firth).
Knoxville’s Make Music Day lineup of more than 30 events reflects the city’s wide range of creative voices, from Irish and bluegrass jams to live-band karaoke, traditional Japanese banjo, an 8-hour drone presented by Nief-Norf, a cappella sacred songs and more.
Macon County’s Make Music Day activities include a jazz band, guitar lessons, a drum circle, worship music and pop-up sessions around the county.
And Murfreesboro, hosting Make Music Day for the first year, will feature performers from the Dow Street Community Music School and the School of Rock, an open mic night at the Center for the Arts and events at participating local restaurants and businesses.
For more information, visit makemusicday.org/tn.
About Make Music Day
Held annually on June 21 to coincide with the Summer Solstice, Make Music Day is part of the international Fête de la Musique taking place in more than 2,000 cities around the world. The day-long, musical free-for-all celebrates music in all its forms, encouraging people to band together and play in free public concerts. This year, over 150 U.S. cities are organizing Make Music celebrations, encompassing thousands of music-making opportunities nationwide. Make Music Day is supported by The NAMM Foundation and coordinated by the nonprofit Make Music Alliance. For more information, please visit makemusicday.org.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD)
TNECD is the state’s primary agency committed to fostering economic growth through job creation and community development. By attracting new corporate investment and facilitating the growth of existing businesses, the department works to strengthen Tennessee’s competitive landscape. Additionally, TNECD strives to increase the economic prosperity for all Tennesseans by providing grants to communities statewide, helping them to become vibrant, business-friendly environments where companies can flourish. For more information, visit us at tnecd.com. Join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
Media Contacts
TNECD
Chris O’Brien
Public Information Officer
(615) 934-5879
[email protected]
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source tnecd.com ’
