Lakes Area Music Festival

Brainerd, Greater Minnesota

Brainerd's summer classical music festival, with orchestra, chamber and opera concerts at Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts.

The Lakes Area Music Festival is a summer classical festival in Brainerd featuring more than 200 musicians. Its 18th season, themed PASSION, ran July 31 to Aug. 23, 2026, at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts, with programs including Petrushka and Carmen. The 2025 season closed with Wagner's Ring on Aug. 16-17.