2025 Summer Festival Guide: 59 musical destinations across America

Seasonal getaways featuring classical, opera & jazz

EarRelevant Staff | 14 MAY 2025

Long days, warm nights, and open roads—summer is made for exploring, and music festivals are some of the most rewarding destinations you’ll find. Whether you’re drawn to majestic mountain settings, seaside stages, or vibrant cityscapes, the United States offers a wide range of classical, opera, and jazz festivals that invite you to listen deeply and travel purposefully.

EarRelevant’s curated guide for 2025 highlights 59 U.S. summer music festivals taking place between Memorial Day Weekend (May 23–26) and the Autumnal Equinox (September 22). It’s not an exhaustive list—but it’s a rich one, offering a taste of the diversity and depth across the American musical landscape.

From world-renowned orchestras to intimate chamber ensembles, and from student showcases to legendary soloists, these festivals are as much about place and community as they are about performance. So if you’re planning a summer getaway—or just need a reason to—this list may help you chart your next musical adventure. ■

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Alaska · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Georgia · Iowa · Idaho · Illinois · Massachusetts · Maine · Minnesota · Missouri · Montana · Nevada · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · Oregon · South Carolina · Texas · Virginia · Vermont · Washington · Wyoming •

Note: Only the U.S. states named above have festivals appearing in this curated list.

Alaska

SITKA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Sitka, AK
June 3 – June 29, 2025
Artistic Director: Zuill Bailey
Genres: Classical
Website: sitkamusicfestival.org

Arkansas

OPERA IN THE OZARKS
Eureka Springs, AR
June 27 – July 25, 2025
Artistic Director: Thomas Cockrell
Genres: Classical, Opera
Website: opera.org

California

CABRILLO FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Santa Cruz, CA
July 27 – August 10, 2025
Artistic Director: Cristian Măcelaru
Genres: Classical
Website: cabrillomusic.org

CARMEL BACH FESTIVAL
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
July 12 – 26, 2025
Artistic Director: Grete Pedersen
Genres: Classical
Website: bachfestival.org

LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY SUMMERFEST
La Jolla, CA
July 25 – August 23, 2025
Music Director: Inon Barnatan
Genres: Classical, Jazz
Website: ljms.org

MAINLY MOZART ALL-STAR ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL
San Diego, CA
June 18 – 28, 2025
Artistic Director: Michael Francis
Genres: Classical
Website: mainlymozart.org

MUSIC IN THE VINEYARDS
Napa Valley, CA
August 1 – 24, 2025
Artistic Directors: Michael & Daria T. Adams
Genres: Classical, Chamber Music
Website: musicinthevineyards.org

MUSIC@MENLO
Atherton, CA
July 18 – August 9,, 2025
Artistic Directors: David Finckel & Wu Han
Genres: Classical
Website: musicatmenlo.org

OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL
Ojai, CA
June 5 – 8, 2025
Artistic Directors: Ara Guzelimian, Claire Chase
Genres: Classical
Website: ojaifestival.org

Colorado

ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL & SCHOOL
Aspen, CO
July 2 – August 24, 2025
Artistic Director: Robert Spano
Genres: Classical
Website: aspenmusicfestival.com

BRAVO! VAIL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Vail, CO
June 19 – July 31, 2025
Artistic Director: Anne-Marie McDermott
Genres: Classical
Website: bravovail.org

CENTRAL CITY OPERA FESTIVAL
Central City, CO
June 28 – August 3, 2025
Artistic Director: Alison Moritz
Genres: Opera
Website: centralcityopera.org

COLORADO MUSIC FESTIVAL
Boulder, CO
July 3 – August 3, 2025
Artistic Director: Peter Oundjian
Genres: Classical, Chamber Music
Website: coloradomusicfestival.org

NATIONAL REPERTORY ORCHESTRA
Breckenridge, CO
June 21 – August 9, 2025
Artistic Director: Michael Stern
Genres: Classical
Website: nromusic.org

Connecticut

NORFOLK CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Norfolk, CT
June 27 – August 10, 2025
Artistic Director: Melvin Chen
Genres: Jazz
Website: music.yale.edu/norfolk

Georgia

ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL
Atlanta, GA
May 24-26, 2025
Artistic Director: [not listed]
Genres: Jazz
Website: atljazzfest.com

GEORGIA FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
Atlanta, GA
June 14 – 28 2025
Artistic Director: Michael Palmer
Genres: Classical
Website: maestropalmer.com/gfm

Idaho

SUN VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Sun Valley, ID
June 28 – August 21, 2025
Music Director: Alasdair Neale
Genres: Classical
Website: svmusicfestival.org

Illinois

RAVINIA FESTIVAL
Highland Park, IL
June 6 – August 31, 2025
Artistic Director: Marin Alsop
Genres: Classical, Jazz, Other
Website: ravinia.org

Iowa

DES MOINES METRO OPERA
Indianola, IA
June 27 – July 20, 2025
Artistic Director: Michael Egel
Genres: Classical, Opera
Website: desmoinesmetroopera.org

ZENITH CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Des Moines, IA
June 3 – 7, 2025
Artistic Director: Ashley Sidon
Genres: Chamber Music
Website: zenithchambermusicfestival.org

Maine

BOWDOIN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Brunswick, ME
June 28 – August 9, 2025
Artistic Directors: David Ying & Phillip Ying
Genres: Classical
Website: bowdoinfestival.org

MONTEUX SCHOOL & MUSIC FESTIVAL
June 15 – July 28, 2025
Artistic Director: Tiffany Lu
Genres: Classical
Website: monteuxmusic.org

Massachusetts

ROCKPORT CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Rockport, MA
June 13 – July 13, 2025
Artistic Director: Barry Shiffman
Genres: Classical
Website: rcmf.org

TANGLEWOOD
Lenox, MA
June 21 – August 31, 2025
Artistic Director: Andris Nelsons
Genres: Classical
Website: bso.org/tanglewood

Minnesota

NORTHERN LIGHTS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Gilbert, MN
July 1 – 21, 2025
Artistic Director: Veda Zuponcic
Genres: Classical
Website: northernlightsmusic.org/

MINNESOTA BEETHOVEN FESTIVAL
Winona, MN
June 29 – July 20, 2025
Artistic Director: Ned Kirk
Genres: Classical
Website: mnbeethovenfestival.org

Missouri

TANEYCOMO FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Branson, MO
June 15 – 28, 2025
Executive & Artistic Director: Larkin Sanders
Genres: Classical
Website: taneycomofestivalorchestra.org

Montana

TIPPET RISE ART CENTER
Fishtail, MT
August 15 – September 14, 2025
Artistic Advisor: Pedja Mužijevic
Genres: Classical
Website: tippetrise.org/

Nevada

CLASSICAL TAHOE
Incline Village, NV
July 12 – August 10, 2025
Artistic Director: Laura Hamilton
Genres: Classical, Jazz
Website: classicaltahoe.org

New Mexico

SANTA FE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Santa Fe, NM
July 13 – August 18, 2025
Artistic Director: Marc Neikrug
Genres: Classical
Website: santafechambermusic.com

THE SANTA FE OPERA
Santa Fe, NM
June 27 – August 23, 2025
Directors: Robert K. Meya, general director; Harry Bicket, music director
Genres: Opera
Website: santafeopera.org

New York

BARD MUSIC FESTIVAL & SUMMERSCAPE
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
June 27 – August 17, 2025
Artistic Directors: Leon Botstein, Christopher H. Gibbs, Gideon Lester
Genres: Classical, Opera, Theater, Dance
Website: fishercenter.bard.edu

BRIDGEHAMPTON CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Bridgehampton & Water Mill, NY
July 18 – August 13, 2025
Artistic Director: Marya Martin
Genres: Classical
Website: bcmf.org

CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC & THE ARTS
Katonah, NY
June 15 – August 3, 2025
Artistic Director: Kathy Schuman
Genres: Classical, Opera, Jazz, Other
Website: caramoor.org

THE GLIMMERGLASS FESTIVAL
Cooperstown, NY
July 11 – August 17, 2025
Directors: Robert Ainsley, artistic & general director; Joseph Colaneri, music director
Genres: Classical
Website: glimmerglass.org

THE HAMPTONS FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
Wainscott, NY
September 6 – 14, 2025
Artistic Director: Michael Palmer
Genres: Classical
Website: thehamptonsfestivalofmusic.com

LAKE GEORGE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Lake George, NY
June 8 – 19, 2025
Artistic Directors: Barbora Kolárová & Roger Kalia
Genres: Classical
Website: lakegeorgemusicfestival.com

SEAGLE FESTIVAL
Schroon Lake, NY
June 28 – August 23, 2025
General Director: Tony Kostecki; Artistic Director: Darren K. Woods
Genres: Classical
Website: seaglefestival.org

TIME:SPANS FESTIVAL 2025
New York, NY
August 9 – 23, 2025
Artistic Director: Thomas Fichter
Genres: Contemprary Classical, Avant-Garde
Website: timespans.org

North Carolina

BREVARD MUSIC CENTER SUMMER FESTIVAL
Brevard, NC
June 20 – August 3, 2025
Artistic Director: Keith Lockhart
Genres: Classical, Symphony, Opera, Chamber, Jazz
Website: brevardmusic.org

JOHN COLTRANE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL
High Point, NC
August 30 – 31, 2025
Artistic Director: Joe Williams
Genres: Jazz
Website: coltranejazzfest.com

HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
HIghlands & Cashiers, NC
July 10 – August 12, 2025
Artistic Director: William Ransom
Genres: Classical
Website: h-cmusicfestival.org

Ohio

BLOSSOM MUSIC FESTIVAL
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
July 3 – September 7, 2025
Artistic Director: Franz Welser-Möst
Genres: Classical, Other
Website: clevelandorchestra.com/blossom24

CINCINNATI OPERA SUMMER FESTIVAL
Cincinnati, OH
June 12 – July 27, 2025
Artistic Director: Evans Mirageas
Genres: Opera
Website: cincinnatiopera.org

Oregon

CHAMBER MUSIC NORTHWEST SUMMER FESTIVAL
Portland & Beaverton, OR
June 28 – July 27, 2025
Artistic Directors: Gloria Chien & Soovin Kim
Genres: Classical
Website: cmnw.org

OREGON BACH FESTIVAL
Eugene, OR
June 27 – July 13, 2025
Genres: Classical
Website: oregonbachfestival.org

South Carolina

SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA
Charleston, SC
May 23 – June 8, 2025
General Director: Mena Mark Hanna
Genres: Classical, Opera, Jazz, Other
Website: spoletousa.org

Texas

TEXAS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Houston, TX
June 1 – 28, 2025
Artistic Director: Alan Austin
Genres: Classical, Jazz
Website: www.tmf.uh.edu

Vermont

GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Colchester, VT
June 29 – July 27, 2025
Artistic Director: Elizabeth Chang
Genres: Classical
Website: gmcmf.org

MANCHESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Manchester, VT
July 10 – August 7, 2025
Artistic Directors: Philip Setzer
Genres: Classical
Website: mmfvt.org

MARLBORO MUSIC FESTIVAL
Marlboro, VT
July 19 – August 17, 2025
Artistic Directors: Mitsuko Uchida & Jonathan Biss
Genres: Classical
Website: marlboromusic.org

WEST WINDSOR MUSIC FESTIVAL
West Windsor, VT
June 27 – 29, 2025
Artistic Director: Sakiko Ohashi
Genres: Classical
Website: westwindsorvtmusicfestival.com

Virginia

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BACH FESTIVAL
Harrisonburg, VA
June 9 – 15, 2025
Artistic Director: David berry
Genres: Classical
Website: svbachfestival.org

WINTERGREEN MUSIC FESTIVAL
Nellysford, VA
July 3 – 27, 2025
Artistic Director: Erin Freeman
Genres: Classical
Website: wintergreen-music.org

WOLF TRAP
Vienna, VA
May 30 – September 18, 2025
Prsident & CEO: Arvind Manocha
Genres: Classical, Jazz, Other
Website: wolftrap.org

Washington

BELLINGHAM FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
Bellingham, WA
June 29 – July 20, 2025
Artistic Director: Marcelo Lehninger
Genres: Classical
Website: bellinghamfestival.org

ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Orcas Island, WA
August 1 – 16, 2025
Artistic Director: Aloysia Friedmann
Genres: Classical
Website: oicmf.org

Wyoming

GRAND TETON MUSIC FESTIVAL
Jackson Hole, WY
July 3 – August 23, 2025
Artistic Director: Sir Donald Runnicles
Genres: Classical
Website: gtmf.org

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[ss_social_share]This entry was posted in Chamber & Recital, Jazz & World, Symphony & Opera and tagged Music Festivals on May 14, 2025 by EarRelevant Staff.