Beneath blue skies and a full moon over Northport Bay, more than 9,000 men, women and children celebrated family, community, changing seasons, and fearless artistic expression at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula.

Inspired by John Cage—the groundbreaking composer who challenged traditional ideas of music and art—Leelanau UnCaged transforms Northport into a car-free celebration of music, art, dance and food.

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“John Cage’s fearless drive to redefine artistic expression—and his awareness of mystery in all things—continues to guide our celebration.” — Andy Thomas, Founder

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2026 Festival Highlights: 

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• 39 music/dance acts on 7 Stages: Happy crowds filled every venue from morning to night.

• Tradition: More than 250 people joined members of the Grand Traverse Band for a shoreline Water Blessing, sang in gratitude to the water, then followed samba drummers in procession to open the festival.

• Kids UnCaged: Hands-on art inspired young creators during the day.

• Community: More than 100 volunteers worked from pre-dawn to midnight to keep the festival safe, seamless and vibrant.

• Greener Transit: Dedicated BATA shuttle ridership from Traverse City soared 40%!

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Kept 100% Free By You

Local business sponsors and individual donors keep Leelanau UnCaged free for everyone. Every dollar fuels the festival, today and beyond.

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Thank you for making the magic possible. See you in Northport on Saturday, September 25, 2027!