Start Exploring

Evanston Folk Festival Review: Cicadas, Coolers, and Trampled by Turtles on Lake Michigan

We drove nine hours from Northern Minnesota to Evanston, Illinois for a weekend of folk music, lakeside vibes, and Trampled by Turtles. Here’s what the Evanston Folk Festival is really…

White yard sign that reads "Evanston Folk Festival" in bold black lettering with colorful stars, set on the grass at the festival entrance in Evanston, Illinois, with the Mindfully Minnesotan logo across the bottom.
Heads up: this post contains affiliate links. If you buy through my link I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely love!

If you read my Minnesota Yacht Club Festival recap, buckle up, because this Evanston Folk Festival review is a complete 180. Dennis and I drove down to Evanston, Illinois, on September 11 with his brother Troy and our sister-in-law Jody. The vibe was relaxed, the sound was great, and the setting was right on Lake Michigan. Also, somebody hauled in a coffee table. More on that in a minute.

This was the third year for the festival, and it runs two days in Dawes Park along the lakefront. We went for Saturday, and for two bands with serious Northern Minnesota roots. Here’s how the day went, what I loved, and the one doozie that cost them a full point.

What Is the Evanston Folk Festival?

Before I dig into my Evanston Folk Festival review, here’s the quick overview. The Evanston Folk Festival is a two-day folk and Americana festival in Dawes Park, right on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Evanston. This year it ran September 12 and 13, 2026. Saturday’s lineup had Trampled by Turtles headlining, plus Sierra Hull, Valerie June, Mason Jennings, and our beloved Wild Horses. Sunday belonged to the Indigo Girls, Josh Ritter, and James McMurtry, among others.

Compared to the big summer festivals, the grounds are smaller. Still, they squeezed in three stages. The largest stage was about the size of the small stage at the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival. So this is not a sea-of-humanity event. Instead, it feels like a community festival that happens to book great bands.

Shannon stands beside a big wooden lineup board at the Evanston Folk Festival. It holds hand-painted signs for the Main Stage, Dawes Stage, Lagoon Stage and Tent Talks, plus the bands, including Trampled by Turtles, Wild Horses, Valerie June and Sierra Hull. Lake Michigan and blue sky are in the background.
Two Minnesota bands on one lineup board, 9 hours from home. Trampled by Turtles and Wild Horses made the drive worth it.

A Complete 180 From the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival

At Harriet Island this summer, we were packed in shoulder to shoulder in the heat. We had no chairs, no coolers, and very little shade. Evanston was the opposite in almost every way.

For one thing, it wasn’t nearly as hot. There was plenty of shade, too, and lots of places to sit down and relax. On top of that, the grounds were super clean all day. My back and ankles noticed the difference by mid-afternoon, and they were grateful.

A relaxed crowd in camp chairs spreads across the grass under big shade trees at the Evanston Folk Festival Main Stage. A sign on a tree trunk reads "Color Outside the Lines," a yellow Main Stage sign sits at its base, and Lake Michigan glows pink and blue at dusk in the background.
Grab a shady spot, pop open your camp chair, and settle in. The Main Stage crowd at dusk was as chill as it gets.

What You Can Bring to the Evanston Folk Festival

This is the part that blew my mind. Basically, anything but alcohol was allowed. People rolled in with coolers, strollers, carts, wagons, chairs, and their own food. And yes, someone brought in an actual coffee table. I respect that level of commitment.

For anyone who has done the clear-bag, no-chairs festival shuffle, this feels like freedom. You can set up a little home base, pack your own snacks, and settle in for the day. Honestly, it made the whole festival feel more like a giant neighborhood picnic.

A sunny, tree-lined path through Dawes Park at the Evanston Folk Festival. A black banner on a tree reads "May You Never Lose Your Flame," and a hand-painted sign in the grass says "Your Mom Called to Remind You to Clean Up." People stroll past picnic tables, trash bins and food trucks in the background.
Picnic tables, shady trees, and a sign reminding you that your mom called. It felt less like a festival and more like a neighborhood picnic.

Evanston Folk Festival Stages, Sound, and Setting

Next up, the setting. Dawes Park sits right on Lake Michigan, and there’s a lagoon running through the park. Between the water, the trees, and the shade, it was a gorgeous place to spend a day.

The sound was really good at all three stages. Also, the main stage had a jumbotron for the folks in the back, so nobody missed anything. Even when the crowd grew later in the evening, it never felt cramped. To keep this Evanston Folk Festival review honest, the setting alone earns top marks.

The lagoon in Dawes Park in Evanston, Illinois, on a sunny day. A small island of green plants and a willow tree sits in the calm water, ducks float nearby, and big shade trees line the grassy banks under a bright blue sky.
The Dawes Park lagoon, a quiet spot to catch your breath between sets at the Evanston Folk Festival.

Nature’s Symphony: Cicadas at the Evanston Folk Festival

Here’s a highlight I didn’t see coming. The cicadas were singing all day! We’re so far north that we don’t get them up here, so hearing that buzz was a real treat. It was nature’s own opening act. No Evanston Folk Festival review from me would be complete without them.

Then it got even better. The guy sitting next to me noticed how into them I was. So he showed me the little empty casings the cicadas had left behind on the trees. I thought that was so cool. It’s the kind of small, friendly moment that makes a festival feel like a community.

Wild Horses: Our Grand Rapids Band Never Disappoints

Wild Horses are a local band from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and we’ve seen them play many, many times. Funny enough, the first time was nowhere near home. We saw them with our daughter Erica at the Red Ants Pants Music Festival in Montana.

Later, we introduced Troy and Jody to Wild Horses one night when the band was playing in Madison, Wisconsin. They’ve been hooked ever since. Last summer, the four of us and their daughters saw them again at the Minnesota State Fair. Now our nieces love them, too.

At Evanston, Jody confessed something that surprised me. She had never been a fan of live music before that night in Madison. I could tell she wasn’t thrilled to be there. But as soon as her phone came out to take video, I knew we were going to be okay.

As for the band, they delivered again. They had been on the road all night and were running on three hours of sleep. On top of that, they had another gig that same night at the Salt Shack. You would never have known it.

Jed and Ariana LaPlant of Wild Horses play under a covered stage at the Evanston Folk Festival. Jed plays acoustic guitar and Ariana sings at the mic. A kick drum with the Wild Horses logo sits in front, with hay bales and pots of flowers on the stage. Fans relax on the grassy bank of the Dawes Park lagoon behind them.
Jed and Ariana LaPlant of Wild Horses, bringing a little Grand Rapids, Minnesota to the lagoon in Evanston. We drove nine hours and they still sounded like home.

Sierra Hull Completely Threw It Down

This was our first time seeing Sierra Hull, and she completely threw it down. I’d see her again in a heartbeat. If you don’t know her, she’s a mandolin player, and a very good one. In fact, she’s a seven-time International Bluegrass Music Association Mandolin Player of the Year, most recently in 2025.

Watching her hands move is something else. It’s fast, it’s precise, and it still manages to feel warm and joyful. So if she ever comes anywhere near you, go.

Trampled by Turtles Played HARD

Trampled by Turtles, the Duluth band, was the headliner. And THEY PLAYED HARD. It was SO much fun!

Before this, the one and only time I had seen them was at Radio City Music Hall. That night I was with Erica, my sister-in-law Diane, and my niece Mel. This time, it was Dennis’s first time seeing them. I don’t believe Troy or Jody had ever seen them either.

Midway through the set, I looked over at Jody. Her phone was out. Yes! Another success. Two Minnesota bands, two conversions, two happy sisters-in-law.

Trampled by Turtles performs in a line across the Main Stage at the Evanston Folk Festival at dusk. Stage lights glow through haze, and an "Evanston Folk Festival" banner hangs above the stage. A packed crowd fills the lawn in the foreground, with tall trees and a blue evening sky behind.
Trampled by Turtles closing out the night under the lights. Duluth’s finest, nine hours from home, and the crowd knew all the words.

Food Trucks, Beer, and the Seltzer Situation

There were plenty of food trucks, with a very nice variety. Honestly, it was hard to choose. Between the trucks and whatever you packed in your own cooler, nobody was going hungry. For the food portion of this Evanston Folk Festival review, the trucks get an easy thumbs up.

The drinks were my one small complaint. I would have liked a larger beer selection, especially some lighter beers. They also could have offered more seltzers. Since you can’t bring your own alcohol, a few more light options would go a long way.

A row of food and drink vendor tents lines a sunny path at the Evanston Folk Festival. A bright green Hornitos tequila booth sits in front, with blue and white canopy tents stretching down the row behind it. Festivalgoers in sun hats and sunglasses wander between the booths under tall shade trees.
Tacos, lobster rolls, cocktails, cold beer, and a whole row of tents to wander. Nobody went hungry at the Evanston Folk Festival.

A Beach Walk and a Sauna Club

At one point, Dennis and I slipped out of the festival and took a walk down the beach. There was a sauna club set up on the shore, which made this sauna-loving Minnesotan very happy. Even though the beach was closed, lots of people were still out swimming.

It was nice to get away for a bit. The grounds didn’t feel crowded until later in the evening. Still, a quiet stretch of sand and lake air was the perfect reset before the headliner.

A black mobile sauna trailer marked "Sauna Club" sits along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Evanston, Illinois. Rocks and wild shoreline plants lead down to bright blue water and a long pier. A white metal fence and green grass fill the foreground under a clear blue sky.
A beach walk along Lake Michigan and a sauna right on the shore? Northern Minnesota girl, meet your happy place.

The Handwashing Doozie

Every honest Evanston Folk Festival review needs a downside, though. Here’s mine, and it was a doozie. The festival had portable handwashing stations, but they ran out of water fairly early in the evening. On top of that, the portable restrooms had no hand sanitizer.

That was really bad. Before that moment, I had the Evanston Folk Festival at a 9.75 out of 10. The handwashing situation knocked it down to an 8.75 right away. Clean hands are not a luxury item, especially with food trucks everywhere.

A row of gray portable hand washing stations along a park path at the Evanston Folk Festival, covered with plastic bags because they ran out of water. Festivalgoers stand nearby, with portable toilets and shade trees in the background.
The one miss of the weekend: every handwashing station bagged up and out of water. Pack hand sanitizer. Trust me.

The Little Table That Saved the Day

Then the biting flies came out in the late afternoon. They were gnawing on my ankles and legs, and I didn’t have any bug spray. I was seriously considering bumming some off a stranger.

As we walked past the food trucks and the bar area, I spotted the volunteer tent. They had a hostess table set up for the public with wet wipes, Tide sticks, sunscreen, and bug spray. That little table bumped the festival back up to a 9.50! Overall, the volunteers were extremely friendly and helpful all day long.

What I’d Pack for the Evanston Folk Festival Next Time

Because this festival lets you bring so much in, a little planning pays off. Here’s what I’d put in the wagon next time, based on what I learned.

  • Bug spray. The biting flies are real once the afternoon wears on. I’d bring my own instead of relying on the volunteer table. When I’m near water, I always use Repel Plant-Based repellent.
  • Hand sanitizer. Given the handwashing situation, a travel bottle in your pocket is non-negotiable. I prefer these travel-size hand sanitizer sprays because they have a keychain that’s convenient for hooking them to the outside of things so you’re not having to dig at the bottom of a bag when you need it.
  • Comfortable camp chairs. Chairs are allowed, so bring ones your back actually likes. The GCI Outdoor Freestyle camp chair rocks and also has a table option.
  • A collapsible wagon. It makes hauling the cooler and chairs from the car so much easier. I love this Hikenture Wagon because it’s heavy duty and can haul up to 330 pounds.
  • Sunscreen. There’s shade, but you’ll still be outside for hours. My hiking sunscreen guide has my favorites.
Shannon and Dennis hug in front of the big video screen at the Evanston Folk Festival. The screen shows the festival logo, and white cloud-shaped cutouts sit on the grass in front of them. A leafy tree and the blue water of Lake Michigan are behind them under a sunny sky.
Me and my guy in front of the jumbotron, with Lake Michigan showing off behind us. Nine hours in the car was worth it for this.

My Evanston Folk Festival Review: The Final Score

In general, it was a great day. The park was beautiful, the lineup was strong, the sound was good, and the people were kind. Even with the handwashing problem, it’s a great community festival.

So here’s my final Evanston Folk Festival review score: 9.50 out of 10. Depending on the lineup, I would definitely consider making the nine-hour drive from Northern Minnesota to go again. If you want the full contrast, read my Minnesota Yacht Club Festival recap next.

Have you been to a festival that lets you bring your own chairs and coolers? Or is there a band you’ve converted a friend or family member into loving? Tell me in the comments!

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *