Thornapple Arts Council of Barry County

The Thornapple Arts Council jazz festival has grown to be the largest jazz festival of its kind, matching more student groups and performers to professional jazz musicians through its clinician program than any other festival in the state of Michigan. This non-competitive festival puts education and jazz promotion and appreciation at its core. The festival draws over 10,000 people each year and provides a weekend of free jazz performances to the public, as well as the chance for student groups from Michigan and surrounding states to work with professional musicians.

The Arts and eats program is a collaboration among Barry County organizations to develop a back roads tour of food, art and farms, however it was not held in the current year due to the pandemic. The two-day tour normally features more than 50 local artists, studios and galleries. Arts and eats provides Barry County area artists the opportunity to display their work to the public as well as feature themselves as entrepreneurs in our community.

The Thornapple plaza is the beautiful outdoor amphitheater which hosts the hastings city band, friday night features, the community concert series, playing at the plaza, and hastings summerfest.

Other program services