As the warm days of summer are wrapping up, the time is nearing for Oak Harbor’s popular outdoor music festival.
The eighth Oak Harbor Music Festival will be rocking all Labor Day weekend, from Friday Aug. 30 to Sunday Sept. 1 along Pioneer Way in downtown Oak Harbor.
The two stages are the east end People’s Bank Stage and Island Thrift Stage to the west. Over three days, the stages will be filled by more than 30 bands performing a range of musical genres at this free celebration of musical talent, which drew over 20,000 visitors last year.
The start and end times are as follows:
People’s Bank Stage:
- Opening the festival will be modern country music band 4th and Main, performing the national anthem 6 p.m. Friday, with a return to close out the night at 9:30 p.m.
- Saturday begins at 11 a.m. with Simple Minded Symphony, and the last performance is at 9:45 p.m. with headliner Jamestown Revival.
- On Sunday, winners from the Teen Talent Contest will perform at noon, and the day’s last performance is at 4:30 p.m. with Kelly Thibodeaux and Etouffee.
Island Thrift Stage:
- Friday’s opening act is Gypsy Temple at 6:30 p.m. The closing act is at 9:30 p.m. with Piper and the Planets.
- Saturday’s lineup will begin at 11:30 a.m. with Weak Sheep and close out at 10 p.m. with Brohamm.
- Sunday’s acts begin at 11 a.m. with Handsome and Gretyl, and the final performance is 5 p.m. with the Olson Band.
A full musical schedule is on the festival website.
The annual festival has grown rapidly since its launch as the “Oak Harbor Music and Jazz Festival” in 2012 as a one-stage celebration that drew hundreds and raised about $8,000. Festival board president Cynthia Mason said the 2018 event raised nearly $200,000.
The festival awarded $10,000 in scholarships last year to graduating Island County students interested in pursuing a career in music.
The volunteer-run event is supported by merchandise, food and drink sales, donations, sponsorships and rentals.
There will be a variety of food options, two beer gardens, arts and crafts booths and merchandise booths to pick up souvenirs and memorabilia.
