The city of Dowagiac hosts a festival every May featuring well-known musicians, artists, storytellers and acclaimed authors. Since 1991, nationally recognized artists such as author Kurt Vonnegut, watercolorist Peggy Macnamara and The Hohner Institute of Percussion have performed at the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival. In 2010, the festival introduced its culinary arts section with "Big Daddy" Chef Aaron McCargo Jr. For 2011, the festival will feature a wine tasting evening with southwestern Michigan wineries.
Ninety minutes south from Grand Rapids, Michigan, the annual Summer Venetian Festival is located in St. Joseph at Lake Bluff Park. Three stages of live music, a craft show and fine dining and wine tasting from local wineries are features of this event. A free shuttle service is offered from the downtown Benton Harbor parking lot. The Silver Beach Hotel and the St. Joe Holiday Inn Express & Suites are nearby accommodations offering discounts to festival visitors.
With help from the New Territories Art Association, the Benton Harbor Arts District houses artist studios, local business and art classes. Local businesses and art galleries open their doors for the annual Summer Art Hop, which celebrates art of every form. The New Territories Art Association was formed in 1998 to develop and promote the Benton Harbor Arts District. Community outreach programs offer free youth art programs and other festivals include the Fall Festival of the Arts and the Benton Harbor City Market.
The "Side by Side" Concert with the Southwest Michigan Symphony is one of four public concerts performed by the Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra. An educational program hosted by the Southwest Michigan Symphony in St. Joseph, the youth orchestra rehearses Monday afternoons. Members perform at least two concerts a year, and the Southwest Michigan Symphony holds auditions for talented local youths between the the fourth grade to college seniors. Scholarships and summer camps are also available to the young musicians. For the "Side by Side" performance, the young musicians sit next to the professional musicians who coach the students throughout the year.