© 2026 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Great Lakes Folk Festival on Hiatus for 2018

Mark Auslander photo
WKAR File Photo
/
WKAR-MSU
MSU Museum Director Mark Auslander

There will not be a Great Lakes Folk Festival this summer in East Lansing. WKAR's Scott Pohl talks with  Museum Director Mark Auslander about the decision.

The MSU Museum has been the lead organizer of the festival. Museum Director Mark Auslander says talks with the city and the business community made it clear that construction downtown this year would present challenges for parking, access and electrical power needs, and that a one-year hiatus was advisable.

The local folk music community is unhappy with the decision to cancel the festival this year. Auslander hopes to reassure fans that it will be back in some form next year.

Scott Pohl has maintained an on-call schedule reporting for WKAR following his retirement after 36 years on the air at the station.
WKAR has closed the gap left by the loss of federal funding. Because of you, trusted journalism, inspiring stories, and classical music remain freely available to everyone in mid-Michigan.
Now the work continues — your monthly gift helps maintain this success and keeps public media free for all.