Wondering how you can de-stress the weekend before finals and hang out with friends once more before the school year is over? Well, Mid West Music Fest is the place to be!

Video created by Caleb Hammel ’19 and Andrew Williams ’19 as part of a senior project. 

What is Mid West Music Fest?

Mid West Music Fest (MWMF) is a multi-stage, multi-genre music festival for all ages that takes place in Winona, MN and La Crosse, WI. AmeriCorps volunteer Sam Brown brought this unique event to the area with a dream of pulling together various bands and musical acts to unite a community together through music.

Now in its 10th year, Mid West Music Fest is a 4-day event with more than 100 acts and a dozen stages between the two historic cities (La Crosse and Winona). Bands will be playing both outdoors at Levee Park and the Riverside Park Bandshell as well as indoors at theaters, cafes and bars.

Here is the musical lineup of who is playing and where to listen to them!

Another year for the festival means another year of creating and strengthening partnerships between MWMF and other organizations on campus, including Winona State Student Senate and the American Marketing Association (AMA).

Thanks to Student Senate’s sponsorship, Winona State students will receive a $10 discount on their MWMF ticket. This is an incredible deal! The cost of the event (with the student discount) is $15 for a day pass and $30 for a weekend pass.

To our surprise, only 88 students took advantage of this discount last year. Mid West Music Fest teamed up with the American Marketing Association (AMA) in hopes to more than double the number of tickets sold and encourage as many students as possible to attend this year. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity!

Three students members of the American Marketing Association club stand together in on the steps of Somsen Hall.

 

Why should I attend?

Mid West Music Fest is your chance to explore your community and meet new people through two full weekends of singing, dancing and jamming. MWMF is happening all over Winona and La Crosse, so you’ll be able to experience a tour of these historical downtowns with music as your guide.

If you want indie-folk grooves that will leave your feet tapping and heads bopping, we’ve got you. Looking for a 10-piece jazz combo that will have you boogying all night? Covered.

There’s even a puppet show if you need to give your eardrums a break from the music for a while.

From hip-hop to reggae, rock to Americana, this truly is a festival for every kind of music lover.

How can WSU students get tickets?

Students looking to purchase these tickets can find them in a couple different ways. The first being at the Mid West Music Fest table, found on campus every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 11am – 1pm in the Lower Hyphen of Kryzsko Commons.

Another way is to provide the promo code “student” when purchasing your ticket online. When you’re filling out your information, be sure to use your school email (winona.edu) to ensure student status.

 

How can students get involved?

Students can get involved with the Mid West Music Fest, first and foremost, by coming out and listening to the amazing music! But if you are interested in volunteering, contact Mary at mary@midwestmusicfest.org or Rebecca at Rebecca.sammis@boatsandbluegrass.com to help out with the festival.

Pro-Tip: Volunteering for a 4-hour shift will get you a ticket to both cities—a $90 value!

 

Mark your calendar and get ready to bust a move and listen to some great tunes at this year’s Mid West Music Fest. Have any remaining questions? Check out MWMF’s official website or stop by AMA’s table in Kryzsko Commons.

— Logan Wescott ’19, Mary Peterson ’19, Janae Mann ’20