Event boasts over 100 musicians appearing on eight stages
By Barb Pert Templeton
The Bluewater Folk Society will host the 21st annual Thumbfest Music Festival this Saturday, Sept. 2 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the village of Lexington, Michigan. There is no cost to attend.
In the past, the festival has attracted over 5,000 people and featured musicians from all over the state of Michigan. Multiple performance stages are to be found throughout the village of Lexington as well as jam sites, open mic stage, workshops, and craft site for the kids. Music styles range from traditional folk, singer/songwriter, blues, Cajun/creole, klezmer, traditional and gypsy jazz, bluegrass, gospel, and many more.

Acoustic music is the cornerstone of The Bluewater Folk Society’s annual Thumbfest Music Festival hosted on Labor Day weekend.
Blue Water Healthy Living caught up with Bluewater Folk Society Treasurer Tom Schlichting to pose some questions about the origin of the festival and what’s planned for 2023.
Blue Water Healthy Living: Can you share some information about the Bluewater Folk Society? How old it is and its main purpose?
Tom Schlichting: Blue Water Folk Society formed in 2021 by a group of musicians and lovers of traditional music. BWFS incorporated shortly after as a Michigan nonprofit corporation and obtained IRS 501(c)(3) charitable status. The organization’s purpose is to promote and support traditional and acoustic music in the eastern Thumb/Blue Water area.
BWHL: Does the society host other events beyond the annual festival?
Tom: Besides the festival, we run monthly open mic events and have supported instrument instruction and singing performance for kids and adults. BWFS has produced and supported performance concerts and local music events of many kinds.

The local band “Ourselves Irish Music,” featuring Blue Water Folk Society Treasurer Tom Schlichting, will perform at the Thumbest Music Festival in Lexington this weekend. Schlichting is pictured here on the far right.
BWHL: How did the idea for the Thumbfest Music Festival come about? How did the first one go?
Tom: George Stewart, one of our founding members, developed the festival concept and the first Thumbfest, in 2002, was a ticketed event held at a camp on Lake Huron. Attendance was about 300 and we had two stages and a dance hall.
BWHL: Did the festival continue to expand after that first year?
Tom: Yes. A couple of years later we moved into the village of Lexington and made it a free festival. We have gradually expanded our festival around town. 2023 is our 21st event.
BWHL: What’s on the schedule for this 21st event?
Tom: This year we have eight performance stages featuring 64 performance sets of music. Well over 100 individual musicians are taking part, some in multiple bands. We have a jam tent where musicians from our bands can interact with attendees and play themed music every hour.
BWHL: Do the musicians come from beyond Michigan?
Tom: Musicians are usually all from Michigan. Occasionally we welcome home one who has strayed from Michigan to another state.
BWHL: Are there other activities going on Saturday – beyond the musicians on stage?
Tom: There’s a kids discovery tent run by Camp Cavell and a Youth Music/Drum Circle Tent where families can explore rhythm instruments, listen to a Youth orchestra, or learn to play a ukulele. For all ages, a workshop tent allows festival goers to check out a playing style or instrument, or community songwriters to swap songs with pros in a song circle. There’s an open mic for closeted performers to come on out.
BWHL: What about options for grabbing a bite to eat, are they offered by the festival?
Tom: Yes. Since the festival runs from 10am to 10 pm, a lot of folks need to eat, so they can go to the restaurants near the various stages, or hit the food trucks down at the big harbor stage overlooking the lake and marina.
BWHL: Any other vendors taking part, beyond those offering food and snacks?
Tom: A collection of vendors also sets up in the harbor area, everything from baked goods to hula hoops, jewelry and crafts.
BWHL: What role do you play during the event?
Tom: I have had a support role in every Thumbfest myself and my band, “Ourselves” has proudly played a set or two in every Thumbfest. Looking forward to another great one.