Scottville Clown Band announces 2026 schedule

Since 1948 the Scottville Clown Band has been the grand finale of the Fourth of July parade. Photo by Todd Reed.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

SCOTTVILLE — The Scottville Clown Band will make several local appearances this season.

In Mason County, the band will make its seasonal debut Thursday, June 25, at the Pure Ludington Sunset Beach Bonfire at Stearns Park in Ludington. The free beach concert begins at 8 p.m. and will be located near the shoreline on the south side of Stearns Park. The event is sponsored by the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

On Tuesday, June 30, the Clown Band will perform its annual Patriotic Concert at Ludington Waterfront Park beginning at 7 p.m. The concert is not a typical Clown Band performance with all the antics. Instead, it is a tribute to America with an emphasis on the nation’s 250th birthday.

As is tradition, the Clown Band will end the Ludington Area Jaycees Freedom Festival Grand Parade on Independence Day, Saturday, July 4. The parade begins at 2 p.m. The Clown Band will perform a post-parade show at Ludington American Legion Post No. 76.

On Saturday, July 11, the Clown Band will perform for the Michigan American Legion Wilwin Lodge annual fundraiser in Custer Township. The event is open to the public, with the Clown Band performing at 1 p.m.

The Clown Band will make three appearances in its hometown this year, beginning Saturday, Aug. 8, with a 7 p.m. show at the Western Michigan Old Engine & Tractor Show at Scottville Riverside Park. There is an admission fee to enter the showgrounds, with proceeds benefiting the Western Michigan Old Engine Club.

The Scottville Evening of Music will take place Tuesday, Aug. 18, officially opening the renovated Scottville Optimist Park and Scottville Clown Band Shell. The evening will begin with the Mason County Central Jazz Band performing at 6 p.m., followed by the Clown Band at 7 p.m. The event also will serve as a fundraiser for the MCC music program and will include an auction of refurbished cabinets from the former Scottville High School and the sale of bricks from the school building.

The Clown Band is scheduled to perform again in Scottville during the Fall Festival on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m.

For those who want to travel to neighboring counties, there will be plenty of opportunities to see the band in those locations as well. The complete Clown Band schedule to date includes:

• Thursday, May 14, 7 p.m., Baldwin Amvets Blessing of the Bikes show, 1959 W. 24th St., Baldwin.
• Saturday, May 23, 11 a.m., Mackinaw City Memorial Festival concert followed by parade
• Saturday, May 30, 10:30 a.m., Muskegon Farmers Market concert, 242 Western Ave., Muskegon
• Wednesday, June 3, 6:30 p.m.. Muskegon Food Truck Rally concert, Muskegon Farmers Market
• Sunday, June 14, 4 p.m., Mackinac Island Lilac Festival show and parade.
• Thursday, June 18, 6:30 p.m., The Parlor by House of Flavors concert.
• Wednesday, June 24, 6 p.m., Green Acres Living Center concert, Manistee (private event)
• Thursday, June 25, 8 p.m., Pure Ludington Sunset Beach Bonfire, Stearns Park, Ludington
• Saturday, June 27, 10:30 a.m., Irons Flea Roast and Ox Market parade with concert to follow.
• Tuesday, June 30, 7 p.m., Patriotic Concert, Ludington Waterfront Park
• Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m., Manistee National Forest Festival Parade.
• Saturday, July 4, 2 p.m., Ludington Area Jaycees Freedom Festival Parade
• Saturday, July 4, following parade, Ludington American Legion concert
• Sunday, July 5, 3 p.m., Manistee National Forest Festival concert, Lions Pavilion, First Street Beach, Manistee
• Saturday, July 11, 1 p.m., Michigan American Legion Wilwin Lodge veterans’ fundraiser concert, Custer Township
• Thursday, July 16, 8 p.m., Baldwin Troutarama concert, Baldwin
• Saturday, July 18, 1 p.m., Baldwin Troutarama parade and concert
• Tuesday, July 21, 7 p.m., White Lake Arts Council concert, 8636 Water St., Montague
• Sunday, July 26, 1:30 p.m., Aracadia Daze parade and concert
• Tuesday, July 28, 7 p.m., Grand Haven American Legion concert
• Saturday, Aug. 1, 11:45 a.m., Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival parade
• Saturday, Aug. 1, following parade, Grand Haven Eagles concert
• Friday, Aug. 7, 7 p.m., Wayland concert, Wayland City Park, Wayland
• Saturday, Aug. 8, 7 p.m., Western Michigan Old Engine & Tractor Show, Scottville Riverside Park
• Thursday, Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m., Les Bailey Memorial Concert, Village Green, Pentwater
• Saturday, Aug. 15, 4 p.m., Pentwater Homecoming parade
• Tuesday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m., Scottville Evening of Music, Scottville Clown Band Shell; featuring Mason County Central Jazz Band at 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 22, 1 p.m., National Coho Festival parade and concert, Honor
• Wednesday, Aug. 26, 7 p.m., Hudsonville Fair concert, Hudsonville
• Saturday, Aug. 29, noon, Cedar Polka Festival parade and concert, Cedar
• Sunday, Sept. 6, 4 p.m., Stan’s Bar 79th Anniversary Party, 208 W. Savidge St., Spring Lake
• Monday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m., Manton Harvest Festival parade and concert, Manton
• Saturday, Sept. 12, 1 p.m., Scottville Fall Celebration concert, Scottville
• Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m., Sons & Daughters Hall Pulaski Days celebration concert, 1057 Hamilton Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
• Saturday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m., Frankfort Fall Festival parade and concert, Frankfort

More venues may be added to this schedule.

The Scottville Clown Band is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that was founded in 1903 and re-organized in 1947. Its primary mission is to support youth music education.

To donate to the Scottville Clown Band student services scholarship program, mail checks to PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454.

To contribute to the Scottville Clown Band bus replacement capital campaign send checks to Community Foundation for Mason County, 119 S. Rath Ave., Ludington, MI 49431.

Learn more at www.scottvilleclownband.com

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