Launched in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, Make Music Day has become a global phenomenon, celebrated by millions of people in more than 2,000 cities worldwide. Today, the Make Music Alliance announced that over 150 cities and counties across the United States will coordinate more than 5,000 live, free music-making events for this year’s celebration on Saturday, June 21.
Held on the summer solstice (the longest day of the year), the world’s largest annual music event celebrates the inquisitive spirit and natural music maker in everyone, regardless of age or skill level. In 2024, Make Music Day included 5,304 free public concerts in the U.S., at over 1,500 locations. This year, 31 new communities join the party, reimagining their cities and towns as stages where every kind of musician — young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion — fills streets, parks, plazas, porches, rooftops, gardens, and other public spaces to celebrate, create, and share their music.
Completely different from a traditional music festival, Make Music Day activities are free and open to anyone wanting to participate. Some activities provide “instrumentation” for the participants, ranging from flower pots and mallets, to harmonicas, kazoos, drumsticks, and buckets. Others encourage players to bring their own instruments or simply their willing voices.
Make Music Day is presented by The NAMM Foundation. “We are delighted that our Make Music Day partnership continues to celebrate the joy of making music worldwide,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. “Seeing the incredible collaborative efforts from our global NAMM member companies, as well as local partnerships, reach hundreds of thousands of music makers and deliver a unified message…that creating music is a precious element of daily living, linking communities around the world.”
Demonstrating music’s universal reach, a new Make Music Day initiative this year called Taking Flight will link singers across venues in Canada, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, and the U.S. In each country, members of the public will gather to learn a local popular song in multi-part harmony on the spot, and then join a global streaming broadcast where each “choir” will perform their song live, taking turns so that every participating country can watch every other country’s live performance on a large screen at the front of each room. Choral directors in each country will select their own popular song for the occasion, in their local language, on the theme of “Taking Flight.” The event will close with a collective rendition of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds,” sung by every group in harmony around the world.
For singers in the U.S., Make Music Day is launching a new initiative for Circle Singing, an improvised vocal experience where everyone is welcome. Popularized by Grammy-winning artist Bobby McFerrin, Circle Singing invites people to create music together on the spot, layering harmonies, rhythms, and melodies without sheet music or preparation. Free Circle Singing events are taking place in Atlanta, Boston, Fullerton CA, Indianapolis, San Jose, and in New York City, where a 24-hour Circle Singing marathon will be led by the Gaia Music Collective. Leadership support for this program is provided by the Cheswatyr Foundation.
School bands also have a special Make Music Day opportunity this year called Critical Impact, a powerful new piece by composer Brian Balmages. This Grade 2 piece is flexibly written for Concert Band, Full Orchestra, or a mix of band and strings, and is provided at no cost through a partnership between the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), The NAMM Foundation, and music technology company MakeMusic Inc. Bands are invited to play the piece on Make Music Day (or post videos that day of their performances) and submit video testimonials about the “critical impact” of music education, for a chance to win a share of $15,000 in new sheet music from Alfred Music.
Other Make Music Day national programs returning in 2025 include:
Flowerpot Music — Back for a sixth year, participants around the country perform a composition by celebrated composer Elliot Cole and directed by percussionist Peter Ferry, using an unlikely percussion instrument: the flowerpot. Appropriate for musicians and non-musicians alike, participants can join a group and create outdoor soundscapes through easy-to-learn games.
Mass Appeal — People of all ages and skill levels will band together to make music in hundreds of large, single-instrument groups nationwide. This year, leading music brands including Makey Makey, Rhythm Band Instruments, and Vic Firth are donating thousands of free instruments so that any member of the public can stop by these events and join the band.
#MySongIsYourSong — Coordinated this year by Make Music Nigeria, songwriters and composers of all kinds are invited to sign up to learn and perform a song by an artist from another part of the world, and hear one of their original songs covered in return.
Roomful of Pianos — In a new partnership with the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Roomful of Pianos brings spectacular multi-piano performances to piano stores across the country for Make Music Day, organized by local MTNA chapters. Participating locations include Appleton WI, Charleston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Fresno CA, Greenville SC, Hartland WI, Honolulu, Lafayette IN, Medford OR, and more to be announced.
Sousapalooza — Large groups of brass and wind musicians will assemble in parks and plazas to play the music of “March King” John Philip Sousa. Anyone is invited to download the music, bring their horn, and join the band.
String Together — For Make Music Day, dozens of music retailers are hosting a free guitar string-changing session that comes with a free set of acoustic Elixir Strings (for the first 12 registrants at each store). All are welcome, from complete newbies who have never changed their strings, to more experienced players looking for a few tips from a pro guitar tech.
City-specific highlights from around the U.S. include:
Chattanooga, TN: Officially named the first National Park City in North America, 2025 marks the launch of Green Stages, a special initiative that activates parks across the city with live, acoustic performances. From Coolidge Park to Lookout Mountain, musicians will show up on Make Music Day and play—no electricity, no stage setup. Just instruments, voices, and the beauty of nature.
Hawai’i: Held at Malama Kukui in Honolulu, the home of the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame, this state will be featuring legends in Hawaiian music, as well as some newer artists, from 12-3pm.
Fair Lawn, NJ: Think of it as mascots for music! Students from the Fair Lawn Art Association will construct giant paper-maché masks of some of the world’s most beloved musical talent. The “Big Heads” will join Make Music Day festivities throughout Downtown Fair Lawn and the Broadway District, dancing and bringing joy to audiences.
Fullerton, CA: In partnership with The All the Arts for All the Kids Foundation, which provides arts education to Fullerton children, the city will host performances by student ensembles and teaching artists throughout the day. This new children’s programming complements the city’s diverse lineup of Make Music Day events happening across Fullerton venues.
Phoenix, AZ: Presenting a day filled with the vibrant sounds of Indigenous recording artists from Canyon Records, interactive performances, hands-on music-making activities at the Heard Museum and the Arizona Opera, Taiko drumming workshops with Fushicho Daiko Dojo, beat making sessions at the BE KIND Center, bands and beers at Greenwood Brewing, and many more free events all over town.
Germantown, TN: Offering a series of music production sessions, on the site of Music Box School – a fully equipped technology lab with 8 individual music production stations. Participants age 6 and up will learn how to make music on Logic Pro software with a MIDI controller and a Mac Mini Pro, getting their creation e-mailed to them at the end of the session.
All Make Music Day events are free and open to the public. Participants who wish to perform or host musical events may register at www.makemusicday.org. A full schedule of events will be posted on the website in early June.
Make Music Day is presented in the US by The NAMM Foundation and coordinated by the nonprofit Make Music Alliance. The event’s official hashtag is #MakeMusicDay. 10 and 30-second promo videos are available here.
Make Music Day 2025 is confirmed to take place in the following states and local areas:
Alabama: Florence, Gulf Shores, Huntsville, Mobile; Arizona: Phoenix, West Valley; California: Anaheim, Auburn, Big Bear, Claremont, Coachella Valley, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Jose; Colorado:Denver; Connecticut: Bethel, Bridgeport, Danbury, Fairfield, Georgetown, Hartford, Hebron, Middletown, New Haven, New London, Northwest CT, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Rocky Hill, Southbury, Southeast CT, Waterbury; Florida: Nassau County, Orange County, Palm Beach, Tallahassee; Georgia: Atlanta, Macon; Hawai’i: statewide; Illinois: Chicago, Marion, Wheaton; Indiana: Indianapolis; Iowa: Cedar Falls; Massachusetts: Boston; Michigan: Ann Arbor, Escanaba; Minnesota: Hastings; Missouri: Columbia, Kansas City, Liberty, Neosho, St. Louis; North Carolina: Bertie County, Catawba County, Raleigh, Stanly County, Statesville, Surry County, Wilmington; New Jersey: Fair Lawn, Glassboro, Hackensack, Montclair, Newark; New York: Albany, New York City, Ossining, Troy, Yonkers; Ohio: Cincinnati, Darke County, Lakewood; Oklahoma: Muskogee, Tulsa; Oregon: Clatsop County, Eugene, McMinnville, Salem; Pennsylvania: Lancaster, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, York County; Tennessee: Chattanooga, Germantown, Knoxville, Nashville; Texas: Alpine, Buda, Cedar Park, College Station, Dallas, Denison, Frisco, Henderson County, Houston, Hutto, Laredo, Lubbock, Marble Falls, McKinney, Mexia, New Braunfels, Odessa, Port Aransas, Salado, San Antonio, San Marcos, South Padre Island, Sugar Land, Tyler, Waco, Waxahachie, Wimberley; Utah: Utah County; Vermont:statewide; Washington: Aberdeen, Gig Harbor, Issaquah, Seattle; Wisconsin: Amery, Appleton, Ashland, Baraboo, Beloit, Cable, Cambridge, Cross Plains, DeForest, Dodgeville, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Hayward, Kenosha, Land O’ Lakes, Madelaine Island, Madison, Marshfield, Middleton, Milwaukee, Monona, Oshkosh, Platteville, Shell Lake-Spooner, Stevens Point, Sun Prairie, Superior, Verona, Waunakee.
